Alice Robinson: Calm and Ready for Olympic Giant Slalom | Milano Cortina 2026
Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – New Zealand skier Alice Robinson is preparing for the giant slalom final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, expressing a sense of calm according to her coach, Nils Coberger. Robinson, 24, will compete on the Olympia delle Tofane slope this evening, seeking to improve upon her eighth-place finish in the Super G event earlier this week.
Coberger reported that Robinson completed a strong two-hour training run and has been undergoing physiotherapy in the days leading up to the race. Weather conditions are expected to be overcast, but a potential temperature drop could lead to firmer ice, a welcome change from the soft snow that challenged athletes during the Super G competition on Thursday.
“It’s the nature of our sport, you can do all the preparation… But if the weather gods don’t play their part, then you just have to contend with that – nothing you can do about it,” Coberger said.
Robinson currently holds a second-place World Cup ranking in Super G and is fifth in the World Cup rankings for giant slalom, having secured two World Cup victories in the discipline this season, the most recent two months ago in Canada. This marks her second Olympic appearance, following the 2022 Winter Olympics where she finished 22nd in giant slalom, 25th in downhill, and did not finish the Super G.
Coberger noted a significant shift in Robinson’s approach since the 2022 Games. “Her mindset, she’s not trying to push as hard, she understands when to use tactics, she’s a wiser, older skier than she was four years ago.”
Adding to the team’s preparation, High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) has conducted aerodynamic drag testing with Robinson in Auckland University’s wind tunnel. HPSNZ Head of Innovation Simon Briscoe explained the importance of even small aerodynamic adjustments, stating, “We see sometimes quite alarming how some small differences can make a several percentage difference in aerodynamic drag.” Briscoe highlighted the challenge of measuring aerodynamic performance on the mountain, where athletes lack real-time feedback.
Coberger was recently selected to set the course for the first run of the giant slalom, having had his name drawn among the top 15 athletes. He described his approach to course design, prioritizing athlete safety and enjoyment. “Soon as we hit the flat, since of the length, I made it quite straight and not too many turns because otherwise you put everyone in the tank and we’ve had a long week… It’s still a normal giant slalom course but I’ve definitely gone uncomplicated on them at the bottom… It just feels better as an athlete when you’re skiing at high speed.” He added, “They have to enjoy it – I don’t set demanding courses or tricky courses or courses that catch people out.”
Robinson’s team includes coaches Nils Coberger and Tim Cafe, along with HPSNZ performance nutritionist Carolyn Cruden and performance psychologist Mariane Wray. The team has been working together for three seasons, emphasizing a consistent and familiar approach as they prepare for the Olympics, according to HPSNZ.