WATER Skier Nicole Arthur dodged hurricanes and alligators to retain he world junior slalom title in Florida on Friday.
The Slamannan star fought off a stiff challenge from Australian Karina Nowlan to win the title in a run-off showdown before Hurri
cane Frances hit the mainland.
And the 17-year-old and her father John hadn't managed to fly home for a celebration by yesterday (Wednesday) as they try to leave Orlando before Hurricane Iven comes to town.
Although the World Championships sat right in the path of Frances, the organisers rescheduled the programme before the event was forced to close down.
Australian Karina Nowlan had posted a score of 2.00 buoys on the 11.25 metre rope length but Arthur equalled this score to force a run off.
Amidst mounting excitement from the large crowd, both girls ran the 12 metre pass and then came back to equal each other again with the same score of 2 buoys on 11.25m line.
In the second run off Nicole took the title with 4 buoys on the 12 metre line whilst the Australian fell round the first buoy.
Nicole's mother Isla said: "Fortunately they brought the competition forwards to the Thursday and Friday because they knew it was going to hit and it was quite an achievement that she managed to win the title twice in a row.
"They spent Saturday and Sunday without electricity and water, drove up yesterday to Orlando to try and get a flight out. But they don't think they will get out before Wednesday or Thursday. They need to get home before the next hurricane hits."
Earlier this summer Arthur, enjoying he final year as a junior, confirmed her World Junior No.1 status when she won the European Junior Champion-ships. Soon afterwards she followed up with the British Junior Championships title in Surrey.
