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17th January 2012

New Zealand Ski team member Nick Prebble (18) of Christchurch produced the best giant slalom points result of his career to win third place at the Ancelle series in France yesterday, following on from his first ever FIS giant slalom win at Villard de Lans, also in France, last week.

Prebble, along with his brother Jamie (21) and Willis Feasey (19) of Twizel are training in Brunnen Switzerland with World Ski Connection and Jamie also put in two solid runs at Villard de Lans to win the giant slalom bronze medal. Feasey was in the top three after the first run but crashed out in the second run.

Nick Prebbles 28.95 giant slalom result at Ancelle will significantly improve his current 746 world ranking and is seen as an outstanding result for a Kiwi competing in the tough European environment. He was just 1/100th of a second off winning the first run and withstood the strong pressure to finish with the bronze medal just 11/100ths off the top spot.

Paul Schroeder of France won the Ancelle race in a combined time of 2.07.51 just ahead of Tyler Werry of Canada in 2.07.52 with Prebble in third in 2.07.62. Jamie Prebble finished 13th  (1.04.94) and Feasey 34th (1.05.10) in the field of 140.

Speaking from France following the race Nick was upbeat about his performance.
After a tough start to the season with the continuous weather bombs disturbing training and racing I was really happy to get the win at Villard de Lans. And now having scored my best ever points result I am super-stoked!

In an international field of 125 competitors in the Villard de Lans FIS giant slalom Nick clocked a combined time of 2.22.00 to take the top spot on the podium just splits ahead of Jamie in 2.22.81 in third place.  The silver medal was won by French skier Romain Empatz Colomb in 2.22.24.

Nicks first placing is the first win in a European FIS race by a New Zealand athlete for some time.

The Prebbles and Feasey also competed last weekend in two challenging FIS Super G events at Val dIsere in France.
Nick achieved an 11th equal placing with French skier Titouan Clair finishing the one run race in 1.05.66. The race was won by Swiss athlete Daniel Yule in 1.04.16. Jamie Prebble and Feasy also finished in the top 30, placing 18th and 25th respectively.