ALPINE SKIING: Alpine skier Louis Muhlen has had the best event of his burgeoning career as he builds for the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games.
Speeding down Minnesota’s Spirit Mountain in the Atmore Memorial, Muhlen claimed a victory and two more podium finishes in the three slalom events he competed in.
The 17-year-old began the event with a third place finish behind Canada’s Northrop Johnston, six years his senior, while he was just 0.02 off fellow teenager Tommy Anderson of the USA.
In temperatures that did not get above -17 degrees Celsius, Muhlen claimed his win in the second event when he defeated Anderson by 0.33 seconds.
He rounded out the event with another third place finish behind Northrop and Anderson.
“If I could put my performance into two words they would be, hard earned,” said the young gun from Melbourne.
“Although I was one of the best guys there the results certainly didn’t come easy.”
Muhlen, who trains and goes to school at the Sugar Bowl Academy in Norden, California, believes everything is finally coming together after some ups and downs to start the season.
“It has definitely been a bit of a roller coaster ride of DNF’s and good and bad runs, but I am liking where I am headed.
“I will just keep focusing on the process and working hard towards Lillehammer.”
Muhlen is now headed back to Sugar Bowl and will compete in two Slalom and two Giant Slalom events this weekend.
Alongside fellow Sugar Bowl Academy student Katie Parker, he will represent Australia in alpine skiing at the Lillehammer 2016 Games that kick off on February 12. The duo’s official selection will confirmed later this week.
They will join a 17 strong Australian Team that will also feature athletes competing in ice hockey (skills challenge), biathlon, cross country skiing, luge, short track, freestyle skiing, snowboard cross and snowboard halfpipe.
Matt Bartolo
olympics.com.au
