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Aussies shine in Stoneham

 

Aussies shine in Stoneham

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AOC
Aussies shine in Stoneham

SNOWBOARD SLOPESTYLE: Torah Bright has continued her multi-discipline domination and Australia's good form in the Stoneham Snowboard World Cup, qualifying for the semi-final of the Slopestyle in Canada.

SNOWBOARD SLOPESTYLE: Torah Bright has continued her multi-discipline domination and Australia's good form in the Stoneham Snowboard World Cup, qualifying for the semi-final of the Slopestyle in Canada.

Bright laid down a solid first run to earn 75.33, the fifth highest score in the heats. She wasn't able to replicate her high scores on the second run, taking just 30.66 but her first was enough to see her as the top qualifer into the semis, which will take place on 19 January, local time.

The event was also a significant one for 19-year-old snowboarder Lauren Staveley.

Stoneham was Staveley's last chance to chase an Olympic berth, and the young Victorian produced her best results to date, finishing 12th with a best run of 62.00.

"Finished in 12th place today, my best result in an Olympic qualifier yet!" Staveley posted on Facebook. "This hasn't guaranteed my place for the Olympics but I am still in the running. Fingers crossed!!"

Along with the other Olympic hopefuls, Staveley will now wait for the Olympic quota places to be allocated and will be hoping that her result will have been enough to lift her rankings enough to secure a start in Sochi.

Staveley's younger brother Cameron, who is also vying for an Olympic debut this February, didn't produce the results he was after.

In a tough day for the 16-year-old, Staveley was only able to put down a 19.66 and a 16.66, leaving him in 13th place in his heat, equal 54th overall, and out of the running for a finals berth.

It wasn't all bad news for the Aussies though, with young-gun Scotty James third in his heat, with his top score of 76.66 enough for him to qualify through to the semi-final. It's been a great campaign for the 19-year-old Victorian rider so far, qualifying the day before for the final of the Halfpipe. He will now contest the Halfpipe final on the 18th (local time) and then try for a Slopestyle finals berth the following day.

Equally as impressive was James' teammate Declan Vogel-Paul. In his second run of the day, Vogel-Paul notched up 64.66, taking him through to the semi-finals also.

At just 18 and only in his second World Cup season, Vogel-Paul will be looking to push for a spot in the final to have one last crack at grabbing an Olympic berth for Sochi.

Tim Laidlaw, whose brother Luke is looking to qualify for Sochi in Alpine SKiing, was the next best placed Aussie male in the fourth heat, placing 10th, a few spots outside what he needed to get a semi-final start, ending the competition 34th overall.

In other Australian results Michaela Davis-Meehan was 31st, Biba Turnbull was 32nd and Nick Wood was equal 54th.

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