Jess Anderson was proud of her performance in today’s girls’ slalom event at the 2015 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF 2015), finishing just two places outside her initial top 30 target after a strong second run.
The 16-year-old put her first run behind her and attacked in the afternoon to climb nine places as she ended the day as Team GB’s best placed skier.
Sofia Iglina and Anna Henderson made mistakes in their first runs before improving in the afternoon to finish 44th and 50th out of the 83 starters, while Kirsty Guest fell and was unable to finish the morning’s first run.
Anderson, like many of the 15 young athletes representing Team GB in Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein has embraced the Festival and is enjoying the experience of a first ever multi-sport event.
“I didn’t feel at my best this morning with the first run but in the second I really went at it a lot more and managed to climb up nine places once I attacked,” said Anderson.
“I was hoping to get into the top 30 after run one to help with a better starting bib for the second but it wasn’t to be. The course was set up in a similar way this afternoon for run two so I was able to go at it, which paid off.
“The experience of the whole Festival has been really good so far. It’s by far the biggest event I’ve skied at and it’s been amazing to get a sense of what an Olympic Games would be like.”
Day three of the EYOf 2015 sees another busy day of competition for Team GB's young athletes with 11 out of the 15 back in action. The alpine quartet of Anderson, Iglina, Guest and Henderson return to the slopes to compete in the rescheduled girls' giant slalom event. “I’m really looking forward to giant slalom and a good chance to make amends for today and get two good runs down," said Guest. " I want to push for a top 30 so I’m hoping for better weather to help conditions. I’ve down a fair bit of work on my giant slalom this season so I should be in decent form.” Down the road in Steg Team GB's cross country skiers are back in action with Duncan Gibb up first in the boys’ 7.5km free, before Beth Maclean and Lynne Gray take to the course in the afternoon for the girls’ 5km race. Figure skater Dannielle Harrison takes to the ice in the girls' long programme hoping to improve on Monday's short programme performance. Josh Brown who currently sits in 11th place competes in the boys' long programme in the afternoon. The final Team GB athletes in action are snowboard cross riders Glen Ironside and Ayla Thidling as they compete in the mixed team finals. Team GB Schedule (all times are shown in Central European Time) Alpine Skiing- Girls’ Giant Slalom Run 1 - 10.00 - 11.00 Run 2 - 12.00 - 13.00 Jessica Anderson Sofia Iglina Kirsty Guest Anna Henderson Cross Country Skiing - Boys' 7.5km Free 10:45 Duncan Gibb Cross Country Skiing - Girls' 5km Free 12:40 Lynne Gray Beth Maclean Figure Skating - Long Programme 10:45 Danielle Harrison 15:30-18:30 Josh Brown Snowboard Cross 13:00-15:00 Glen Ironside Ayla Thilding