Hall ‘stoked to be back’ on World Cup podium

Adam Hall finished second at the FIS Para Alpine Slalom World Cup in Germany. PHOTO: TOM WELLER...
Adam Hall finished second at the FIS Para Alpine Slalom World Cup in Germany. PHOTO: TOM WELLER/24PASSION
Winter Paralympian Adam Hall has bagged his second World Cup podium finish of the season.

The Wānaka para athlete finished second at the FIS Para Alpine Slalom World Cup in Feldberg, Germany, yesterday.

"I am really stoked to be back on the podium,’’ Hall said.

"I have been really proud of my skiing and seeing the work that we have been doing in training transfer into the race environment is what I am most happy about.

"It’s been exciting this season to see so many of the top guys skiing hard and fighting hard for the podium."

With three back-to-back days of World Cup racing, it has been a gruelling schedule in Feldberg.

Hall had already recorded fifth and seventh-place finishes and knew he needed to focus on the present, not the outcome, to reap the rewards.

But the conditions were challenging, with a substantial amount of rain resulting in a saturated course — but that played into Hall’s hands.

“There was a lot of moisture ... and a lot of salt was used.

"I probably prefer these variable conditions, as they tend to play into my hand, both with the skiing and with the mental element.

"I feel like today was the best I have ever skied in conditions like this, which is great, as we know this is a potential reality we face in Milano Cortina 2026 [Paralympic Winter Games]."

Hall pushed out of the start gate for his first run and charged down the course with his trademark millimetre precision, putting down a fantastic top to bottom run and clocking the second fastest run one time of the day in his category.

Snow Sports NZ lead para alpine coach Daniel Bogue was rapt with Hall’s performance.

"We have been working on attacking the first run more, so I am really pleased with how Adam skied that first run,’’ Bogue said.

"When the conditions are tough Adam's consistency shines through."

Hall put down a dynamic and fast second run, but he was unable to take the top spot from winner Arthur Bauchet, of France.

Hall was the only athlete who was able to split the French team, who finished with four athletes in the top five.

Bauchet took the top spot, making it three wins from three in Feldberg this week, with his compatriot, Oscar Burnham, rounding out the podium in third.

Hall is now at the halfway point of his competition season with two more World Cup races in the coming months.

He is currently sitting second in the overall Para Alpine Slalom World Cup standings and he will next compete in at the Kranjska Gora Para Alpine Slalom World Cup in early March. — APL