(ATR) Seventeen-year-old Nadine Fest is the first Lillehammer Winter Youth Olympics gold medalist, leading an Austrian 1-2 finish in the ladies super-G.
American skier River Radamus won the men’s super-G a few hours later.
The alpine skiing program opened on the Hafjell Olympic Slope as 45 female racers descended the 1570-meter Kringleasen course on a slightly overcast morning.
Fest – the fifth racer down the piste – finished in one-minute, 11.93 second, 0.63 seconds faster than her Austrian teammate Julia Scheib.
"It’s really awesome – I wasn’t nervous at the start, I just said to myself ‘have fun on the slope’ and it was amazing," Fest said after the victory.
Fest, who lives in Carinthia, Austria, said her idol is Sochi 2014 downhill gold medalist Matthias Mayer, who is from the same ski club. She is coached by Mayer’s father.
IOC president Thomas Bach chatted with racers in the Hafjell venue finish area, advising Fest not to worry and that her time would hold up for victory.
"It was really cool – he said my run at the last part was good," Fest advised of her conversation with the IOC boss. "I said to him that I’m really, really nervous when Julia was coming down because she is a fast skier. He said: ‘you will be in first place at the end of the race’ and now it’s over and I won."
The American skier Radamus won the men’s super-G, surviving the threats of Italian Pietro Canzio and Austrian Manuel Traninger. Canzio and Traninger both had faster intermediate times, but dropped time at the bottom to end second and third.
"It’s a pretty unreal experience – I didn’t have any expectations, I just knew that I was going to go out and send it." Radamus said after the win. "I knew what my line was going to be and I executed."
Radamus finished in one-minute, 10.62 seconds, .03 ahead of the Italian Canzio.
"It’s been a pretty amazing experience here – the entire Games have been something I’ll remember forever," Radamus said.
The U.S. skier from Vail, Colorado joked about celebrating his 18th birthday at last night’s opening ceremony.
"It was a spectacular opening ceremony and a pretty amazing birthday present," Radamus said.
Both male and female competitors were impressed with the preparations of the racecourse.
"The snow conditions were great and the course set was really nice," said U.S skier Keely Cashman."I’m really excited for the next races now because the snow is really good."
Prince Albert II of Monaco presented medals to the ladies as the sun finally came out in the early afternoon.
Bach, accompanied by International Ski Federation president Gian-Franco Kasper in the finish area, gave IOC Olympic pins to some of the girls.
"We talked about what is it like to ski now and he said ‘good luck’ and gave me this pin," said Norwegian racer Kristiane Bekkestad. "It was real fun to talk to him."
The atmosphere around the Hafjell venue finish area was relaxed and friendly as skiers, coaches, team officials, media and others mingled, all enjoying themselves on day one of Youth Olympic Games competition.
Kenyan Skier Impresses
Kenyan ski racer Sabrina Sabader is the perfect example of the diversity of nations participating at these Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer.
Sabader, 17, lives and trains in Schladming, Austria, but said she is proud to represent her native Kenya.
"I’m the only one, but I’m happy and I hope I make Kenya proud," Sabader said.
Sabader, whose Austrian father owns a ski lift, attends ski school in the ski-crazed alpine nation.
The Kenyan competitor skied well in the ladies super-G other than making a small mistake in the bottom section of the course. Sabader still managed to finish 23rd out of 45 racers.
Sabader says her Kenyan relatives, who live near Nairobi, are big supporters of her ski racing endeavors. "My Grandpa is a big fan, but at first he was really afraid because it’s really dangerous," she said. "Now, he really supports me."
Sabader has lofty ambitions, planning to continue racing with FIS-level events, perhaps World Cup races and also hopes to be at the start at the 2017 World Championships in St. Moritz.
Regarding someday competing in the Olympic Games, Sabader said with a laugh: "I’m there, South Korea, 2018."
#iloveyog
Written by Brian Pinelliin Hafjell
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