Alice Robinson on her way to becoming the New Zealand Giant Slalom National Champion at Coronet Peak in Queenstown. Photo: Snow Sports NZ
Queenstown's Alice Robinson has been crowned the New Zealand Giant Slalom National Champion for the second year running.
Fifteen countries were represented and there were 10 New Zealand women in the field competing at Coronet Peak in Queenstown.
The Giant Slalom course differed slightly from previous years, with the athletes starting at the top of the Coronet Express on the M1, before taking a big left hand bend and rolling over into the formidable Hurdle, widely recognised as one of the steepest giant slalom slopes in the Southern Hemisphere.
"It's good to be able to race here [at Coronet Peak] and take the National Champs title, it's always really special and a nice way to start my season off," Robinson said.
Robinson attacked the challenging course and lead run one by -0.67 seconds.
As the fastest first run athlete, Robinson was the final athlete to push out the start for run two.
She made quick work of solidifying her lead and took the win by -1.42 seconds in the overall FIS race and -1.43 seconds in the NZ Giant Slalom National Championships race.
Piera Hudson of Hawke's Bay finished third overall, just one hundredth of a second behind second place finisher Janine Maechler of Switzerland.
Hudson's result also secured her a second place finish in the NZ Giant Slalom National Championships.
Nelson's Ruby Fullerton rounded out the National Championship women's podium in third.
Poor weather delayed the men's competition which will now take place on Friday.
-RNZ
