Jack Gower made it through the treacherous Qualifying race to give the British men's team two racers in the World Championship Giant Slalom. Gower finished in 23rd spot with the top 25 making it into the main race. Sweden's Axel Lindqvist won the race.
Gower, drawn bib 1, was 13th after the first run. It has been a busy World Championships for Gower: He has competed in the Downhill, Super G, Alpine Combined and was now trying to qualify for the Giant Slalom. As the second highest seed for the race, Gower had more to lose than gain in the qualification race.
The complicated method of making sure that as many member nations of FIS have a representative in the main race meant that with 170 racers entered for the GS, the qualification race provides 25 places for the main race and then 25 places for nations that do not already have a racer in the main race. The top 50 entrants from the entries qualify automatically. This included Charlie Raposo.
With the top 25 making it into the main race, Gower, 13th after the first run, cut it fine with the 28th fastest second run time to finish in 23rd place. Gower will start the main race with bib 51, Raposo with bib 38. Gower and Raposo both raced in the 2015 World Championship GS finishing 34th (Raposo) and 38th (Gower), Laurie Taylor raced in 2017 finishing 40th. taylor is focusing on the Slalom on Sunday this year having finished 12th in the Europa Cup slalom in Gstaad just prior to the World Championships.
In 2011, Britain had three racers qualify including Noel Baxter, Dave Ryding and TJ Baldwin. Ryding went on to finish 39th two years after finishing 41st in the Val d'Isere Giant Slalom.
Other racers to play the roulette game were Alec Scott from Australia who finished in 26th spot missing out on the main race as Harry Laidlaw was in the top 50 entries.
Ireland's Cormac Comerford placed 34th in the race while Kieran Norris crashed out on the first run. Comerford will start in the main race with bib 88.