In the second ANC GS at Coronet Peak, Ava Sunshine, 21, of the Stifel US Ski Team, triumphs. It’s her debut Continental Cup GS win. AJ Hurt (USA) takes third, Alice Robinson (NZL) earns the second step again.

Sunshine finishes the day (-0.68) faster than Robinson. However, Robison was (+0.89) behind after the first run and won the second by (-0.21) to move from 4th to 2nd. The previous day’s winner, Hurt, finished third but was only (+0.05) behind Robinson at the finish. The athlete narrowly missing the podium in the second GS was USA’s Nina O’Brien only (+0.09), slower than Hurt.

The US women placed three skiers in the top four for the second day. They succeeded while competing in a solid international field under challenging conditions. Notably, the races were held on Coronet Peak’s world-class Hurdle race course.

After the first run, the American women were sitting first, second, and third, and only three-time World Cup winner 21-year-old Robinson could prevent a USA podium sweep.

Ava Sunshine, Nina O’Brien and AJ Hurt ANC GS Photo Neil Kerr

The outcomes show the US Women’s World Cup Tech team’s GS advancement. US star Paula Moltzan is training in New Zealand but skipping the GS races.

The next races in the ANC series are two slaloms on August 31st and September 1st in Queenstown on Coronet Peak. Once again, New Zealand’s Winter Games deliver excellent events and compelling competition.

Click on images to enlarge

Fastest four in the June 29th Australia New Zealand Cup women’s GS

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About the Author: Peter Lange

Lange is the current Publisher of Ski Racing Media. However, over 38 seasons, he enjoyed coaching athletes of all ages and abilities. Lange’s experience includes leading Team America and working with National Team athletes from the United States, Norway, Austria, Australia, and Great Britain. He was the US Ski Team Head University Coach for the two seasons the program existed. Lange says, “In the end, the real value of this sport is the relationships you make, they are priceless.”