Sweden’s Matts Olsson put the hammer down in the second run of the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games giant slalom to beat his Swedish World Cup team mate, Hans Olsson and take out the inaugural title at Coronet Peak today.

QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - AUGUST 27: Matts Olsson of Sweden competes in the men's Giant Slalom Alpine Skiing during day six of the Winter Games NZ at Coronet Peak on August 27, 2009 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

The ANC Continental Cup (Australia New Zealand Cup) race has attracted international athletes in their build up for the next World Cup series in the Northern Hemisphere and the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

The 36 gate course started on The Hurdle and finished in Eighth Basin and was held in challenging weather conditions.

"In spite of snow and wind most of the day we were able to hold an excellent giant slalom," said Technical Delegate Amanda Shaw of Canada. "The Hurdle is an ideal giant slalom hill with its variety of rhythms and changes on the steeps and flats. We certainly had a high calibre field competing."

Eighty-five competitors from USA, Sweden, Canada, France, Great Britain, Poland, Germany, the Ukraine, the Netherlands, Finland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Korea, Japan, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Monaco, Australia and New Zealand competed with the top seed Andre Myhrer of Sweden clocking the fastest first run in 53.68, but failing to finish the second.

Matts Olsson was seventh fastest in the first run in 54.53 but went all out in the second to record the fastest time of 52.45 to win in a combined time of 1.46.98. He headed off Hans Olsson (no relation) who had been third fastest in the first run, who took out second place in 1.47.16. just pipping third placed Jimmy Cochran from USA who clocked 1.47.19.

QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - AUGUST 27: Jimmy Cochran of the United States of America competes in the men's Giant Slalom Alpine Skiing during day six of the Winter Games NZ at Coronet Peak on August 27, 2009 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Twenty-year-old Olsson is a member of the Swedish World Cup team and is ranked 63 in the world in giant slalom. He was excited about taking the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games giant slalom title. "I am very happy to be the first winner. I didn't ski so well in the first run but I was better in the second. It was good to do a race like this, it's good for my World Cup preparation."

The top ten placings were tight with Tommy Ford of the USA taking fourth place in 1.47.42 and also the award for the fastest competitor under 20. Niklas Rainer of Sweden who posted the second fastest first run, crossed the line in fifth in 1.47.60. Jake Zamansky, winner of the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games Super G was sixth in 1.47.62.

Other placings were: Mattias Hargin Sweden 1.47.76 7th, Dong-Hyun Jung Korea 1.47.83 8th, Naoki Yuasa Japan 1.47.93 9th and Nolan Kasper USA 1.47.96. 10th.

The first New Zealander was 16-year-old Nick Prebble (Christchurch) of the National Development Team who finished in 26th place in 1.53.47. to improve his world ranking.

Top ranked Kiwi Ben Griffin (Ohakune) did not finish the first run while Olympic hopeful Tim Cafe (Queenstown) completed his first run in 55.88 but went out in the second.

ANC Committee Chairman Neil Bell said the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games Continental Cup giant slalom was an outstanding race. "It's thanks to the Coronet Peak race department and volunteers that we have been able to hold a race of this standard. It really was sensational."

WinterGamesNZ.com
Thursday, August 27th, 2009

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