For only the second time in freestyle skiing history an Australian has claimed a medal in World Cup moguls, Dale Begg-Smith taking silver in dual moguls on the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic course.
For only the second time in freestyle skiing history an Australian has claimed a medal in World Cup moguls, Dale Begg-Smith taking silver in dual moguls on the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic course.
Begg-Smith finished in second place in the qualifying round of the Deer Valley dual moguls event, then won his way through three rounds of head to head competition before going down to US skier Jeremy Bloom in the battle for the gold medal.
In the semi-final round, he accounted for 2002 Olympic champion, 1999 world Champion and four-time World Cup champion Janne Lahtela of Finland.
Adrian Costa is the only other Australian moguls skier to win a World Cup medal, taking silver in dual moguls in Chatel, France, in February 1998.
Maria Despas also claimed a silver medal, but in the 2001 World Championships in Whistler, Canada.
The podium finished capped the best competition weekend of Begg-Smith’s career. Two days earlier, he had produced what was then his best World Cup performance, finishing in fourth place in the single moguls in Deer Valley.
The two results lifted him to seventh place on the World Cup standings.
Of the other Australians in the event, Nick Fisher equalled the best result of his career with a 17th place, and Michael Robertson was one place further back in 18th place. Jason Begg-Smith finished in 32nd place.
In the women’s, Manuela Berchtold did not have a great day, performing her new front and back somersaults, but finishing 22nd. World Cup leader Jennifer Heil of Canada won the women’s event.
Begg-Smith finished in second place in the qualifying round of the Deer Valley dual moguls event, then won his way through three rounds of head to head competition before going down to US skier Jeremy Bloom in the battle for the gold medal.
In the semi-final round, he accounted for 2002 Olympic champion, 1999 world Champion and four-time World Cup champion Janne Lahtela of Finland.
Adrian Costa is the only other Australian moguls skier to win a World Cup medal, taking silver in dual moguls in Chatel, France, in February 1998.
Maria Despas also claimed a silver medal, but in the 2001 World Championships in Whistler, Canada.
The podium finished capped the best competition weekend of Begg-Smith’s career. Two days earlier, he had produced what was then his best World Cup performance, finishing in fourth place in the single moguls in Deer Valley.
The two results lifted him to seventh place on the World Cup standings.
Of the other Australians in the event, Nick Fisher equalled the best result of his career with a 17th place, and Michael Robertson was one place further back in 18th place. Jason Begg-Smith finished in 32nd place.
In the women’s, Manuela Berchtold did not have a great day, performing her new front and back somersaults, but finishing 22nd. World Cup leader Jennifer Heil of Canada won the women’s event.
