Blue Sky Racing Provides Perfect Setting For Milano Cortina Hopefuls

The goal of Georgia Gunew and Ethan Jackson to build consistency, positivity and trust in their racing gained a big boost on well-set and fast-flowing giant slalom course on the opening day of racing at the FIS Para-Alpine National Championships at Perisher on Tuesday.

The FIS event was combined with the Southern Hemisphere Cup, meaning Gunew and her sighted guide Jackson had four runs across two races under blue skies alongside their fellow top Para-alpine skiers from Australia and New Zealand.

“I think it was a pretty good day,” said Gunew, who is aiming to compete at her first Paralypic Winter Games at Milano Cortina next March. “We finished all four runs, so it’s always a good start. And I think we skied well.

“I think being consistent is a big part of this week. It’s our home territory, so that makes it a little bit easier for us. But just getting more positive race experience, I think, is the name of the game this week.”

This race was the first chance for Gunew and Jackson to compete at FIS level since the Para-Skiing World Cup event in Veysonnaz, Switzerland in March. This week’s event is being staged with the funding support of the NSW Government.

“I’m so happy we get to have this competition here,” Gunew said. “It’s really good for us to get to come out and race against some of the up-and-coming athletes were have here too, just getting that chance to have a really good crack at a race experience right here in Australia. So I’m so stoked we got to have it this week.”

Jackson said the event provided him and Gunew “another chance to improve and to get better together, and today I think we did that.

“We put a couple of things we’ve been working on to practice in a proper race and I’m really happy about that. At the end of the day, it’s about trust. That’s the foundation. We can’t do what we do without complete trust in one another. That takes time.

“It takes time to form that bond with Georgia, but I think we’re getting better every day with it.”

Racing continues on Wednesday with competitors taking on the slalom. 

By: David Sygall, Paralympics Australia

Published: 9 September 2025