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New Zealand's Alice Robinson took a record World Cup victory in the giant slalom at Copper Mountain Course in the United States on Saturday.
Robinson's fifth career win makes her the most successful women's World Cup winner from a non-European or North American country, according to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation.
For the sake of this honor, she broke off relations with compatriot Claudia Rigler.
Alice Robinson was nearly flawless in her second attempt at first place in Colorado.
“It's always special for me to represent New Zealand, especially in a sport like cross-country skiing that is so dominated by North America and Europe,” Robinson said. “So I'm really proud of that.”
Robinson led after the first run and defended her lead well with an equally-best second run at the 3,000-meter (9,850-foot) course in Colorado.
Austria's Julia Scheib was second and Norway's Louise Stjernesund finished on the podium.
Canadians fight in the USA
Below the podium, the Canadians failed to place in the top ten.
Two-time Olympic champion Valerie Grenier finished 13th with a total time of 2:00.98, and 22-year-old Britt Richardson was 16th with a time of 2:01.24.
Valerie Grenier of St. Isidore, Ont., finished just outside the top ten in the giant slalom competition in Copper Mountain, Colorado.
Three Canadians failed to complete the competition. Arianne Forget did not qualify for the second heat after a first heat time of 1:02.62, and Justine Lamontagne and Cassidy Gray did not finish the first heat.
Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, will host back-to-back World Cup Women's Giant Slalom events on December 6th and 7th.
