The New Zealand Giant Slalom Alpine National Championship titles were awarded at Coronet Peak today. Piera Hudson (Hawkes Bay) claimed the women’s title and Willis Feasey (Twizel) successfully defended the men’s title.
Contested over two runs with the combined times determining the final placings, the Giant Slalom is a technical event which requires strength and precision. Today’s course was set on The Hurdle run with the steep, rolling terrain making for a fast and challenging course.
The race today included athletes from over 10 nations and overall race podiums, as well as National Championship podiums, were awarded.
Hudson held a convincing lead over her Kiwi competitors from the first run, in bib one she flew out of the start gate and attacked the challenging course. Heading into run two she held her lead to secure the New Zealand Giant Slalom National Championship title for the seventh time in her career.
Hudson said “It was great racing out there today and it was nice to put down two solid runs so I am really happy to take home the title again.”
Hudson also raced in the Winter Games NZ ANC events and explained: “Today I was really trying to rectify mistakes I made in the ANC’s and use it as training and to try and put down some solid turns down that pitch, I was really happy with my first run.”
Katie Crawford and Michol Hinton rounded out the women’s NZ Giant Slalom National Championship podium in second and third respectively.
In the men’s race Feasey, who just days ago won the New Zealand Super G National Championship title, defended his Giant Slalom title. He had a solid and aggressive first run and was the fastest Kiwi by over a second. He maintained his lead over closest Kiwi competitor Jack Adams to take the title for 2022.
“I am happy to be here, happy to be skiing some of my best turns” explained Winter Olympian Feasey. Feasey has been competing in this particular event for over a decade, saying: “I definitely got some of my best results in this event, I lowered my world ranking down to 44th in the world and part of that was good results at NZ Alpine National champs.”
The men’s NZ Giant Slalom National Championships podium was rounded out with Jack Adams in second and Keir Roberts in third.
The race podiums were also awarded today. Elise Hitter (SUI) topped the women’s podium with NZ National Giant Slalom Champion Piera Hudson in second and Lara Baumann and Elena Stoffel, both of Switzerland, in third equal. Ian Gut (LIE) was the men’s overall winner with Willis Feasey (NZL) in second and Andreas Soensterud (NOR) in third.
The New Zealand Alpine National Championships action continues on Saturday with the Slalom event set to be held on Race Arena at Coronet Peak.
20 months ago