Adam Hall Takes Gold in Super Combined and Slalom at World Cup Finals

Mt Panorama, BC, Canada (19 March 2012) - For the fourth time in less than two weeks Adam Hall has beaten the rest of the world. After claiming his first ever Super-G World Cup Podium in last week’s World Cup in Winter Park, followed two days later by another win in slalom, Hall had another outstanding victory this week at the World Cup Finals in Mt Panorama BC, Canada in a third Alpine ski racing event, the Super Combined (one run Super G, and one run Slalom), followed by another Gold in slalom. 

After winning the first run by less than two tenths of a second Hall stepped the pace up a notch to win the second run convincingly, in the end leading the rest of the world by 1.05 seconds in slalom, the showcase event of Paralympic Alpine ski racing.Commenting on his season, Hall says, "It has really been an incredible last two weeks for Team Adam Hall - Four World Cup wins and two other World Cup top five results.  This has been the most successful season of my career outside my Paralympic medal in 2010. I along with the rest of my team learned a lot and worked hard to get back to where we are now. It is crazy yet amazing to be back on top.”

“I regained the ranking of number one in the world after yesterday’s slalom result. I thank my family and friends and my sponsors back home for their ongoing support and drive - and especially a big thanks to the support crew I have behind me. Without their hard work, ongoing commitment and continued belief in me I would not be able to be competitive at such a high level.”

Conditions were less than optimal all week with fresh snow each day stretching the course workers and race organisers. 

"The true Kiwi spirit in Adam shined through this week, proving that Kiwis really can fly,” said Hall’s coach Scott Olson.  “I am exceptionally proud of the way he conveyed himself."

“For an Olympic or Paralympic athlete, every event preceding a Games should be considered a test of some component of their performance required in the Games and the preceding Qualification season,” said NZ Winter Performance Programme Progression Unit Director and Paralympic Chef de Mission Jon Turnbull.  “Hall’s target was to peak twice within the one-week competition week.” 

"We know Adam has the capability to podium in slalom and given favourable conditions we know we can also achieve in the Super Combined event. If we are to target these multiple goals in Sochi 2014, then we must be able to deal with the emotional highs of success and the lows of physical and mental exhaustion associated with giving it your all.”

“This week Adam worked hard toward this goal - the team rallied hard to care for Adam and he himself was extremely professional with his therapy, recovery and energy maintenance.”
 
“We took a little time to celebrate his Super Combined win, (a significant achievement by itself being his first World Cup victory in this event), and then put this win in the back pocket to refocus for the slalom the next day.”
 
“Adam's success these last few weeks has been simply outstanding.”

Hall is back to some stress free spring training in Winter Park Colorado, taking time to test new training methods and technology. After a short break in late April, Hall will be back in Wanaka New Zealand training hard in the gym in preparation for the New Zealand Winter where he is based at Cardrona Alpine resort.