Kathleen Walsh / Courtesy photo
2018 Paralympian Thomas Walsh clinched a podium spot with his third place in the slalom on Monday at the Para-Alpine Skiing World Cup in St. Moritz.
“It might not be about results at this point in my progression, however, it’s nice to be rewarded a little for my hard work so far,” the 26-year-old wrote on his Facebook page after the event.
“I’m really happy to be on the right track! “
It was the first major para-alpine competition since the 2019 World Championships in Sella Nevea, Italy, where Walsh won two bronze medals. At the Birds of Prey World Cup event in Beaver Creek earlier this month, NBC captured an emotional moment in which Walsh gave Steve Nyman his 2018 PyeongChang Paralympic bib. The gesture was in response to Nyman gifting Walsh his 2006 Torino bib while battling cancer at the hospital in 2009.
“That bib got me carried away a lot, and I don’t know if you know the impact it had on me,” Walsh told a teary eyed Nyman at the Beaver Creek base this afternoon of December 4.
On Friday and Sunday, Walsh finished fourth and fifth in back-to-back giant slalom competitions.
“Nothing but smiles for allowing myself to trust and go through the process,” Walsh wrote on her social media site after the first two days.
“The turns are coming, the skiing is improving and I’m taking the right steps to improve myself greatly. The results will come, but for now I’m staying the course and trusting my coaches, my training and my abilities.
Walsh, who in the last available published world rankings of para-alpine skiing was fifth in the giant slalom standings and ninth in the overall slalom standings, will compete in a slalom today (December 21). Outside of his athleticism, the Savannah College of Art and Design graduate balances his quest for a second Paralympic team with a far-reaching artistic streak that includes song, dance and instrumental performance, all of which have recently been featured in a play by Al Daniel on the Team USA website. In the play, Daniel notes that Walsh equates skiing with “painting a canvasâ€.
The Paralympic Winter Games will take place March 4-13 in Beijing.
Kathleen Walsh / Courtesy photo
River Radamus lands another top 10 at Alta Badia GS
In the longest giant slalom on the World Cup circuit, Edwards native River Radamus demonstrated his consistency, posting a top-10 performance a day after a career-tied sixth-place finish – both in the giant slalom races – at the FIS in Alta Badia (Italy) an event. Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt easily won the race, beating local hero Luca De Aliprandini by more than a second. German Alexander Schmid completed the podium, which made his first appearance on the podium.
A few minor mistakes pushed the 23-year-old from eighth to 10th, where he finished the day.
“I made mistakes early on, it cost me my time up there,†he told Courtney Harkins of US Ski and Snowboard.
“But I fought like hell. I fought really hard and just wanted to keep my skis in the fall line. I did a good job with my approach. There are some corners that I want to pick up, but I’m delighted with the way I did today.
Radamus’ two-day results are starting to grab the attention of Beijing tipsters. The Ski and Snowboard Club Vail product could have a chance to win a medal in February.
“It’s the shadow that hangs over everyone; you can’t help but think about it, “Radamus told US Ski and Snowboard, echoing the” focus on what you can control “mindset he brought up earlier this month. during his interview with Vail Daily Live.
“I’ve never been to the Olympics,†Radamus told US Ski and Snowboard on Monday.
“I think I’m in a good position to go there this year, but I have to focus on my approach and focus on the things that I can control. I think my skiing is going in the right direction because this is what I do and so I will continue like this and I hope I can bring the momentum to the Olympics. I’m going to focus on the process rather than the outcome and the outcome will be there if I do.
While the speed specialists are on vacation during the holidays, slalom skiers will remain busy, with Madonna di Campiglio’s night slalom in Italy on Wednesday. On the women’s side, the World Cup will play two giant slaloms in Courchevel, France, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
