New Zealand alpine ski racer Alice Robinson has started her new season with a second place at the FIS Giant Slalom World Cup season opener at Soelden, Austria.
The Queenstown 22-year-old second to Italian Federica Brignone by point 17 of a second with Austrian Julia Scheib third.
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After run one Robinson was sitting in second position, just +0.22 seconds behind run one leader American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin.
With the start order reversed for run two, Robinson was the second to last athlete to race the course that was starting to see a deterioration in surface condition due to the 28 athletes who had gone down before her.
She put in a fast run, using her strength and power to maintain a strong, quick line throughout the bumpy course.
“The second run was really challenging, especially on the top section, the steeps were bumpy and I have always found it quite challenging when the snow is soft, has a lot of moisture and is bumpy but I have been working hard on this so I am happy," said Robinson.
Shiffrin was eventually fifth.
The women’s FIS Giant Slalom World Cup circuit continues at the beginning of December with the Killington World Cup set to be held in the United States.