ALPINE SKIING: Australia’s Greta Small has contested her second World Cup of the season at Beaver Creek (USA).

The World Cup series is the premier Alpine Skiing event outside of the World Championships and Olympic Games, with points from every round contributing to the overall winner.

Small is the only Australian to qualify for the 2013/2014 World Cup season- the last female Australian qualifier was Jenny Owens in 2004.

Competing against racers many years her senior, 18-year-old Small finished 45th (1:24.40) in a Super G race where 15 athletes failed to finish.

"The new Raptor women's birds of prey speed course is very intense, technical and challenging," Small said of the course which will also host the 2015 World Championships. 

"The Super G was super turny and the gates came at you fast. I made a lot of mistakes dropping very low out of the die lines, I didn't think I was going to make all the gates.

"I was very surprised at my result of 45th given how I skied, so that gives me confidence knowing I can make the top 45 even with all those mistakes." 

Racing in her first World Cup Downhill race, the youngest competitor in the field finished 52nd (1:47.59).

"My speed reached on the Downhill race day was 120km/h- on an icy 180 degree corner- to give you an idea of how fast we're travelling!

"I was satisfied with my run on the downhill as I improved from all my training runs but there is still a lot more to improve on."

Small then finished 56th in her first Giant Slalom run, outside the top 30 required to progress to the second run.

"The GS was flat and turny, I had some good skiing but a mistake going onto the flat cost me time.

"Overall it was a valuable learning experience especially for the 2015 World Champs next season and going into the North American Cup speed week next week." 

Switzerland’s Lara Gut continued her strong form that saw her win the Slalom in World Cup 1 to win both the Downhill and Super G events in Beaver Creek.

Gut now sits clear on the overall World Cup standings with 300 FIS points ahead of Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) on 220 points and Maria Hoefl-Riesch on 193 points. 

 

Aussies in Loveland

Meanwhile at the NorAm Cup race in Loveland, USA, 21-year-old Emily Bamford produced two solid Giant Slalom performances.

Bamford finished 51st in the Giant Slalom on the opening day of competition. She then improved to post a 46th place result in the second Giant Slalom event on day two. 

Compatriot Lavinia Chrystal failed to finish her second run on the opening day and did not make the start line on day two. 

Racing in the lower tiered National Junior Race, Sochi hopeful Dominic Demschar collected a win in the Giant Slalom, with fellow Aussie Sam Robertson finishing second.