Sixteen year old Zak Vinter from Glasgow has continued the encouraging run of form that he showed in races in Mount Buller with good results in the Australian National Giant Slalom Championships in Thredbo, Australia. Vinter posted a ... sub ninety point result in his first FIS level Giant Slalom after having made the step up from Children's racing this summer. Vinter, who won all three races at the Delancey British Children's Championships in April is down in Australia training and racing under the guidance of ex-British Olympian Stephen Edwards and his EDEP programme based out of Perisher.
After the race, Vinter explained that he had "skied the first run quite cautiously as it was quite straight so was about five seconds off." Vinter felt that he had backed off a little too much on the hard parts of the course when he could have let the skis runs more on the first run but found himself just making the flip and so was first to go on the second run. Vinter: "I was first to go down the second run so had a great track and skied it well and it was slightly tighter. I ended up being eight off so had a good second run."
After the race Vinter added:Â "I am happy with today. I know I should of pushed more the 1st run. The experience I am having is just helping me raise my own game and move forward. I want a European Youth Olympic place and then the Youth Olympics the following year. Training with Ross just makes me want more!"
Coach Stephen Edwards was on the whole happy with the end result for Vinter. Sadly Fraser Middleton crashed out on the first run near the bottom.
The race was won by Jakob Ericsson from Sweden with Ross Peraudo second and taking the Australian title just ahead of Luke Laidlaw in third. The Australian National Junior Championship Giant Slalom takes place on Tuesday. No British girls took part in the Girls race
Full results:
Men
Women
Picture: Zak Vinter on his way to winning the Delancey British Children's GS in Meribel in April. Picture Credit RACER READY - all rights reserved