Speed Skiing Triumph
5th February 2004British speed skier Nigel Brockton made a strong start to his FIS World Cup speed skiing season today when he finished third in the first World Cup events of the season in Leysin, Switzerland. Brockton (Aberdeen) skied to tenth place in the first of two back to back finals this morning but learnt from his mistakes on the slightly bumpy course to make a big improvement.
He clocked 160.05 km/h, well short of his career best on what he described a Œslow race due to the conditions. In essence the course was so bumpy it was like being asked to drive an F1 car on a rally course. I tend to prefer the courses flat and smooth because I know that I have a good tuck and good glide and usually let that work for me and this season am really out to win races.
Today there was a bit of an undulation that I got wrong first time, but I compressed it better on the second final. I am pretty happy because the course really did not suit me. Said Brockton who won the FIS World cup event last year in Altausee, Austria with a speed of 150.24 km/h, was one of the few skiers to improve on their first run performance.
Results
1. J Hembel (USA)
2. C Prderazzo (ITA)
3. N Brockton (GBR)