Skiers struggle as ‘brutal’ real snow falls for first time at Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

Australian debutant Louis Muhlen-Schulte has finished an impressive 23rd in tough conditions at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics men’s giant slalom

With real snow blanketing the Yanqing course on Sunday, many skiers struggled with visibility with only 54 from the 86-strong field completing the first run to earn a second attempt.

Watch the Aussie head down amid horrible conditions in the video above

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When the event was paused between first and second runs in the hope that conditions would improve, the 23-year-old was in a very credible 32nd spot.

When competition resumed he recorded the equal 21st fastest time of the second runs to improve by nine places in the overall standings.

“Honestly today it’s pretty tough, pretty brutal conditions. I don’t know, it’s pretty in your face,” Muhlen-Schulte told Channel 7.

“The one day we get snow and it’s the biggest blizzard they’ve had in years. Doesn’t make it easy but it was good. Definitely some good skiing, a lot to take from it. We’ll keep battling.

“(Visibility was) tough. Used to it a little bit but you still never love it, it’s definitely a battle regardless and you’ve just got to fight through it.

“I mean, everyone’s got to deal with it, you’ve just got to make the most of it.”

Originally from Melbourne, Muhlen-Schulte is based in the United States and attends the Montana State University, where he is on the ski team and also studies business.

Muhlen-Schulte earned his first team All-America honours after finishing fifth in the 2021 National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) championships in the slalom, while as a junior he placed fifth in the alpine combined at the world