That is the view of New Zealand’s first-ever FIS council member, Fiona Stevens, who will be in Italy watching Robinson compete in Milano Cortina this month.
Pre-Christmas, the 24-year-old enjoyed a sensational run, winning world cup giant slaloms in successive weekends, then her first super-G the weekend after.
A part-time Queenstowner, Stevens - who competed in the 1980 Winter Olympics - said Robinson had done New Zealand proud ‘‘even before the Olympics’’.
‘‘Whatever she does or doesn’t do, it doesn’t matter: she’s already done more than any other skier for New Zealand.
‘‘She’s been absolutely phenomenal for New Zealand, and we’re very, very lucky to have her ... we should treasure her in a way that, in my opinion, she probably doesn’t feel treasured as much as she really is.’’
Stevens said she would not like to make a prediction on how Robinson would go, pointing out the Olympics were the only time most New Zealanders ever took an interest in snowsports.
‘‘Anything can happen ... but if Alice gets it together and puts it all together, there’s no reason why she can’t be successful.’’
The Wakatipu’s other Winter Olympians are Ruby Star Andrews, 20, who is competing in freeski slopestyle and big air, and Lyon Farrell, 27, who will line up in snowboard slopestyle and big air.
Farrell is first in action at 7.30am today (NZ time) in snowboard big air qualification, followed by Star Andrews in slopestyle qualification from 10.30pm on Saturday.
Robinson’s first appearance, in the super-G, is scheduled for 11.30pm next Thursday.
