Jessica Anderson has been threatening to post a twenty point result all summer and in the first of two ANC Giant Slalom races, Anderson delivered. In a field packed with World Cup racers, including Swedish World Cup race winners Sara Hector and Marie Pietilae-Holmner, 19 year old Anderson smashed in a top ten result but more importantly scored a twenty point FIS result in probably the hardest discipline, Giant Slalom. Norwegian Mina Fuerst Holtmann took the race win ahead of Kristin Lysdahl and Pietilae-Holmner.
In the first of two ANC Giant Slalom races in Thredbo, Australia, Anderson posted a 36 FIS point result in finishing sixth but the results in Coronet Peak were far more impressive result in taking a 20.30 point result and 8th place.
Talking to Racer Ready after the race, Anderson explained ”I skied really well and I am really pleased with my result, especially my first run. There were areas which could have been faster but no one has a completely perfect run! The course held up pretty well too which was great. It was really good to be racing against such amazing girls who are top in the world as well.”
Anderson was just half a second off the pace set by Estelle Alphand on the first run and finished just one and a half seconds off the race win after the second run.
It is all go for the Anderson now as she explained: “I have 8 days left here in New Zealand, so hopefully I can get a few more results before I head home. Then once I am home I will have a block of time to focus on my fitness before the European season starts again.”
Sadly Anderson crashed out on the second run in the second Giant Slalom in Coronet Peak.
There were more encouraging performances for the Ambition team out in New Zealand as first year FIS racer Olivia Foster posted a second best result in Giant Slalom with a 76 FIS point result in placing 23rd in the first of two races to back up her 72 point result in Thredbo. In Thredbo Foster finished 22nd and 13th in the two ANC races.
Abi Bruce scored two more solid results in Coronet Peak but was not able to better her impressive low fifty point results from Thredbo.
Sarah Woodward in her first year of FIS racing has also posted some solid results and been mixing it up with the top thirty racers in the ANC Series. Liv Ward was unable to replicate the results she scored in the New Zealand National Championship races at Coronet Peak but is still posting solid results.
With four British girls starting in the top fifteen in Coronet Peak, the strength in depth of the British racers is looking better and better. With two slaloms to follow and then back to Europe, the hard work put in by the racers and coaches in the southern hemisphere should pay off when they return to Europe.
Neither Duncan Kuwall or Euan Kick finished the men's race, won by Canada's Erik Read, the second GS has been moved back to after the slalom races have finished.
Full results
Women’s GS 1
Women’s GS 2
Men’s GS 1
Picture - Jess Anderson competing at the Delancey British Championships in March 2017. Picture Racer Ready - all rights reserved.
More pictures of British racing on www.racerready.zenfolio.com