What a huge weekend for Australian snow sports on the FIS Freestyle World Cup as two of the country’s most beloved snow sports athletes take home a combined four Crystal Globes for the 23/24 season.
Not only did mogul skiing sensation, Jakara Anthony, win gold in the FIS World Cup singles moguls on Friday night in Almaty, Khazakstan, but she also broke Hannah Kearney’s record for the most moguls victories in one FIS season. Then she went one better with gold in the duals events the next night.
That’s thirteen gold medals (and a bronze) in the 23/24 ski season for the Beijing Olympic gold medalist from Barwon Heads who has also broken Australian Dale Begg-Smith’s record for most FIS WC Mogul wins in his career. Begg-Smith took 18 in his mogul career (and a gold and silver Olympic medal) and Anthony has notched up 21 thus far (and an Olympic gold).
Having already secured the singles Crystal Globe a few weeks back, she then secured the dual moguls Crystal Globe and overall moguls Crystal Globe with a whopping 11,380 points. The closest athlete, Jaelin Kauf, sitting on second place with 984 points.
“We are getting to the end of the season now, that was our 15th event, so to be able to keep bring that week after week I am really proud of that”, said the 25-year-old from Barwon Heads in Victoria.
“Being the top seed in duals means you switch lines every dual round, and I have been lucky to be the top seed most of the season, so I am quite confident at it now, but it was a bit rattling at the start of the season, so it’s really good training for me.”
“We have one more start next week in Valmalenco, and then it’s season done.”
Meanwhile in the aerials, Danielle Scott, went into the final FIS World Cup event of the season in Almaty, sitting second on the overall leaderboard. With a mere 12 points between. herself and the leader, Winter Vinecki.
All Scott needed to do was beat Vinecki in the finals to secure the Crystal Globe. Scott qualified second place for the finals and Vinecki qualified 10th. When fog cancelled the finals, the qualification round determined the winners of both the event and the Crystal Globe.
That’s back to back Crystal Globes for Scott who took home the globe last season as well, an incredible achievement.
“I am just so incredibly happy, this is a dream come true to go back-to-back and win the globe twice” said the 33-year-old Scott from NSW, who trains in Brisbane at the Geoff Henke Olympic Winter Training Centre water jump facility.
“Every jump counts is I all I can think about right now, as in the qualification round the weather was much better and I did a nice jump and its paid off.”
