ALPINE SKIING: Despite not finishing his only race at the 2017 World Championships, Harry Laidlaw is hoping the experience in St Moritz will help him push towards the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

Laidlaw was the only Australian competing in the Super G event, after four teammates pulled out injured.

“I thought I was skiing pretty decent, I was aggressive and skiing with confidence,” the 2012 Winter Youth Olympian said. 

“I made a pretty big mistake after jump three so I knew I had to push it for the rest of the track. I came into the compression of the under gate and went of the blind roll with a slightly loaded ski and got very twisted heading for the fence, then I guess my instincts took over and I ended up on my feet.

“Overall I was happy with the skiing and stoked I walked away from a crash that could have ended very badly.”

The 20-year-old was one of the 21 skiers who did not complete the first run, highlighting just how hard the course was.

“The course was intense it was nothing I had ever skied before with 6 jumps, numerous blind gates and the added flat light of the day it made it gnarly but overall an unreal experience.

“The conditions were good I thought, it got super dark with all the crashes happening, just delay after delay but nothing I didn't expect running at the back of the pack.”

With his first senior World Championships under his belt, Laidlaw is now keen to push for the sport’s showcase event – the Winter Olympic Games.

“I’m definitely keen to push for PyeongChang.

“When you go to an event like World Champs you really see where you are at and it motivates you to keep working to get to that top level one day and to be a true competitor.”

With just under a year to go until the 23rd edition of the Winter Games, Laidlaw will continue pushing hard for his goal throughout the European winter.

Matt Bartolo
olympics.com.au