World Cup newcomers highlight St. Moritz slalom

The USA’s Stephanie Jallen (1:44.74) came close to taking victory from Bochet with the fastest second run. The 19-year-old missed out on first place by just 0.02 seconds.

The USA’s Thomas Walsh and Great Britain’s Menna Fitzpatrick headlined the IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland, on Friday (22 January), taking slalom wins in their debut season on the circuit.

Just one week away from his 21st birthday, Walsh (1:35.24) took maximum points in the men’s standing having just missed the podium in Tarvisio, Italy, on Monday (18 January).

His teammate James Stanton (1:35.72) claimed his second World Cup podium, leading Austria’s Martin Wuerz (1:37.35) who finished third.

French 11-time world champion Marie Bochet (1:44.72) headed up the women’s standing field to maintain her 100 per cent record in slalom for 2015-16.

However the USA’s Stephanie Jallen (1:44.74) came close to taking victory from Bochet with the fastest second run. The 19-year-old missed out on first place by just 0.02 seconds.

Canada’s Alana Ramsay (1:55.81) was third.

In the women’s visually impaired, 17-year-old Fitzpatrick (1:55.09) claimed first place on her World Cup debut with guide Jen Kehoe.

The teenager went quickest in both runs to lead the USA’s Staci Mannella (1:58.50), guided by Sadie De Baun. Danelle Umstead (2:02.04), guided by husband Rob, completed the podium.

Russia’s Valerii Redkozubov (1:34.61) was back in winning form in the men’s visually impaired with guide Evgeny Geroev.

The world and Paralympic champion had managed a series of second place finishes to date, but this time it was Italy’s Giacomo Bertagnolli (1:34.99) with guide Fabrizio Casal occupying that podium position.

Spain’s Jon Santacana Maiztegui (1:38.80) with guide Miguel Galindo took third.

Japan’s World Championships silver medallist Taiki Morii (1:36.84) claimed his first slalom win of the season in the men’s sitting.

Croatia’s Dino Sokolovic (1:37.49) improved on a fifth place first run to take second, ahead of Japan’s Paralympic and world champion Takeshi Suzuki (1:37.59) in third.

Germany’s Anna-Lena Forster (1:49.01) won the women’s sitting to strengthen her second place in the World Cup rankings.

The USA’s Laurie Stephens (1:51.84) skied consistently to secure second, ahead of Japan’s Momoka Muraoka (2:03.73) in third.

Full results are available at IPC Alpine Skiing's website.

Races continue in St. Moritz on Saturday (23 January) with a second slalom.

Pictures and updates will be posted to @IPCAlpine and Facebook.com/IPCAlpineSkiing throughout the event.