The Queenstown skier Alice Robinson is hoping to expand her repertoire this season to take in some of the faster disciplines in alpine skiing.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The new World Cup season starts this weekend at Soelden, Austria, the venue of Robinson's first giant slalom victory on the World Cup circuit.
However the 18-year-old says the restructured schedule this season because of Covid-19 could allow her to compete in some super G and downhill races.
The 2019 world junior champion has so far made her name in giant slalom with World Cup victories in Austria this time last year and in Slovenia in February.
This World Cup season there will be nine giant slalom, seven super G and nine downhill races plus the World Championships, meaning Robinson will be competing almost every weekend from December through to March.
"Some of the giant slaloms are being run as double headers this season, so that will free me up to attempt some of the faster super G and downhill events."
While her schedule, apart from the giant slalom, is yet to be confirmed, she is at least hoping to dip her toes into the water of downhill.
"Obviously getting into downhill is tough because you've got to be careful because it's not something you can just jump into and hope for the best, as it is a high risk discipline."
As for now Robinson is just excited to be competing again, but admits her preparation has been far from ideal.
The last season finished early and she returned home but had limited training around Queenstown because her coaches were unable to enter the country during lockdown.
"I tried to do a bit of training in New Zealand but it wasn't really proper training because without my staff and technician, it was difficult to get high intensity training so I went almost six months without proper training."
That forced her into returning to Europe in August, a couple of months earlier than she normally would.
"So the build-up has been a bit lighter than usual but with the time frame I've had I feel I've done pretty well to get back up to where I was."
"I'm perhaps lacking in a bit of mileage but I'm happy with what I've been able to do in the last couple of months."
After her two victories last season, Robinson will be one of the featured and favoured skiers to watch out for in the giant slalom this season.
"It's all speculation because no one has raced for almost seven months now so no one is quite sure where they stand, I feel pretty confident but I suppose we'll just have to wait and see."
Her targets this season are to win the overall giant slalom honours and pick up a medal at the World Championships.
Robinson realises consistency will be the key to overall honours.
"I've proven that I can ski at that high level but now it's a matter of being able to do it in nine races in the year, so consistency is something I'll be working on."
However she realises experience will play a big part in achieving her goal.
"Most of the other athletes have skied these race tracks 10 years longer than I have, they all know what every hill is like and how to adapt to different conditions, whereas I was skiing them for the first time last year."
"I've just got to learn how to have the right head space all the time."