By Nick Butler

Jade Etherington, pictured last year, secured a maiden World Cup win in Tignes ©Getty ImagesJanuary 28 - Britain's visually impaired Alpine-skier Jade Etherington has continued her promising form ahead of the Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi by winning her maiden World Cup event in Tignes.


Etherington, part of a strong British visually impaired team along with another Paralympic medal contender, Kelly Gallagher, has already won minor medals on the international circuit this season and was too strong for the downhill opposition this time round.

Along with guide Caroline Powell, the 22-year old stopped the clock in an impressive 1min 26.60sec to finish almost three seconds clear of the United States husband and wife team of Danelle Umstead and guide Rob.

Gallagher and guide Charlotte Evans, meanwhile, were one of several teams not to complete their runs due to the challenging conditions caused by heavy snowfall yesterday, which had seen the downhill action delayed by 24 hours.

Vancouver 2010 Paralympic veteran Reinhold Sampl was one of two Austrian gold medal winners on downhill day in Tignes ©Getty ImagesVancouver 2010 Paralympic veteran Reinhold Sampl was one of two Austrian gold medal winners on downhill day in Tignes ©Getty Images


Elsewhere on the first day of action in Tignes, Austria and the US led the way with three podium finishes apiece.

But, while the US were unable to secure the top podium position, Austrian skiers enjoyed two victories.

Downhill world champion Markus Salcher posted the fastest time in the men's standing class to defeat two Swiss skiers in Thomas Pfyl and Michael Bruegger, while Reinhold Sampl edged out US super G specialist Tyler Walker to win the sitting event.

Another Austrian, Roman Rabl, finished third.

France's Marie Bochet continued her superb form in the standing class to win her third World Cup title of the season on home snow, while the reigning slalom world champion Anna Schaffelhuber of Germany triumphed in the sitting class.

There was more European success in the men's visually impaired category when Italy's Alessandro Daldoss and guide Luca Negrini ousted Slovakian and Spanish pairings to secure victory.

Competition is due to continue in Tignes tomorrow before the action comes to a head on Friday (January 31).

Skiers will then head to St. Moritz in Switzerland early next month before the World Cup finals later in February in the Italian resort of Tarvisio offer a final test ahead of the Paralympics getting underway in Sochi. 

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