Kiwi Olympic skier Alice Robinson is already stamping her mark on speed events, finishing second at her first ever FIS European Cup Downhill Race in France.
Robinson, a three-time World Cup champion in technical event Giant Slalom, also recorded a career-best Super-G finish in December last year - claiming fourth at the St Mortiz Super-G World Cup.
Now the 20-year-old is making herself known in the other speed event.
Racing as the final competitor in her first Downhill race, Robinson came from behind to complete a superb run time of 1:24:78, clocking in just +0.33 behind Switzerland's Juliana Suter.
“It was really fun, it’s a great slope," says Robinson. "It’s a Europa Cup race so it’s a great level. I had some really good sections and there were some spots that I can improve on, so it was a really solid result for my first Downhill race.”
Robinson's hoping to lower her Downhill FIS points, as she works towards securing entry into Downhill training days prior to Super-G World Cups.
The training days occur on the same slope of each World Cup Super-G race, helping her gain an advantage her competitors already have - familiarisation of the slopes.
Robinson says her game plan is working.
"The goal today was to ski solid and get a decent result so I can get under 80 FIS points. I just wanted to ski really solid and execute the plan, so I am happy.”
Robinson is back in action tonight at the second FIS European Cup Downhill.
