Alexandra Fitch, representing Australia, and a snowboarder with Ski & Snowboard Club Vail, took her slopestyle skills at the women’s competition in Innsbruck to a bronze medal on Thursday collecting her country’s first medal at these games.  Fitch’s SSCV teammate, Indigo Monk, took fifth in the competition.

After placing a very respectable fourth in the women’s halfpipe on Sunday, Fitch ramped it up and stepped onto the slopestyle podium.

“We are stoked on the way she rode today,” said coach Ben Boyd.  “This was a great way to cap an excellent event for her.  She showed great calmness and strategy, and she is a great representative for her country and SSCV.  We are very proud of her.”

SSCV’s alpine racer Alex Leever, representing the U.S. and skiing against the best young men for this age in the world, made his move today starting 30th and placing 15th in the first of two runs of giant slalom.

“To ski from 30th to 15th in the first run is excellent,” said coach Peter Lange.

In between runs, Lindsey Vonn visited Leever.  Vonn is one of five Youth Olympic Games Ambassadors for the Innsbruck 2012 Games, and she was there to inspire the Innsbruck 2012 athletes.

Her inspiration seemed to work for Leever as he moved up another four spots to finish 11th on the day.

“For Alex to move up to 11th in his second run is exceptional,” said Lange.  “He is doing a really good job, and is in good spirits”

The men compete in slalom on Saturday, 1/21.  Leever took fourth in the SL leg of the Super Combined on Monday, and slalom is his best event.