Alice Robinson Wins Coronet Peak ANC GS; Men’s Race Canceled at Winter Games NZ

Photo: Winter Games NZ

Coronet Peak, Queenstown (28 August 2024) – Alice Robinson showed why she’s a local hero by winning the first Giant Slalom of the Winter Games NZ FIS Australia New Zealand Cup (ANC). Despite challenging weather and snow conditions, Robinson outperformed a competitive field of elite women skiers.

A Challenging Course and Field

The race on The Hurdle at Coronet Peak featured 34 athletes from 14 nations, including several top-tier competitors. The course started higher up on the Coronet Express, giving racers at the start stunning views across the Wakatipu Basin. However, this higher start also added difficulty, with a fast, demanding left-hand turn leading onto The Hurdle, one of the most demanding Giant Slalom slopes in the Southern Hemisphere.

Robinson, wearing bib 4, attacked the course with her usual confidence. She dominated the first run, finishing with a 0.92-second lead. “I feel like I skied smart and solid for the conditions,” Robinson said. “It’s so nice to race at home at Coronet Peak and have my friends and family here. I enjoy having this pre-season warm-up race; it’s good to go through the motions, and it’s special to be at home and sleep in my own bed!”

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Tough Competition

Madison Hoffman from Australia placed second after the first run, while 17-year-old Romy Ertl from Germany held third. Despite the quality competition, Robinson extended her lead in the second run, finishing 1.67 seconds ahead of her rivals. Ertl, showing her talent, pushed hard in the second run to move up to second place overall, while Hoffman secured the third spot on the podium.

Robinson praised the younger skiers, saying, “Romy really put the pressure on today. It’s great to see such strong competition. It keeps me sharp.”

Star-Studded Forerunners

The race featured notable forerunners: Brazilian Lucas Braathen, the 2023 FIS Slalom Crystal Globe winner, and Tommy Ford and River Radamus from the Stifel US Ski Team. Their participation added excitement to an already intense competition.

Race results

Weather Forces Cancellations

While the women’s race wrapped up successfully, the men’s Giant Slalom, scheduled for the same day, couldn’t proceed due to the snow conditions.

Unfortunately, the situation got worse overnight. Heavy rain soaked Coronet Peak, leading organizers to cancel the men’s and women’s replacement Giant Slalom races scheduled for Thursday, August 29. The rain and lack of freezing temperatures left the snowpack in poor condition, making it unsuitable for competition.

ANC Series Faces More Challenges

This cancellation is another setback for the 2024 ANC series. Earlier this month, the Australian leg at Thredbo was canceled due to unseasonably warm weather and insufficient snow. Despite efforts to find a suitable slope, the warm conditions made it impossible to relocate the Australian races.

Looking Ahead with Uncertainty

With today’s cancellations, the future of the ANC series remains uncertain. The Coronet Peak team is working with mountain management to see if any Winter Games NZ races can be rescheduled. However, the weather forecast isn’t promising, and teams are left waiting for updates.

However, as the race organizers continue to communicate with teams, the unpredictable weather casts doubt on the rest of the 2024 ANC series. Ski Racing Media will hope for improved weather and the continuation of the series.

The women’s race information was provided by Winter Games NZ