France’s Bochet wins 51st World Cup race in St. Moritz

French 11-time world champion Marie Bochet skied to an incredible 51st IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup win on the slopes of St. Moritz, Switzerland, on Saturday (23 January), with victory in slalom.

The 21-year-old followed-up her first place from Friday (23 January) with yet another stunning performance in the women’s standing, cementing her position as one of the all-time greatest skiers.

Bochet, who collected her first World Cup accolades in Abtenau, Austria, in 2010 also with a double slalom win, finished in 1:50.19.

The USA’s Stephanie Jallen (1:51.69) was second, followed by Slovakia’s Petra Smarzova (1:56.18) in third.

Bochet will now travel to her home slopes in Tignes where she will compete in the first speed events of the season in downhill and super-G from Monday (25 January).

In the men’s standing Russian world and Paralympic champion Alexei Bugaev (1:39.90) made amends for not finishing his second run on Friday, leading the field in 1:39.90.

The USA’s James Stanton (1:42.27) celebrated another top three finish with second. Bugaev’s compatriot Alexander Alyabyev (1:42.83) completed the podium.

Downhill and super-G world champion Bugaev will now join Bochet in heading straight to Tignes.

In the women’s sitting, Germany’s Anna-Lena Forster (1:58.31) skied to her second consecutive victory.

The USA’s Laurie Stephens (2:04.40) was second and the only other skier to complete the course.

Croatia’s Dino Sokolovic (1:42.96) added to his World Cup podium collection with a win in the men’s sitting, bringing his total for the season to three.

The Japanese duo of Taiki Morii (1:44.40) and world and Paralympic champion Takeshi Suzuki (1:44.44) finished a very close second and third respectively.

British 17-year-old Menna Fitzpatrick (2:02.49) secured her second victory in as many days in the women’s visually impaired, with guide Jen Kehoe.

The USA’s Danelle Umstead (2:10.15) and husband guide Rob occupied the next step on the podium.

Russia’s world and Paralympic gold medallist Valerii Redkozubov (1:40.55) claimed maximum points in the men’s visually impaired, guided by Evgeny Geroev.

Italy’s Giacomo Bertagnolli (1:41.02) continued his great run of form with second with guide Fabrizio Casal. Spain’s Jon Santacana Maiztegui (1:44.22), guided by Miguel Galindo rounded off the top three.

Full results and World Cup rankings are available at IPC Alpine Skiing's website.

Around 60 skiers from 14 countries will now gather in Tignes for the first speed races of the 2015-16 IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup.

Downhill training takes place on Monday and Tuesday (26 January) before competition begins on 27 January. Super-G then gets underway on 29 January.

Updates and pictures will be posted to @IPCAlpine and Facebook.com/IPCAlpineSkiing.