Four Double Victories in St. Moritz

The 2023-24 Para Alpine Skiing season kicked off successfully with two downhill races in St. Moritz this weekend. High winds allowed for only one training run the day before the competition, but for the weekend, the weather Gods cooperated allowing for a great two days of action on the same course setting as the able-bodied women's World Cup downhill. "The athletes' performances were top-level. We measured speeds of up to 120km/h on some sections!" reported Anja Skutelj, FIS Para Alpine Race Director.

In the women/vision-impaired category, young talent Alexandra Rexova (SVK) and her guide, Hugo Rybar, outpaced their competitors and secured the first victory of the new season. On the second day, British skier Menna Fitzpatrick, along with her guide Katie Guest, took their revenge, winning the downhill ahead of Sara Choi and Sanghyun Jung (KOR) and the Slovakian pair.

The women/standing category saw French athletes dominate, with the experienced Marie Bochet securing victories in both races ahead of her compatriot Aurélie Richard. The podium was completed by Anna-Maria Rieder (GER) on the first day and Frédérique Turgeon (CAN) on the second. In the sitting category, the sole woman competitor, Anna-Lena Forster (GER), delivered two solid races on the picturesque Corviglia slope.

Youth prevailed in the men/vision-impaired category, with the Austrian pair Johannes Aigner and Nico Haberl winning both races. They also set the fastest time in both races across all categories. French and Italian pairs, Hyacinthe Deleplace with guide Roy Piccard and Giacomo Bertagnolli with guide Andrea Ravelli, both secured silver and bronze medals.

Robin Cuche (SUI) also celebrated a double victory in the men/standing category, leading ahead of Arthur Bauchet (FRA) on the first day and Alexis Guimond (CAN) on the second, earning two medals. The men/sitting category witnessed a contest between Norwegian Jesper Pedersen, winner of the first downhill, and Jeroen Kampschreur (NED), winner of the second, returning from a shoulder injury. Kurt Oatway (CAN) completed the podium on the first day, and Niels De Langen (NED) on the second.

The Para Alpine Skiing World Cup will next stop in Steinach am Brenner (AUT) for two Super-G and two Giant Slalom races, from 20th December to 22nd December.