What a winter for Australia’s FIS World Cup ski and snowboard athletes. This time last week we had already won 9 golds, 2 silvers and 2 bronze medals. Thanks to podium performances on the weekend we can add two golds and three silvers bringing our total to 11 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze medals (18 medals) a year out from the next Winter Olympics and this doesn’t include the Para World Cup medals we have also won.
Golden girl Britt Cox owned the moguls at the Olympic test and FIS World Cup event in Pyeonchang in Korea taking home her fifth gold and sixth podium of the season (out of seven events).
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“I really enjoyed my week here in Korea for the test event. It was exciting to check out next years Olympic venue. It seems like all anyone wants to know is ‘what is the course like?’ and all any of us athletes can really say is that it’s ‘plain vanilla” said Cox to SnowsBest after her win.
“There is nothing really out of the ordinary with the course which makes it really fun to ski because you don’t have to spend too much time figuring it out, you can just get to work on your own skiing. However, this could could be rebuilt in the same location tomorrow and be completely different and with our sport, weather and snow conditions can have a significant impact on a course. So who knows what it will actually be like next year.”
Korea will be Cox’s third Olympics and she is on course to be a top favourite for a Winter Olympic medal based on her current form. As always, the 22 year old from Mt Beauty, is constantly working on her form in the belief there is always something to improve.
“I don’t think there has been anything particularly different over the past year that has led to my results so far this season; I think its more just that my training over the last few years is now starting to pay off. My coaches are very big advocates of optimising the fundamentals and i’m really grateful for their expertise” says Cox.
“We still have 4 more World Cups to go this season followed by the World Championships in Spain so there’s lots to focus on in the coming weeks. Its been really productive year of training; on snow, at the water ramps and in the gym, but as always you never really know how you are going to compare to the other competitors until that first competition. I just have confidence in my process and just let my training come through”
Australia had a ripping run of medals in Europe in the last week. Belle Brockhoff fresh from her gold winning run in the Boardercross in Bansko and sporting the yellow bib, won silver at the FIS World Cup event in Feldberg in Germany before just missing out on the podium in the next day’s event also in Feldberg. This makes two golds and a silver for Brockhoff so far this season. It also means she retains the yellow bib.
“Feels good to win another race this season. I’m really happy with my progress so far and I still have a lot to work on. Feldberg was a new course to figure out and i felt that this course suited me a lot” said Brockhoff after her silver medal race.
“I am thinking about the Olympics, and am currently working with Oxess on putting together my quiver for the games. I’m really excited on the development of my boards and how they feel. Apart from that I’m taking one race at a time and having a ton of fun doing it. Afterall, there’s no place I’d rather be than on my snowboard!”
One of Australia’s most persistent and hard working athletes, ski cross Olympian Samantha Kennedy- Sim (Sami Sim), finally reaped the rewards of her effort on the weekend with a second place silver medal podium at the Ski Cross World Cup in Sweden. Check out her stellar run below.
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“It’s still sinking in” said Sim to SnowsBest. “I attribute my first podium (of many I hope) to trust- trust in myself, my ability, my team and also to tonnes of hard work! This is just a sign that things are going on the right direction and that I hope this is just the beginning.”
The men also stepped up to the plate on the weekend with Alex Chumpy Pullin taking first place and team mate and competitor Jarryd Hughes taking second in a tense final battle between the two in Feldberg, Germany. That’s gold for Chumpy and Silver for Hughes.
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This puts Pullin in fourth place on the season leaderboard and Hughes in sixth.
