Henrieta Farkasova returns to top in St. Moritz World Cup

Slovakia’s five-time Paralympic champion Henrieta Farkasova returned to her winning ways on Tuesday (20 December), in the second edition of giant slalom at the Para Alpine Skiing World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

The 30-year-old, guided by Natalia Subrtova, had lost to Great Britain’s Millie Knight on Monday in the women’s visually impaired but came back on day two to edge Knight and guide Brett Wild by 0.38 seconds. Knight’s compatriot Kelly Gallagher, guided by Gary Smith, completed the podium.

The men’s visually impaired event featured another Slovakian at the top, as Marek Kubacka won, guided by Maria Zatovicova. Italy’s Giacomo Bertagnolli and guide Fabrizio Casal finished second, and Kubacka’s teammate Jakub Krako, guided by Branislav Brozman, rounded off the podium.

Austrian skiers also had a strong day, with wins in both the men’s and women’s sitting.

Three-time Paralympic bronze medallist Roman Rabl sealed his fourth victory in the season, followed by the USA’s Tyler Walker and Germany’s Georg Kreiter, respectively.

Rabl’s compatriot and multi-Paralympic medallist Claudia Loesch won the women’s equivalent with 1.75 seconds separating her from Germany’s second-placed and three-time Paralympic medallist Anna-Lena Forster. Japan’s Momoka Muraoka was third.

France’s 16-year-old Arthur Bauchet continued his unbeaten run after yesterday’s victory to win the men’s standing, just 0.22 seconds ahead of Australia’s Mitchell Gourley. The USA’s Thomas Walsh finished third.

The French teenage sensation keeps surprising with about a one month to go until the 2017 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships, to be held in Tarvisio, Italy, from 22-31 January.

In the women’s standing, Germany’s Sochi 2014 gold medallist Andrea Rothfuss won after two leading runs, followed by Slovakia’s Petra Smarzova and then Canada’s Erin Latimer.

Racing continues in St. Moritz on Wednesday (21 December) and Thursday (22 December) with two separate slalom races.

Live results are available throughout at World Para Alpine Skiing’s website.