Five-Time Winter Paralympian Adam Hall (Wānaka) has claimed his second World Cup podium finish of the 2024/25 season with a second place finish at the FIS Para Alpine Slalom World Cup held in Feldberg, Germany.
Hall said, “I am really stoked to be back on the podium today, I have been really proud of my skiing and seeing the work that we have been doing in training transfer into the race environment is what I am most happy about. It’s been exciting this season to see so many of the top guys skiing hard and fighting hard for the podium.”
With three back-to-back days of World Cup racing, it’s been a gruelling schedule in Feldberg. Hall had already recorded fifth and seventh-place finishes the last two days and he knew that if he kept focussing on his skiing (rather than the outcome) that he would be rewarded.
Conditions were challenging, with a substantial amount of rain resulting in a saturated course. Hall explained; “There was a lot of moisture today and a lot of salt was used. I probably prefer these variable conditions, as they tend to play into my hand both with the skiing and with the mental element. I feel like today was the best I have ever skied in conditions like this, which is great as we know this is a potential reality we face in Milano Cortina 2026.”
Hall pushed out of the start gate for his first run and charged down the course with his trademark millimetre precision, putting down a fantastic top to bottom run and clocking the second fastest run one time of the day in his category.
Snow Sports NZ Lead Para Alpine Coach Daniel Bogue explained, “We have been working on attacking the first run more, so I am really pleased with how Adam skied that first run. When the conditions are tough Adam's consistency shines through.”
Hall put down a dynamic and fast second run, but he was unable to take the top spot from today’s winner Arthur Bauchet of France. Hall was the only athlete who was able to split the French team, who finished with four athletes in the top five.
Bauchet took the top spot, making it three for three wins in Feldberg this week with his compatriot Oscar Burnham rounding out the podium in third.
With two more World Cup races planned for Hall in the coming months, today’s event marks roughly halfway through his competition season. He is currently sitting second in the overall Para Alpine Slalom World Cup standings, and we will next see Hall in the World Cup bib at the Kranjska Gora Para Alpine Slalom World Cup in early March.
30 days ago