Day 2: Super G, Titles for Crawford and Thomas.
Douglas Crawford put the disappointment at not being selected for last months Olympic Winter Games and the frustrations that have built up through the lack of cohesive training and race programme for him behind him today when he won the Mens Super G title on the first day of racing at The British Land National Ski Championships in Meribel France.
Crawford (Bearsden, Glasgow) confirmed that mentally and technically he has struggled badly for form since being denied Olympic selection, but after a week off in Verbier recharging his batteries and skiing some basic drills to try and find a stronger finish to his season, he unleashed a more attacking run today to win by 1.36 seconds from Norfolks TJ Baldwin.
To be honest I was quite nervous in the start gate because my results have not been great lately. But I skied well and it was not an easy course, so I am pleased to come through and win. Said Crawford.
While he fulfilled his ranking, seeded as favourite, Chemmy Alcott (Twickenham) admitted she is running on empty as she nears the end of a demanding, stressful season She she was edged out of first place in the Womens Super G by a margin of just six hundredths of a second by Louise Thomas (Val dIsere/West Horsley, Surrey).
But rather than make excuses, Britains best world ranked skier, Alcott, who posted eight World Cup top 20 finishes since December and last month raced all five Olympic disciplines in Whistler and finished 13th in the Olympic Downhill and 11th in the Super Combined there, paid a glowing tribute to the emerging Thomas, who she hopes will soon join her on the FIS World Cup tour.
It is the first time Thomas, who has a winter base in nearby Val dIsere, has beaten Alcott and her first major senior British title.
To be honest I did not have much expectation from today, far less to win, so I am pleased. said Thomas, I have not had the opportunity to do much skiing this season. I had six to seven weeks off with injury, and then with the weather recently there has not been much racing and a lot of hanging around. It did not feel like a very great run, the light was flat and it was a very technical Super G.
But it is always good to win a title and as the first race of the week it gives you lots of confidence to go forwards with.
Alcott who won the 2009 title on the same piste last year said:
It made me very proud to see the way Louise skied today. It was a really testing day. I had a long wait in the start after the race was held up. But we had a good competition and it was a good race. It is coming to the end of a long and very difficult season and really I feel completely spent. I have never felt this tired. My body is telling me it does not want to go on but my head keeps pushing. I made some mistakes but I am sure Louise did too, but that is ski racing. We are good mates and I was watching her coming down today and she was skiing some really nice turns.
But it is great to be here, to feel the support and interest there is. I was up skiing with and seeing some of the mini (very young) racers yesterday and that was just great.
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