Superb debuts for GB sliders
Freya Tarbit finished seventh on her World Cup debut on Friday, with Tabby Stoecker 12th in her first taste of top tier competition.
Tarbit was only beaten by previous World Cup medalists in Winterberg as she clocked a combined time of 1 minute 58.05 seconds.
The 22-year-old only had 10 Europa Cup (EC) appearances and a Junior World and European Championship start to her name prior to the race but she produced an outstanding performance in the first event of the new year.
Tarbit beat a whole host of World Cup regulars and Olympians, as well as no fewer than seven World Cup medalists in a field of 21, in Germany.
The former long jumper had medalled in all four of her EC races so far this season, including an event win in Lillehammer, while ex gymnast Stoecker had won silver and bronze in her four EC outings since November.
Freya Tarbit was seventh on her World Cup bow
Stoecker produced the second best start times in each of the two heats on her World Cup debut, with only Italy’s Valentina Margaglio, who finished 12th at the Beijing Olympics, quicker off the top. Like Tarbit, Stoecker made her EC debut in December 2021 but had less than ten international appearances behind her before stepping up to face the sport’s elite sliders.
The pair now switch their attentions to the Junior World Championships in Winterberg this coming Friday.
The World Cup action also stays in Germany as the circuit heads to Altenberg for back-to-back races over the next two Fridays. Brogan Crowley and Laura Deas, who won silver in Whistler and bronze in Park City respectively before Christmas, return to the team for the fifth World Cup competition of the eight-race campaign.
