Australian Melissa Perrine continues to create history at the International Paralympic Committee Alpine Skiing World Championships, this time picking up a bronze medal in the women’s vision-impaired Super G.

It was Perrine’s second medal in three days in Sestriere, Italy, after she became the first Australian female medallist at a Paralympic Alpine Skiing World Championships by winning silver in the women’s Downhill on Monday.

In great form and with her confidence high following the Downhill, Perrine posted the second fastest split through the top section of the Super-G course today, and did enough despite a less than perfect descent through the bottom half to secure her place on the podium.

The NSW skier, with sighted guide Andy Bor, posted a time of 1:38.08 behind Czech gold medallist Anna Kulishkova (1:34.28) and Russian Alexandra Frantseva (1:35.49).

“It’s such a great result for Mel and Andy,” Steve Graham, Head Coach of the Australian Paralympic Committee Winter Program, said.

“They didn’t ski as well as they have been, but to win a World Championship medal of any colour is a great achievement.”

“There is still the Super-Combined to come, and if they can ski to their potential, then I am expecting big things for them.”

In the men’s standing Super-G, it was German powerhouse Gerd Schoenfelder (1:19.22) who again reigned supreme, toppling France`s Vincent Gauthier-Manuel (1:19.26) and Switzerland`s Thomas Pfyl (1:19.95) in a replica of the podium from Monday’s Downhill.

Australian Toby Kane (1:21.87) was again unlucky, finishing fourth at the Championships for the second time in two events while Mitchell Gourley finished seventh, also matching his performance in Monday’s Downhill.

“Toby skied very well but just doesn’t have the speed to be really competitive at the moment. His knee injury really hampered his preparation for this event,” Graham said.

“The top three guys are all skiing very well and have trained a lot since the Vancouver Games and Toby just hasn’t been able to match them.”

“Mitchell also skied well and is consistently getting up with the top guys, but seems to be making one too many mistakes here to be able mix it with the medal contenders so far. That can certainly change though.”

The other Australian in the field, Cameron Rahles-Rahbula, suffered some ankle damage in a fall and did not finish, but is expected to be fit to compete in the final event tomorrow morning (AEDST).
Perrine will be aiming for her third medal of the Championships in tomorrow’s women’s Super Combined, while Kane, Gourley and Rahles-Rahbula will hold Australia’s hopes in the men’s event.

More than 130 athletes from 23 countries are competing at the venue which was used during the Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games. The World Championships are the biggest gathering of Paralympic Winter Sport since the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.