Southern Hemisphere Winter: The Racing Recap

As the Northern Hemisphere summer comes to an end, the Southern Hemisphere is wrapping up its winter – and athletes have made the most of the snow and racing opportunities down under. From New Zealand to Argentina and Chile, teams and individual athletes have combined their training camps with FIS and Continental Cup races, getting valuable competition time ahead of the upcoming World Cup season. With the Southern Hemisphere racing programme now complete, here is a look back at the action and the athletes who stood on the podium along the way.

Australian New Zealand Cup (ANC)

Mt Hutt, New Zealand

The Australian New Zealand Cup got underway at Mt Hutt, with athletes competing in Giant Slalom and Slalom across several days.

The women’s races saw Molly Butler emerge as one of the most consistent performers of the event. After finishing second in the opening Giant Slalom, the Briton added a third place in the first Slalom before going one step further to claim victory in the second. In the men’s Slalom, Christoph Meissl also started with a win before returning to the podium in second in the following race.

Women’s Giant Slalom – Race

1. Elisabeth Bocock (USA / Rossignol)

2. Molly Butler (GBR / Dynastar)

3. Victoria Palla (GBR) / Rossignol)

Men’s Giant Slalom – Race

1. Storm Andre Hagen (NOR / Atomic)

2. Christian Borgnaes (DEN / Salomon)

3. Francesco Riccardo Zucchini (ITA / Rossignol)

Women’s Slalom – Race 1

1. Liv Moritz (USA / Fischer)

2. Aline Danioth (SUI / Head)

3. Molly Butler (GBR / Dynastar)

Men’s Slalom – Race 1

1. Christoph Meissl (AUT / Fischer)

2. Jevin Palmquist (USA / Atomic)

3. Jonas Skabar (FRA)

Women’s Slalom – Race 2

1. Molly Butler (GBR / Dynastar)

2. Aline Daniot (SUI / Head)

3. Amelie Klopfenstein (SUI / Head)

Men’s Slalom – Race 2

1. Jonas Skabar (FRA)

2. Christoph Meissl (AUT / Fischer)

3. Luca Carrick-Smith (GBR / Van Deer)

Coronet Peak, New Zealand

After several cancellations at Thredbo, the ANC action moved to Coronet Peak, where the programme continued with Slalom and Giant Slalom.

Storm Andre Hagen carried his Giant Slalom momentum from Mt Hutt to Coronet Peak, taking another victory in the first GS. Andrej Drukarov finished second in that race before returning to the top step in the second, while the women’s Slalom saw Molly Butler back on the podium and two canadians take the win: Ameli Smart in Slalom and Arianne Forget in Giant Slalom. 

Women’s Slalom

1. Amelia Smart (CAN / Atomic)

2. Madison Hoffman (AUS / Rossignol)

3. Molly Butler (GBR / Dynastar)

Men’s Slalom

1. Freddy Carrick-Smith (GBR / Dynastar)

2. Christoph Meissl (AUT / Fischer)

3. Storm Andre Hagen (NOR / Atomic)

Women’s Giant Slalom – Race 1

1. Arianne Forget (CAN / Atomic)

2. Victoria Palla (GBR / Rossignol)

3. Amelie Klopfenstein (SUI / Head)

Men’s Giant Slalom – Race 1

1. Storm Andre Hagen (NOR / Atomic)

2. Andrej Drukarov (LTU / Van Deer)

3. Townsend Mikell (USA)

Men’s Giant Slalom – Race 2

1. Andrej Drukarov (LTU / Van Deer)

2. Francesco Riccardo Zucchini (ITA / Rossignol)

3. Christian Borgnaes (DEN / Salomon)

South American Cup (SAC)

Cerro Castor, Ushuaia, Argentina

Meanwhile, the South American Cup got underway in Ushuaia, with four days of Giant Slalom and Slalom racing on the programme.

The South American Cup began at Cerro Castor in Ushuaia, with two days of Giant Slalom followed by two days of Slalom.

The men’s Giant Slalom belonged to Nickco Palamaras, who won both races, with Giuliano Fux finishing second on each occasion. Fux then switched disciplines and took the first Slalom, while Jesper Pohjolainen kept the pressure on with second place in both Slalom races.

