Slalom specialist Jono Brauer has bounced back from his failure to finish in the opening race of the World Cup season, skiing to a 43rd place in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy.

Brauer negotiated the course in a time of 50.12 seconds, 3.13 seconds off the fastest first tun time of Benjamin Raich of Austria, missing a place in the second run, but claiming the first of three top 60 per cent of field results he needs to qualify for the Australian Olympic team for Torino 2006.

NSW team-mate Brad Wall was eight places further back in 51st position, unfortunately just missing the chance to pick up his second top 60 per cent..

Hometown hero Giorgio Rocca went on to win his second consecutive event of the season from Raich and Finn Kalle Palander.
Australia's speed specialists were in action at the weekend, Craig Branch finishing in 43rd place - missing a top 60 per cent result by just 1.4 per cent - and AJ Bear finishing 51st. Bear also placed 36th in the super combined event at the French resort.
The next slalom event will be at the Slovenian resort of Kranjska Gora on December 22, the next downhill and super G over the coming weekend in Val Gardena.

Courtesy OWI/Sportcom