​In a field of over 80 skiers from across the globe, Hotham’s Harry Laidlaw finished 29th in the Men’s Giant Slalom. It was a race for the ages, which saw South America win its first Winter Olympic gold medal.

​Article courtesy olympics.com.au

The Victorian was satisfied with his first run and could see opportunity being high in the start order for the second run. In Giant Slalom, the top 30 order is reversed meaning that Laidlaw would run third in the new start order on a course that is completely reset, free from the ruts of the last runs.  

“I mean, [on the first run] the conditions were pretty bumpy, so I definitely had a few bubbles where I lost a lot of speed. But I think where I'm sitting now, it's a great position to jump up some numbers on the second run,” Laidlaw said between runs. 

Getting this result was a long time in the making for the two-time Olympian. Laidlaw competed at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Games where he unfortunately did not complete his first run. 

He pushed hard to perform after those Games, but a knee injury sidelined Laidlaw ahead of the 2022 Beijing Games. So, the run today was really eight long years in the making. In addition to his knee troubles, he also had spinal surgery in 2024 meaning the road to Milano Cortina was no picnic. 

“It’s been eight years since my last Games. It's incredible to be back and I feel like in between those eight years, a lot has happened. I had a few years where I was really doing well, first Australian Europa Cup GS podium, and first [Australian man] to qualify for the World Cup Giant Slalom second run,” the 29-year-old said.  

“It’s been eight years, but obviously, the last two to three years, it's been super difficult. I had a hairline fracture in my hip, then back surgery, and then a dislocated shoulder this summer. So, it's been super difficult, especially the back injury that happened in 2024.”

His second run unfortunately did not go to plan. He lost his line about a third of the way into the course causing him to bleed off speed through several gates.  

“I mean, I was not super happy with the skiing after the first run, but I was lucky to be in a good position for the second run. So, I was just trying to go as hard as I could to jump up a few spots. I was just trying to attack.”

“The course setting was super-fast and super straight, so there was no other way to go, so I was just trying to go hard and unfortunately, it didn't pay off the way I would have liked.”

Laidlaw finished the day in 29th place with a total time of 2:31.90, he was +6.90 seconds behind the race leader. 

Brazilian Lucas Pinheiro Braathen made history taking home the gold and becoming the first ever Winter Olympic medalist from any South American country. Laidlaw was impressed by the efforts of the Brazilian.  

“Yeah, super impressive. I mean, I thought that Switzerland would have done it, but, it's too cool to see, and especially from a small nation guy to get in there and get Brazil's first Winter Olympic gold is pretty sick.”

Swisse skiers Marco Odermatt and Loic Meillard rounded out the podium taking home the silver and bronze medals.  

Phoebe Heaydon and Madison Hoffman will compete in the Women’s Giant Slalom on 15 February and Slalom on 18 February

Updates on OWIA alpine skiing athletes and World Cup performances from Snow Australia National Team members.
 
Madi Hoffman made a successful return from a knee injury sustained over 12 months ago in the Nor-Am Cup slalom events in Mont Saint-Sauveur, Canada, finishing 12th on both days of competition. Hoffman is scheduled to make her World Cup return along with Snow Australia national team member Phoebe Heaydon in the slalom event in Flachau, Austria, on January 13.
 
Harry Laidlaw had a busy week competing in four giant slalom events. First up were the Nor-Am cup events in Tremblant, Canada, where he was 22nd on day one and 17th on day two. He then headed to Burke Mountain in the USA for two FIS events, where Laidlaw was victorious on both days.
 
Greta Small competed in the World Cup event in Zauchensee, Austria, where she finished in 55th place. Next up for Small is the World Cup in Tarvisio, Italy, with a downhill on January 17th and super-g on January 18th.
 
Snow Australia national team member Hugh McAdam has competed in two World Cup events in the past week in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, and Adelboden, Switzerland, but was unable to finish in both events. McAdam will compete in the slalom in Wengen, Switzerland, on January 18th.

Over the weekend Australia's leading alpine ski racers competed in various National Championship FIS events.

Madi Hoffman had a gold (slalom) and a bronze medal (giant slalom) at the USA National Championships in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Louis Muhlen-Schulte competed in the Italian National Junior Championships in Kronplatz, with a silver medal in the first slalom event and an eighth-place finish in another slalom event the following day.

Harry Laidlaw was fifth in the National Championships giant slalom event at Malbun in Lichtenstein.

2022 Olympian Louis Muhlen-Schulte has created history, becoming the first Australian male to finish in the top-30 in a World Cup giant slalom race and secure World Cup points after placing 27th in Aspen, USA.

Three Australian alpine ski racers have now advanced to the top-30 second run in the technical events (slalom and giant slalom) this season, with Madi Hoffman 25th in Slalom at Levi, Finland, in November, and Harry Laidlaw qualifying for the second run in 24th place at Bankso, Bulgaria, in mid-February, but unfortunately crashed out in the final sector of the course in the second run recording a "DNF".

