After missing his first race of the season due to an insurance issue, Australia’s most successful winter athlete finished first in the Slalom at Kaunertal in Austria.
The win should mean Michael qualifies to race at World Cup events and also at the Paralympic Games in March. FIS points will be calculated by the sport’s governing body (the International Ski and Snowboard Federation or FIS) and it can take a few days. In the meantime, Michael is just happy to get a result.
As an added bonus, he is also now the Para-Slalom Champion of Liechtenstein.
“That was a bit of a surprise. I guess my race entry said it was the Leichtenstein National Championships but I didn’t notice. I only found out when they called my name at the presentation,” said Michael.
I am pretty chuffed about that – I’ve never been the champion of Liechtenshein before.
His campaign to once again compete at the winter Paralympic Games is well on track as (once today’s result is ratified) he has now qualified in two of the five events – Giant Slalom and Slalom, known as the technical disciplines. He has yet to qualify in the speed events – Downhill, Super Giant Slalom and Combined.
Michael’s one and only chance to qualify for the speed events comes in three days time in Steinach, Austria, where he will race in the Super Giant Slalom. A good result there should see him qualify for all three speed disciplines and mean he is able to ski in World Cup races in Europe before flying home on Christmas Eve.
“The two SG races in Steinach really are make or break as far as the speed events go. I won’t get another chance this year and there are very few opportunities in January and February ahead of the Games,” explain Michael.
Michael’s FIS points prior to today’s win was 215 which is lower than the 240 points required to compete at the Paralympic Games but higher than the 180 needed to race World Cup events. Today’s win means his average points for Slalom should now be 153 and opens the door to compete in the higher quality World Cup races.