Limbacher and Mayrpeter are Austrian national champions

Andrea Limbacher was able to claim the Austrian championship title a second year in a row. With a third place in an overall very international race, Limbacher was able to perform on a very high level, only leaving the top spot on the podium to Canada’s Marielle Thompson and her teammate Tiana Gairns coming in second place.
Katrin Ofner took second place in the Austrian national championship ranking on the ladie’s side and Christina Födermayr claimed third rank.
Ofner, who due to injury was not able to compete in a single World Cup race last season, had good heats in the eight and quarter finals, however missed to have quick starts out of the gate in the small final and “once you are behind on a short course like this, it is really hard to get back to the front”, Ofner comments.

On the men’s side, Thomas Mayrpeter, who had made a transition to the ski cross squad from the Austrian Alpine team before the beginning of last season, was able to win the Austrian championship title, proving that he was able to adapt quite well into the different form of racing. Mayrpeter and US ski cross athlete Brant Crossan had a dramatic photo finish situation in the semi final heat, favouring Crossan by literally a few centimeters top move on to the big final. The Austrian did manage to win the small final though, finishing fifth in the overall race and as best Austrian athlete ahead of last year’s national champion Robert Winkler, who finished eight, and Johannes Rohrweck, who got in ninth.
The international podium saw Canadian Kevin Drury on the very top, followed by Robbie Morrison (AUS) and Tyler Wallash (USA).

Mayrpeter, who had been elected into Austria’s World Cup team for the season opener in Val Thorens (FRA) in two weeks was clearly happy with his performance stating: “It was a really great race on a cool course. The Austrian national championships are a quite tough race, so I am happy that my racing today was good. Preparation for the season went well and during training I was able to focus on things that I needed to improve specifically for ski cross racing and I think, I am on a very good path.”

The Europa Cup races on Sunday saw on the ladie’s side a very strong Canadian performance with Marielle Thompson, Abby McEwen and Brittany Phelan taking the podium spots, leaving the Austrian champion Andrea Limbacher only a spot in 4th place.

The top three men of the day were Tyler Wallash (USA), ahead of Russia’s Igor Omelin and Ryo Sugai (JPN) rounding out the podium.

It is now time to pack things up and travel to Europe’s highest ski resort, Val Thorens (FRA), to get the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup started on December 6 and 7, because the wait is finally over.