It’s been a big 24 hours for Australia at the Utah FIS World Championships 2019 this weekend.
Scotty James went big with his first run of three at the halfpipe snowboard final at Park City Mountain Resort. With four from four wins so far this season and the chance at a record third world championship, the 24 year old Victorian snowboarder had a lot on the line.
He threw down 94.25 to lead the pack with the only challenge coming in the second run from Japan’s Yuto Totsuka with 92.25 and Switzerland’s Patrick Burgener with 91.25.
James went bigger in his third run to ensure no one else came close to his 97.50, securing himself the FIS World Championship 2019 title and creating history as the only snowboarder to win three titles.
The Deer Valley World Championships for moguls and aerials is always a highlight for the Aussie athletes on the competition calendar. Australia traditionally performs well at the annual FIS World Cup held at Deer Valley and athletes love the stoke of a large crowd under lights with the music pumping. It’s a spectacular spectator event and the moguls were second up after Laura Peel scored fourth in the aerials final two nights prior.
The Australian mogul skiers put on a fine show for the gathered crowd. Jakara Anthony qualified first for the finals off the back of a gold and two silvers in FIS World Cup this season thus far.
Her first finals run then secured her first qualifier for the super final of six competitors when she came second, securing her first FIS World Championship podium of her career.
“I’ve been putting down the runs that I know and doing the technical runs that I want and that’s put me in first and that’s the aim” said Anthony of her qualifying runs.
“It’s incredible, I always love skiing here, it’s a special event and to have World Champs here and to have a podium, it’s a very special night.”
Not to be outdone, PyeongChang Winter Olympic silver medalist, Matt Graham, went head to head with his friendly rival, Mikael Kingsbury, in the hope of knocking him off his gold perch. Graham qualified second from the finals for the super final of six and scored 81.4 to put him second place to Kingsbury’s 84.89, claiming a silver FIS World Championship medal for his collection.
Australia has more medal chances at the FIS World Championship dual moguls event tonight, again under lights at Deer Valley.
