Ski Cross WC race report Italy
Solid Start for GB Ski Cross World Cup Team this Weekend
The first two races of the FIS Ski Cross World Cup 2011 calendar took place this weekend in Innichen/ San Candido, Italy where Britain was represented by four athletes, Emily Sarsfield, Sarah Sauvey, Peter Whelan and Craig Robinson.
Amongst revelations last week that British Ski and Snowboard Olympic hopefuls would not be receiving any funding from UK Sport in the build up to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, Sarsfield, currently the Ladies British No.1 Ski Cross Athlete finished a credible 25th in the first race of the season and 27th in the second. This is a huge improvement for Sarsfield over last season's results in the same two races where she was returning from a horrific knee injury and only managed a best finish of 47th.
"I've worked hard over the summer building on my first place in the Val Thorens Europa Cup at the end of last season, and bringing through my form from the great results I had in the two South American Cups back in September finishing third and forth.
"It was just a shame I didn't improve on my 25th from Saturday even though I skied faster today [Sunday].
"We have a great world cup team set up for this season with Sarah [Sauvey], Peter [Whelan] and Craig [Robinson] and I receiving TASS [Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme] funding enabling us to fund and share a Ski Technician and a Physio which will make a huge difference for this season.
Peter Whelan achieved the best result of his world cup career finishing in 34th place and just missing out on a place in the heats. Whilst disappointed not to make the heats, the progress that Peter Whelan is making is clear for all to see.
In the same two races Sarsfield's team mate and Winter Olympian, Sauvey, finished 28th in both races. Craig Robinson completed the British line up by finishing 52nd in the first race, but failed to finish in the second race and has picked up a knee injury.
The TASS support the team receive this season has been a huge help and with the World Championships coming up in February the support will allow the team to go into the World Championships in better shape than ever before.
The FIS Ski Cross World Cup tour continues after Christmas in St. Johann (Tirol), Austria on 7th January.
Results from Innichen/ San Candido:
Race 1 Mens:
1st: Patrick Gasser(SUI), 2nd: Andreas Matt (AUT), 3rd: Thomas Zangerl (AUT),
34th: Peter Whelan (GBR), 52nd: Craig Robinson (GBR).
Race 1 Ladies:
1st: Anna Holmlund (SWE), 2nd: Kelsey Serwa (CAN), 3rd: Nikol Kucerova (CZE),
25th: Emily Sarsfield (GBR), 28th Sarah Sauvey (GBR).
Race 2 Mens:
1st: Scott Kneller (AUS), 2nd: Alex Fiva (SUI), 3rd: John Teller (USA),
37th: Peter Whelan (GBR), DNF: Craig Robinson (GBR).
Race 2 Ladies:
1st: Fanny Smith (SUI), 2nd: Ashleigh Mcivor (CAN), 3rd: Heidi Zacher (GER),
27th: Emily Sarsfield (GBR), 28th: Sarah Sauvey (GBR).
