World Cup podium for Adam Hall

Wānaka skier Adam Hall has finished in third place at the FIS Para Alpine Slalom World Cup race held in Sapporo, Japan.

The result marks Hall’s first World Cup podium of the 2024 season.

Hall says: "I am really happy with a podium and with how everything is coming together, it’s good to continue the momentum and the work that we have been doing in Europe and it feels great to finally put two decent runs together today!"

Hall was in fifth place after the first run of the men’s standing category, +1.12 seconds off the podium in the small, but top-quality field. Knowing he needed to make up over a second in run two, he pushed out the start gate and gave it everything he had.

Going into run two Hall explained: "I just went back to the processes of what I need to do. I had a good inspection and it was just a matter of going out of the start gate and hammering down the course, knowing it was going to be challenging for everyone."

Snow Sports NZ Para Alpine coach Sam Lynch explained how the conditions were challenging in Japan, overnight Tuesday / Wednesday NZ time.

"The second run today was all about skiing smart, rather than skiing fast. It was also crucial to manage the pressure that was being created by the softer snow on the course."

Arthur Bauchet of France took the win in the men’s standing category, with Aaron Lindstroem of Sweden finishing in second place.

The race was the first of three back-to-back Slalom World Cup races for Hall, a gruelling schedule for him and his team this week.

With plenty of planning and tactics required to manage the load, Hall says: "We basically just need to make sure that we are recovering well and getting good nutrition and hydration. It is great that through our strong alliance with the Australian team I am able to work with their physio, which has been really key."

The second FIS Para Alpine Slalom World Cup race will get underway from 2pm Wednesday NZT.