Perfect Start To The 2018 British National Alpine Ski Championships
Iain Innes had a perfect start to the 2018 British National Alpine Ski Championships in Tignes today, winning the Under 21 Super G National Junior Championship before defending the senior title he claimed 12 months ago.
In near-perfect conditions for athletes and spectators, Innes didn’t have it all his own way in the National Championship, sharing top spot on the podium with Charlie Raposo while Cara Brown was also able to successfully defend her ladies’ title.
National Championships
The four-time defending ladies’ overall champion, Brown (1:25.42) is in Tignes with plenty of expectation on herself to perform, but she opened the Championships in the best way possible by winning the Sir John Ritblat Trophy Super G by 0.99 seconds.
Jess Anderson (1:26.41) was second while Yasmin Cooper (1:26.58) took the final place on the podium.
Brown said she felt comfortable in today’s race and was still able to deliver the result, the first step on what she hopes will be a fifth straight overall title.
“The first race was OK, a little bit of a cruise,” she said. “I felt like I skied quite well and it was really good fun.
“100 points towards the overall title today was really good, hopefully in the downhill I can take the win there as well. The slalom is probably going to be a bit tricky, it will be my first slalom race this year so we’ll see how that goes
“In the Giant Slalom I won the title two years ago so it would be great to defend it again but I think Alex Tilley is going to be here so there’s some tough competition.”
Jazmine Butcher (1:27.79) took home the Ladies’ Ski Club Salver for the fastest non-British team athlete and Olivia Foster (1:29.77) won the Ingham Shield for the fastest British Under 18 skier.
In the men’s national championship race, Iain Innes and Charlie Raposo shared the British Land Super G Trophy after both stopping the clock at 1:24.17. The pair were over a second clear of 2017 runner-up Billy Major (1:25.33) who was third.
Innes was happy to defend the trophy, surprised that nothing could split him and Europa Cup squad member Raposo.
“I have to share it with someone but I’m still happy,” said Innes. “It’s mental (dead-heating) - that doesn’t happen often!
“In speed races like this it’s a combination of all the tiny things; how well you’ve waxed your skis the night before, what condition your race-suit is in, if your tuck is aerodynamic, there’s not big differences anywhere.”
A giant slalom specialist, Raposo was pleased to get a breakthrough win in a discipline he has started to focus more on recently.
“It’s nice to take the Super G title, it’s my first title in speed,” said Raposo. “I’ve finally made the commitment to start skiing in the Super G; I dabbled with is in years past but I’ve taken the Giant Slalom title three times so it’s not unchartered territory.
“I had a good time, I had good fun so that helps, it’s always good to have a smile on your face.”
Duncan Kuwall (1:27.12) took home the BASI Salver for the fastest non-British team athlete and Owen Vinter (1:26.56) won the U18 Shield.
National Junior Championships
Iain Innes had a perfect day out in Tignes, going one better than 2017 to win the Super G Under 21 National Junior Championship to go with his victory in the National Championship.
Innes (1:24.60) won the Kandahar Commonwealth Cup by over a second from Robert Poth and Zak Vinter (1:25.67) who shared second place on the podium.
Zak’s younger brother Owen Vinter (1:26.48) won the Under 18 National Junior Championship to win the STS Shield. Charlie Luke (1:27.96) and Tom Hudson (1:29.17) also finished on the podium.
In the Ladies’ National Junior Championship race, Yasmin Cooper (1:26.30) claimed victory in the Under 21s to win the Walter Hutchison Challenge Cup ahead of Honor Clissold (1:27.86) and Jazmine Butcher (1:28.71).
In the Under 18s, Victoria Palla (1:27.13) won the STS Shield from Sarah Woodward (1:27.82) and Olivia Foster (1:30.59).
Monday and Tuesday are Downhill training days before racing resumes on Wednesday.