Harry Laidlaw was also close to the top-30 in the Aspen race, just missing in 33rd place, with world number one  Marco Odermatt of Switzerland claiming victory.

In the second giant slalom event in Aspen, Muhlen-Schulte almost made it back-to-back top 30's, finishing in 32nd place. Unfortunately Harry Laidlaw was unable to finish his first run. Marco Odermatt also won on day two, making it an incredible twelve straight giant slalom World Cup wins for the Swiss star.

"It's definitely pretty cool to make history for Australia," said the 25-year-old Muhlen-Schulte from Melbourne.

"I hope though that it's just the start and between Harry, myself and all the other Aussies we can really start to put Australia on the map in the world of skiing!"

"I honestly had no idea how many guys were going out first run, I tend to just stick to my game plan and focus on that. So I was pretty surprised, I guess I had a good game plan coming into it."

"It's honestly super cool, watching Madi crush it on the woman's side and then Harry and I starting to put things together on then men's side it's awesome to be a part of and show the world of skiing what Australia can do. It's for sure a long way from where we all started racing Australian championships and small races, but I think it shows how if you stick to your goals and work hard it doesn't matter where you start!"

The next World Cup for Muhlen-Schulte and Laidlaw will be the giant slalom in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, on March 9.

The men's World Cup tour has now moved to the USA, with Olympians Harry Laidlaw and Louis Muhlen-Schulte competing in the giant slalom event at the Palisades resort in Lake Tahoe.

In the first run, both skiers missed out on the top-30 to advance to the final run, Laidlaw was 36th and Muhlen-Schulte 47th.

Marco Odermatt of Switzerland recorded the win, with Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway in second, and River Radamus of the USA in third.

A double World Cup will take place next in Aspen on March 1 and 2.

Australian alpine skier Harry Laidlaw has shown he can match it with the best, reaching the top-30 and second run in the World Cup giant slalom event in Bankso, Bulgaria, for the first time in his ski racing career.

Laidlaw finished the first run in impressive fashion to place 24th in a time of 1:12.99 seconds. In making the top-30 qualifying level, the 27yo earnt himself a second run in the event, becoming the first Australian male to achieve this feat at World Cup level in a giant slalom race.

In the second run, Laidlaw showed great technical skill and speed and appeared set to be the first Australian to claim World Cup ranking points in the giant slalom, but unfortunately crashed out in the final sector of the course.

“Whenever I push out of the start gate, I push to be competitive and this culture has been ingrained in us within this special team at Global Racing” said the 2018 Olympian.

“It hurts not putting two runs together but proud to have pushed the way I did.”

“More to come and grateful to be racing.”

2022 Olympian Louis Muhlen-Schulte finished in 41st place, his best ever World Cup finish in a giant slalom.

Greta Small and Louis Muhlen-Schulte have both competed in World Cup events in Europe over the past few days, with Madison Hoffman in action on the European Cup circuit.

Three-time Olympian Greta Small took part in the downhill event in Val d’Isere, France, finishing in 48th place.

The next women’s World Cup speed events take in place in the new year on January 13-14 in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria.

In the first of two giant slalom World Cup’s in Alta Badia Italy, 2022 Olympian Muhlen-Schulte finished the first run in 51st place, missing on the top-30 needed for the second run.

A second giant slalom event will take place tonight in Alta Badia Italy tonight featuring Muhlen-Schulte.

Madison Hoffman competed in two slalom European Cup events at Valle Aurina/Ahrntal in the South Tirol in Italy.

On day one Hoffman finished in 38th place, and then improved in the second event placing 27th.

Hoffman will compete in the World Cup slalom in Courchevel, France, on December 21.

2018 Olympian Harry Laidlaw is also nearing a return to competition after injury interrupted his start to the northern hemisphere winter.

Harry Laidlaw competed in the World Cup giant slalom double event in the Slovenian ski resort of Kranjska Gora.

On day one of competition, the 2018 Olympian finished the first run in 38th place, 4.03 seconds behind Marco Odermatt of Switzerland who went on to win the race in the second run.

In the second day, Laidlaw finished 40th in the first run, 5.42 seconds behind Odermatt, who made it a double victory for the Swiss skier.

Laidlaw's World Cup season is now complete, with just the World Cup final remaining with a limited field featuring the top-25 athletes per discipline in the overall rankings.

Harry Laidlaw has competed in the World Cup giant slalom event at the Palisades ski resort in Lake Tahoe, USA, finishing in 49th place.

Laidlaw finished the fist run in a time of 1:11.35, 2.92 seconds behind Marco Odermatt of Switzerland in first place, missing out on the top-30 required for the second run.

The event was won by Marco Schwarz of Austria, with Odermatt in second and Rasmus Windingstad of Norway in third.