On the women’s side, Katie Rowekamp opened with victory before Kjersti Moritz moved from second to first in the second Giant Slalom. Carla Mijares Ruf and Viktoria Zaytseva then each got one Slalom victory.

Men’s Giant Slalom – Race 1

1. Nickco Palamaras (GER / Atomic)

2. Giuliano Fux (SUI / Fischer)

3. Jonas Stockinger (GER / Voelkl)

Women’s Giant Slalom – Race 1

1. Katie Rowekamp (USA / Rossignol)

2. Kjersti Moritz (USA / Fischer)

3. Fabiana Dorigo (GER / Atomic)

Men’s Giant Slalom – Race 2

1. Nickco Palamaras (GER / Atomic)

2. Giuliano Fux (SUI / Fischer)

3. Jonas Stockinger (GER / Voelkl)

Women’s Giant Slalom – Race 2

1. Kjersti Moritz (USA / Fischer)

2. Fabiana Dorigo (GER / Atomic)

3. Iria Medina Girones (AND)

Men’s Slalom – Race 1

1. Giuliano Fux (SUI / Fischer)

2. Jesper Pohjalainen (FIN / Head)

3. Reto Maechler (SUI / Head)

Women’s Slalom – Race 1

1. Carla Miijares Ruf (AND / Head)

2. Annika Hunt (USA / Rossignol)

3. Annika Johansson (USA / Atomic)

Men’s Slalom – Race 2

1. Joaquim Salarich Baucells (ESP / Nordica)

2. Jesper Pohjalainen (FIN / Head)

3. Fabian Himmelsbach (GER / Fischer)

Women’s Slalom – Race 2

1. Viktoria Zaytseva (USA)

2. Francesca Baruzzi Farriol (ARG / Rossignol)

3. Annika Hunt (USA / Rossignol)

La Parva, Chile

In Chile, the speed athletes took centre stage at La Parva, where Downhill and Super G races provided the next opportunity for competition.

Felix Roesle set the tone by winning both men’s Downhills, with Matthieu Bailet and Felix Monsen completing the same top three in both races. The women’s competition developed into a strong run for Barbora Novakova: after finishing second behind Haley Cutler in the opening Downhill, she won the second race and then carried that form into Super G, winning both races there as well.

Men’s Downhill – Race 1

1. Felix Roesle (GER / Rossignol)

2. Matthieu Bailet (FRA / Head)

3. Felix Monsen (SWE / Atomic)

Women’s Downhill – Race 1

1. Haley Cutler (USA / Atomic)

2. Babrora Novakova (CZE / Kaestle)

3. Matilde Schwenke (CHI)

Men’s Downhill – Race 2

1. Felix Roesle (GER / Rossignol)

2. Matthieu Bailet (FRA / Head)

3. Felix Monsen (SWE / Atomic)

Women’s Downhill – Race 2

1. Babrora Novakova (CZE / Kaestle)

2. Haley Cutler (USA / Atomic)

3. Nicole Begue (ARG / Salomon)

Men’s Super G – Race 1

1. Benno Brandis (GER / Atomic)

2. Felix Monsen (SWE / Atomic)

3. Luis Vogt (GER / Rossignol)

Women’s Super G – Race 1

1. Babrora Novakova (CZE / Kaestle)

2. Haley Cutler (USA / Atomic)

3. Nicole Begue (ARG / Salomon)

Men’s Super G – Race 2

1. Benno Brandis (GER / Atomic)

2. Matthieu Bailet (FRA / Head)

3. Adrien Fresquet (FRA / Head)

Women’s Super G – Race 2

1. Babrora Novakova (CZE / Kaestle)

2. Haley Cutler (USA / Atomic)

3. Matilde Schwenke (CHI)

Chapelco, San Martin de los Andes, Argentina

The South American Cup then moved to Chapelco, where athletes returned to Giant Slalom before another set of Slalom races.

The races brought victories for Nicholas Unkovskoy and local favourite Francesca Baruzzi Farriol, who claimed the women’s win on home snow.

Men’s Giant Slalom – Race 1

1. Nicholas Unkovskoy (USA)

2. Hannes Amman (GER / Rossignol)

3. Nickco Palamaras (GER / Atomic)

Women’s Giant Slalom – Race 1

1. Francesca Baruzzi Farriol (ARG / Rossignol)

2. Jessica Hilzinger (GER / Head)

3. Eliane Stoessel (SUI / Atomic)

Unkovskoy continued his run in the second men’s Giant Slalom, while Baruzzi Farriol moved to the top of the women’s podium a second time for these races in her home country.

