SNOWBOARD SLOPESTYLE: Reigning gold medallist Torah Bright ended speculation that the Snowboard Slopestyle course at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, has safety concerns.

Bright and her brother-coach Ben Bright raised doubts in a media conference yesterday about potential safety risks, however, after today’s three hour training session, the first of three consecutive days on the course, both Brights said the course will not pose any problems.

The thumbs-up was echoed by fellow teammate Scotty James, who spent much of today’s session training with Bright.

However, while Bright and James dispelled any safety risks, they have supported a unanimous call among Slopestyle athletes who have suggested specific overnight alterations to the course.

James added that course alterations are often carried out based on feedback from athletes and coaches.

Bright said that some of the approaches to jumps are a little “poppy”, citing the need for take-off points to be made smoother, to offer more control through the air.

“After seeing the course and riding the course, it will be great,” she said.

“It will take a little time to work up to it all and sometimes it doesn’t matter if the course is not built perfectly. That’s just the way it is.

“Everybody is in the same boat and I’m not concerned about safety.

“It’s the Olympics. They will do anything they can to put on a good show. It is going to be a wonderful stage to show off snowboarding.”

To clarify why she and her brother raised safety concerns at yesterday’s media conference, Bright said that she was just giving honest feedback from a rider’s perspective and had no intention of criticising the Olympics. 

“I wasn’t bagging on the Olympics. It was just the reality of the situation. 

Everybody was coming back saying ‘oh my gosh, this looks crazy’.”

After declaring that the course is safe, Bright said that its design will challenge her and all athletes chasing Olympic medals.

“I do like bigger jumps,” she said.

“They do not intimidate me. I have to admit these are big jumps and there is a lot of air time.”

Bright believes that about 95 percent of the athletes entered will be a little hesitant with the challenging nature of the course.

“I know from just riding in there it is challenging for sure but we are all the best at what we do and we will adapt and make a great show out it all.

“Ultimately my level of riding could move up a notch. I’m going to have to pull it out of myself to ride the best I can and that’s exciting too.”James described the course as one which will “separate the men from the boys.”

“Everything is fine,” James said. “It’s just the take offs are a little bumpy. Once they work out the consistency on the take offs, it will be really good.

“I think they did a good job so far and I think it’s going to be good by the time competition comes around.

“I don’t think there are any safety issues.”

Snowboard Slopestyle training continues tomorrow morning (Sochi time).