Wanaka’s Leighton Winsloe 19, put on an impressive performance in the tough international field competing in the Australia New Zealand Cup (ANC) slalom at Cardrona this weekend, recording a personal best result and significantly lowering his world ranking.

Winsloe who trains with the Cardrona High Performance Centre (CPHC) was first New Zealander in 8th place in a combined time of 1.18.44. The race was dominated by international skiers and was won by Ryan Wilson (USA), who trains with the Treble Cone Racing Academy, in 1.16.50. He faced strong pressure from Kilian Albrecht of Bulgaria who finished in 1.16.58 while Grant Jampolsky (USA) took out third in 1.17.18.

Second Kiwi was Volkswagen National Team member Angus Howden 27 (Wellington) in 9th place in 1.18.59 who skied just below his current FIS points.

Twenty-year-old Lucie Tait-Jamieson (Auckland/CPHC) was the best of the New Zealand women in 15th place in 1.19.00, a result which will improve her world ranking.

The women’s race was won by Rabea Grand of Switzerland in 1.14.26, Katarzyna Karasiska of Poland claimed second in 1.14.80 and Therese Borssen of Sweden finished third in 1.15.16.

Volkswagen National Team member Janelle Miller 22 (Queenstown) was second New Zealander in 16th place in 1.19.18.

The men’s giant slalom saw national titleholder Mark Bridgwater 22 (Christchurch) hold his own amongst the internationals to take out 4th place in 1.56.60. He was headed off by Sweden’s Frederik Nordh who had a commanding lead to win in 1.53.66. Bjoergvin Bjoergvinsson of Iceland was second in 1.55.21 and Ruedi Von Kaenel (Switzerland) who trains with the Cardrona High Performance Centre took out third place in 1.55.75. Angus Howden was second New Zealander in 5th place in 1.56.74.

The women’s giant slalom was closely fought with Fabienne Suter of Switzerland taking the honours in 1.56.32 from fellow countrywoman Andrea Dettling, who had to settle for second place in 1.56.96. Fanny Chmelar of Germany clocked 1.57.43 to finish third.

Lucie Tait-Jamieson was first Kiwi in 24th place in 2.02.61.

skiracing.org.nz
September 7th, 2008

***

Buck Hill's Wilson podiums in NZ Champs GS

Queenstown ski racer Janelle Miller won the national slalom title and the combined trophy at the New Zealand National Championships at Coronet Peak over the weekend, while Wanaka’s Leighton Winsloe secured the men’s trophy by a narrow margin.
    Miller won the super G and giant slalom titles convincingly last week and, in Saturday’s slalom, was unchallenged by the other national contenders, finishing fifth overall in an event dominated by Swedish World Cup competitors.
    Frida Hansdotter  won in 1 minute, 40.59 seconds, ahead of teammates Veronica Smed and Jessica Lindell-Vikarby.
    World Cup veteran Urs Imboden, of Moldova, held off a strong challenge to win the men’s race in 1:35.41, ahead of fellow World Cup veteran Kilian Albrecht of Bulgaria and Mattias Hargin of Sweden. Tim Cafe finished 10th to take the combined national title. Cafe earlier won the super G and finished second in the GS.
    Several young American racers competed in the New Zealand national championships series, with five finishing in the top 15 of the men’s GS. Buck Hill product Ryan Wilson led the way in second place, capping a tremendous couple of weeks of racing for the 21-year-old. He notched four third-place finishes in two GS and two slalom races at Cardrona and Treble Cone prior to the championship series, and he finished fifth in a FIS giant slalom Aug. 20 at Coronet Peak against a strong field.
    Chris Dancy of the Park City Ski Education Foundation also raced in the championships, leading U.S. finishers in the super G in sixth place and adding a 14th in GS.
    Grant Jampolsky of the Squaw Valley Ski Team took 10th in the national championship GS, finished top seven in four Australia-New Zealand Cup tech races at Mt. Hotham and won the Australia national championships slalom race at Thredbo on Aug. 13.

skiracing.com
Tuesday, 02 September 2008

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