Men’s Giant Slalom – Race 2

1. Nicholas Unkovskoy (USA)

2. Nicolas Quintero (ARG)

3. Nickco Palamaras (GER / Atomic)

Women’s Giant Slalom – Race 2

1. Francesca Baruzzi Farriol (ARG / Rossignol)

2. Jessica Hilzinger (GER / Head)

3. Iria Medina Gironés (AND)

Cerro Catedral Bariloche, Argentina

The racing continued in Argentina at Cerro Catedral Bariloche, with athletes competing in both Slalom and Giant Slalom.

Jessica Hilzinger made the most of the Slalom double, moving from second in the opening race to victory in the second. Nickco Palamaras then returned to the top step in Giant Slalom, adding another win to the two he had already collected in Ushuaia.

Men’s Slalom – Race 1

1. Dominik Zerbhoch (GER / Voelkl)

2. Fabian Himmelsbach (GER /Fischer)

3. Nickco Palamaras (GER Atomic)

Women’s Slalom – Race 1

1. Carla Mijares Ruf (AND / Head)

2. Jessica Hilzinger (GER / Head)

3. Nicole Good (SUI / Voelkl)

Men’s Slalom – Race 2

1. Shiro Aihara (JPN / Atomic)  

2. Nickco Palamaras (GER Atomic)

3. Lukas Krauss (GER / Atomic)

Women’s Slalom – Race 2

1. Jessica Hilzinger (GER / Head)

2. Francesca Baruzzi Farriol (ARG / Rossignol)

3. Giselle Gorringe (GBR / Atomic)

Men’s Giant Slalom

1. Nickco Palamaras (GER Atomic)

2. Lukas Krauss (GER / Atomic)

3. Dominik Zerbhoch (GER / Voelkl)

Women’s Giant Slalom

1. Iria Medina Girondes (AND)

2. Francesca Baruzzi Farriol (ARG / Rossignol)

3. Jessica Hilzinger (GER / Head)

Corralco, Chile

The final stop of the Southern Hemisphere racing programme was Corralco in Chile, where the speed events brought the Down Under campaign to a close.

Barbora Novakova was the standout in the women’s races, winning the second Downhill before adding victories in both Super Gs. In the men’s field, Rhett Lindsey followed a third place in the opening Downhill with a win in the second.

Men’s Downhill – Race 1

1. Attila Eberhard Banyai (HUN)

2. Owen Winter (GBR / Rossignol)

3. Rhett Lindsey (USA)

Men’s Downhill – Race 2

1. Rhett Lindsey (USA)

2. Nicolas Quintero (ARG)

3. Owen Winter (GBR / Rossignol)

Women’s Downhill – Race 1

1. Mary Bocock (USA / Rossignol)

2. Gina Oberhuber (GER / Head)

3. Barbora Novakova (CZE / Kaestle)

Women’s Downhill – Race 2

1. Barbora Novakova (CZE / Kaestle)

2. Matilde Schwenke (CHI)

3. Gina Oberhuber (GER / Head)

Men’s Super G – Race 1

1. Tiziano Gravier (ARG / Head)

2. Rhett Lindsey (USA)

3. Aron Pedimina (CRO)

Men’s Super G – Race 2

1. Aaron Pedimina (CRO)

2. Kevin Fritschi (SUI / Rossignol)

3. Owen Winter (GBR / Rossignol)

Women’s Super G – Race 1

1. Barbora Novakova (CZE / Kaestle)

2. Nina Lehmann (SUI / Head)

3. Matilde Schwenke (CHI)

Women’s Super G – Race 2

1. Barbora Novakova (CZE / Kaestle)

2. A J Hurt (USA / Head)

3. Gina Oberhuber (GER / Head)

With the Southern Hemisphere season now wrapped up, the focus shifts north as the athletes prepare for the Alpine World Cup opener in Sölden (AUT) on the second-last weekend of October. Nickco Palamaras and Barbora Novakova emerged as the overall winners of the South American Cup, while Molly Butler and Christoph Meissl topped the Australian New Zealand Cup standings, closing out a busy winter of racing down under.

To view all the details of the results, visit our webasite.