Narvikfjellet presented us with the full range of winter conditions yesterday and today. The forecast had called for high winds and warmer temperatures – fortunately, the wind was slow to build which allowed the staging of the women’s super G leg, but by mid-morning it was apparent the men’s super G was not going to happen.

The combination of a challenging hill, tailwind and softening snow made for a tough opening leg of the alpine combined. The slalom leg was run on the lower slopes of the mountain in spring-like conditions.

Magdalena Egger, the 19-year old emerging star of this Championship, continued to deliver a perfect record taking the super G ahead of her 20-year old Austrian teammate, Lisa Grill. This duo are now “three for three” with gold-silver in the downhill, super G and alpine combined.

Joining them on the podium was American Keely Cashman of Squaw Valley,, who is the current leader of the Nor-Am Cup.

Egger, Grill and Cashman went a commanding 1-2-3 in the super G and followed the morning result with strong afternoon performances in the slalom leg. Hanna Aronsson Elfman of Sweden posted the fastest time in the slalom.

Sarah Bennett (Stoneham) led Canadians in 18th, followed by Katrina van Soest (Banff Alpine) in 25th. Ella Renzoni (Whistler), Claire Timmermann (Banff Alpine) and Cassidy Grey (Team Panorama) missed gates in the super G.

With the rising wind delaying the super G, the men ran the slalom leg yesterday afternoon with Jamie Casselman (Team Panorama) taking the lead with the fastest run of the day in a time of 38.87. Alte Lie McGrath of Norway was a close behind with 39.01 and Croatian Samuel Kolega rounded out the top three with a time of 39.29.

Raphael Lessard (Bromont) finished 27th, Aidan Marler (Mont Ste. Marie) 47th and Liam Wallace (Sunshine) had a detour and climb to end up 63rd.

Unfortunately, the weather did not rebound quickly enough and soft piste conditions forced the cancellation of today’s scheduled super G leg. So the men’s alpine combined is cancelled and will not be held.

At the half-way point in the 2020 FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championship, the Marc Hodler Trophy standings put Austria in a commanding lead with 85 points, ahead of Italy with 35 and Switzerland 3rd with 32. The Marc Hodler Trophy is named after the long-serving former President of the FIS, and is considered the “Nations Cup” of the World Junior Championship. Points are scored for placing in the top ten.

Marc Hodler Trophy standings: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/statistics.html?statistictype=standings&standingstype=marc-hodler&categorycode=WJC&seasoncode=2020&standingssectorcode=AL

Alpine Combined Results: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/results.html?sectorcode=AL&competitorid=202929&raceid=99992