Alice Robinson Dominates Giant Slalom in Canada for Sixth Win

Alice Robinson, a skier from Queenstown, achieved a remarkable feat by securing her sixth career victory in the Giant Slalom World Cup series at Tremblant, Canada, on December 3, 2023. Following her initial triumph at the season opener, Robinson continued to demonstrate her exceptional skills, finishing the race with a commanding lead of nearly one second over her nearest competitor.

The 24-year-old athlete expressed her excitement after the race, stating, “That was such a testing race. It felt like the complete opposite of Copper last weekend.” She emphasized the importance of maintaining her lead after a strong first run, where she finished ahead by 0.33 seconds. Robinson’s performance in her second run was marked by precision and speed, allowing her to navigate the challenging terrain effectively.

“The speed was faster in the second run,” Robinson explained. “I think the snow got colder. It stopped snowing as much and it froze so the tempo was up a bit.” She noted the differences between the courses at Copper Mountain and Tremblant, highlighting the unique challenges presented by the latter. “Copper was steep and really fast the whole time, and today was really grindy and had so much micro terrain,” she said.

Robinson’s closest rival, Croatian skier Zrinka Ljutic, finished in second place, trailing by 0.94 seconds. Canadian skier Valerie Grenier secured third place on her home snow, delighting the local crowd.

Another Podium Finish

The Tremblant event served as a double-header for the Giant Slalom World Cup. Robinson followed her victory with a third-place finish in the subsequent race, marking her 20th career podium appearance and her third podium finish within the first four rounds of the season.

Currently, Robinson leads the Giant Slalom standings with 292 points, holding an eight-point advantage over Austrian skier Julia Scheib, who won the previous race. Although Robinson performed well in her first run, a minor error during her second run resulted in a slower time, finishing 0.78 seconds behind Scheib, with Swedish skier Sara Hector coming in second.

The Giant Slalom World Cup series will take a break until December 27, 2023, allowing Robinson to shift her focus to speed events. She is set to compete in the Downhill and Super G races in St Moritz, Switzerland, next weekend. Looking ahead, the Winter Olympics in Italy are scheduled for February 2026, presenting another opportunity for Robinson to showcase her talents on an international stage.

Robinson’s recent performances highlight her growth as a skier, particularly her ability to adapt to different courses and conditions. With her dedication and the hard work put in during the summer, she is poised for continued success in the upcoming World Cup events.