Day 4: Women’s Slalom & Men’s Giant Slalom
Douglas Crawford collected his second title of these British Land National Ski Championships when he won the Men’s Giant Slalom in conditions which have improved little since Sunday, when the event was scheduled to start.
Further snowfall compounded by the mild temperatures which prevailed, especially by the afternoon, ensured that the courses quickly became bumpy and rutted in places. Top seed Andy Noble (Edinburgh) looked to have done enough to lead the first run, but caught his inside ski edge only three gates from home and spun out of control.
Crawford (Bearsden) lead David Ryding (Lancs) by just one tenth of a second after the first run. The pair were even more closely matched on the second run, with just two hundredths in it, in favour of the Scot, who added to the Super G title he won here on Monday.
“It was pretty hard work, a bumpy course, but I guess it was the same for everyone, but it’s good to come away with a result.” Said Crawford, who expects to finish his season after the Scottish FIS Championships in neighbouring Courchevel, next week.
The Women’s Slalom which ran first, this morning, set the tone, although it was higher up on the first run course that top seed Chemmy Alcott (Twickenham) skied out.
Louise Thomas (Surrey), also the Super G title winner this week took full advantage in her preferred discipline to win by over four seconds from Harriet Steggles. Thomas, runner up to Alcott last year, was 3.14 seconds ahead after the first run. Twenty five girls from the field of 65 starters failed to finish the tough first run, which rutted very quickly – especially on the steep pitch where the wide, offset turns proved especially testing.
“After the first run, for me the second run was just about getting down and winning the title, skiing solidly and making sure I was mistake free, which I pretty much was.” Said Thomas. “ I was a bit surprised how it went because it is difficult when you are in that position, do you ski to finish or go for it. I had the battle in my head and in the end I just went for it.”
“It is always great to have Chemmy here. That pushes me massively. She is the one to beat and it is nice to know you are up there, racing alongside here, especially when you know that she is one of the best skiers in the world. That is a real motivation for me, to see how I do against the best and that is what these whole championships are about for me.”
“It has been an interesting winter. I was in Austria for the whole winter. To be honest it has all gone the way it should have and I would not go back and change anything, considering the situation it could not have really been expected to go any better.” Reported Thomas.
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