Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Australia's alpine skiers have begun the qualification process for Torino, competing in downhill and super G events in Lake Louise at the weekend.

AJ Bear and Craig Branch, both coming back to the circuit from injury, were joined by New South Wales team-mate Luke Deane for the season opener in Canada.

After a tentative three days of training when he was well back in the field, Bear skied to a solid 48th place in the downhill, registering a top 80 per cent of field result, a first step toward Torino. Craig Branch, two spots back in 50th place also posted a top 80 per cent.

With Luke Deane guaranteed a start in super G by virtue of his victory in the Continental Cup during the Australian winter, the second place in that field went to Bear by virtue of finishing ahead of Branch in the downhill.

He made the most of it, finishing in 37th place, gaining one of two top 60 per cent of field results that will guarantee his a start at the Games. His time of one minute 29.25 seconds was 3.21 seconds behind race winner Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway.

Deane, who was on track for a place in the top 30 according to coach Helmut Spiegl until he made a mistake on one turn, finished in 40th place, just missing a top 60 percent mark, but securing his first top 80 per cent of field result.

All three have now travelled to Beaver Creek for the second round of the World Cup beginning on Friday Australian time.

Courtesy of OWI/Sportcom



AJ Bear (Image: NSWIS)