Lake Wanaka, NZ – (6 August 2013) – Queenstown ski racer, Adam Barwood, had more than one reason to celebrate last week. Competing in the FIS Tech Series at Treble Cone on 30 July Barwood earned himself the top podium spot with a career-best result – and it also just happened to be his 21st birthday.
“I was very happy to have made the podium, especially in the first race of the season against a strong field, and on my 21st Birthday!” said Barwood.
The four-day FIS series comprised two Slalom races at Treble Cone on 30 and 31 July and two Giant Slalom races at Cardrona Alpine Resort on 1 and 2 August.
Faced with a strong international field represented by more than 34 nations, Barwood says that he didn’t have high expectations leading into the event, although training had been going well and he was hoping to put together a good performance.
More than just ‘good’, Barwood’s result in the Slalom was a personal best, scoring 17.35 FIS points and helping to improve his world ranking. Barwood then went on to back this up with a personal best in the GS at Cardrona Alpine Resort on 1 August.
Other stand out performances from the New Zealand athletes came from Wanaka’s Piera Hudson and Twizel’s Willis Feasey. Hudson was the highest placed female New Zealand athlete, placing fifth in both GS races and scoring a career-best 33 FIS points. While Feasey claimed fourth on the second day of GS, the top placed male New Zealander with 21.91 FIS points.
Snow Sports NZ’s Alpine Manager, Ian McLean, said it was exciting to see such promising results from New Zealand skiers in the first FIS races for the Southern Hemisphere season. With many international athletes also competing in New Zealand as part of their 2014 Winter Olympic Games qualifying campaign, McLean also commented that the Wanaka series had given upcoming athletes in their first year of FIS races a good taste of international competition.
“Thanks to the Treble Cone and Cardrona race departments for putting on the races and to the Wanaka Ski and Snowboard Club who hosted the series,” says Mclean. “The conditions were world-class and the service was fantastic. We are very lucky to be able to hold these races at these mountains. We couldn’t do it without the excellent staff at both resorts and the amazing volunteers who give up their time.”
Click here for results from the Wanaka FIS series
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Image: Adam Barwood on the podium with Craig Marshall (USA) in second and Mike Rishworth (Aus) in third
11 years ago
Adam Barwood