Salcher, Bochet secure super-G globes

Paralympic champions Marie Bochet of France and Austria’s Markus Salcher have claimed overall super-G crystal globes after wins at the IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals in Aspen, USA, on Thursday (3 March).

With her victory Bochet remains unbeaten in the women’s standing, having won all seven speed races this season.

The world champion also collects her fourth overall World Cup after securing the giant slalom, slalom and downhill globes in Aspen.

Bochet (1:24.46) led the USA’s Stephanie Jallen (1:28.82). Canada’s Alana Ramsay (1:29.71) was third as the fight for overall second and third places goes down to the last race on Friday (4 March).

In the men’s standing Salcher (1:18.95) also went unbeaten in super-G to claim his globe.

Switzerland’s Thomas Pfyl (1:21.05) was second with his first podium of the season in the discipline. There was not much between Pfyl and third place Slovakian Martin France (1:21:90).

The results from the men’s and women’s visually impaired races set-up a tantalising conclusion to the World Cup season for Friday.

Great Britain’s Millie Knight (1:28.18), guided for the first time in super-G by Brett Wild, drew level with absent Belgian Eleonor Sana in the women’s points rankings with her victory.

“It was really good, really good fun,” Knight said. “This is our first super-G race together with me and my guide, so to come out having won is an absolutely amazing feeling.”

Knight’s teammate Menna Fitzpatrick (1:28.61), and guide Jennifer Kehoe, was second. They now sit third in the standings, just 20 points behind Knight and Sana.

The USA’s Danelle Umstead (1:30.52) was third in the race with guide husband Rob, who are a further 20 points behind. Maximum points for any of the podium trio could see them claim the overall globe on Friday.

Canadian World Championships silver medallist Mac Marcoux, guided by his brother BJ, edged closer to his second speed globe of the season after winning the men’s visually impaired.

Marcoux, who finished in 1:19:36, said: “It was a lot of fun, the top section was a little flat and mellow, started off a little slow, but it picked up by the mid-section and it was a pretty good time.

“Today was pretty awesome, we had a lot of fun and there’s tight competition in our category. It’s always a super tight race and it’s fun every time we get to go out.”

The USA’s Mark Bathum (1:20.49) was second with guide Cade Yamamoto, ahead of Italian Giacomo Bertagnolli (1:21.23), guided by Fabrizio Casal. Bertagnolli is just 40 points behind Marcoux in the race for the overall World Cup.

Germany’s Paralympic gold medallist Anna Schaffelhuber (1:26.46) was the leader in the women’s sitting. Without the pressure of a World Cup to win having missed out on the first super-G races in January, Schaffelhuber triumphed over the USA’s Laurie Stephens (1:29.98).

Japan’s Momoko Muraoka (1:30.58) was third.

Muraoka and Stephens are trying to unseat German points leader Anna-Lena Forster, occupying second and third place respectively in the table.

New Zealand’s world champion Corey Peters (1:20.24) took his latest speed win in the men’s sitting, improving on what he sees as a difficult few months.

“It’s always good to be on the podium and to win the race, and it’s my second win this week [after the downhill on 1 March] so it’s always pleasing to finish off the season so positively.

“The beginning of the season hasn’t started off well. I haven’t finished a technical race all season so I’ve really been relying on my speed results to take confidence into each race.

“The competition is always stiff. On any given day the top 15 guys in the world could win.”

Peters’ victory over US World Cup leader Andrew Earl Kurka (1:20.57) saw him move to within 20 points of the top spot. Switzerland’s Christoph Kunz (1:20.79) was third.

The 2015-16 IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup will conclude in Aspen with the second super-G on Friday.

Full results are available here.

Points standings can be found at the IPC Alpine Skiing website.