ALPINE SKIING: Katie Parker has continued her impressive run of podium finishes claiming 2nd and 4th at Schweitzer Mountain, Idaho as she builds for the Lillehammer 2016 Youth Olympic Games.
Competing in her first ever FIS downhill events, Parker finished the first competition just off the podium 0.54 seconds behind USA’s Maureen Lebel.
She improved in the second event to only finish behind Canada’s Georgia Burgess and despite the downhill not being a part of the Lillehammer competition the results bode well for Parker with just a fortnight to go until the second Winter Youth Games.
“Schweitzer has been awesome, the mountain is sick with tons of groomers,” said Parker.
“The first two downhill training runs went well but I knew I could give it a little more. I analysed video and looked at the line I had to take if I wanted to be faster.
“The next day, we kicked both the downhill races off in one day due to bad weather coming in. I got 4th on the first race and was pretty stoked with that result. The next race I was keen for a podium spot and finished in second place.”
The results come off the back of Parker claiming three podiums in four events at last week’s slalom and giant slalom competitions at Sugar Mountain and has her feeling positive heading towards Lillehammer 2016.
“My runs felt good and got a second faster every run.
“I am definitely more confident going into Lillehammer now.”
Competing alongside Parker at the event was three-time Australian Olympian Jenny Owens who was happy to pass on some of her twenty plus years of competition experience to the youngster.
“I was fortunate to meet and talk to Jenny Owens who was also racing in the downhill.
“She was super cool and gave me some advice going into Lillehammer. She is such an experienced ski racer and it was awesome to see her get back on the downhill skis and have some fun!”
Parker will have the opportunity to line up in the slalom, giant slalom, combined, super G and a parallel mixed team event.
She will join fellow alpine skiier Louis Muhlen in Lillehammer along with 15 other Australian athletes competing in biathlon, freestyle snowboard (halfpipe and slopestyle), cross country skiing, ski cross, snowboard cross, freestyle skiing (halfpipe and slopestyle), ice hockey skills challenge, short track speed skating and luge.
Matt Bartolo
olympics.com.au
