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.

2018 Olympian Harry Laidlaw will head into the 2023 FIS Alpine World Championships full of confidence, after recording his first ever European Cup podium in Folgaria, Italy.

The podium is the first ever Australian giant slalom European Cup medal, and the first of any kind since Jono Brauer finished first in January 2006 competing in slalom. 

Competing in two Europa Cup giant slalom's in the Italian resort, Laidlaw achieved his podium performance in the first race with a silver medal in the two run time of 1:53.90, 1.15 seconds behind event winner George Steffey of America. Also in action for Australia was Louis Muhlen-Schulte in 52nd and Hugh McAdam who did not qualify for the second run.

In the second race, Laidlaw finished in eighth, with McAdam not qualifying for the second run, and Muhlen-Schulte not able to complete his second run.

The results see Laidlaw move up to be ranked fourth on the European Cup giant slalom standings.

Later this week Laidlaw, Muhlen-Schulte and McAdam will compete in the parallel, giant slalom and slalom events at the World Championships in Courchevel and Meribel, France.

The 47th FIS Alpine Ski World Championships start on Monday with a small but determined Australian contingent ready to hit the French resorts of Courchevel and Meribel.

Triple-Olympian Greta Small will start her campaign on day one in the alpine combined event, and race the speed events over the course of the opening week.

Going into her fifth World Championships, the 27-year-old has lost none of her passion despite first racing the event as a teenager.

“It has given me a chance to reflect on what I’ve achieved,” said Small. “Going to my first World Championships at just 17 years old and now, ten years later I’m still here chasing my dreams.

“I remember how excited and proud I was to race in Schladming 2013, and I’m going to bring that same energy into Meribel 2023.”

Going into his third World Championships, Harry Laidlaw will be looking to continue the form he has shown already this season.

Currently ranked inside the top five on the Europa Cup standings, Laidlaw is knocking on the door of World Cup points having missed the top 30 by just 0.21s in Schladming last week.

Joining Laidlaw in the men’s technical races is Beijing Olympian Louis Muhlen-Shulte who has also earned some encouraging results on the highly-competitive slalom World Cup circuit.

“This is my first World Championships, so I am very excited about that,” said the 24-year-old. “I have made a lot of changes and progress in my slalom skiing and I am sorting out a few things on the GS side.

“I feel that competing in Beijing at the Olympics in 2022 definitely gives me more experience to draw from, as well as all the World Cup events I have competed in this season.

“I am constantly gaining more knowledge and a better understanding of how to do my best on any given day.”
The FIS Alpine World Championships run from Monday 6 to Sunday 19 February. Predominantly, the women’s events will be held in Meribel and the men’s at Courchevel, with both venues sharing the parallel events.

Click here for the World Championships schedule and results

Article courtesy of Snow Australia