SNOWBOARD CROSS: Reigning Olympic Snowboard Halfpipe Champion Torah Bright, who is aiming to represent Australia in three events at next month’s Sochi Games, added to her impressive resume with eighth place in Vallnord-Arcalis, Andorra.
SNOWBOARD CROSS: Reigning Olympic Snowboard Halfpipe Champion Torah Bright, who is aiming to represent Australia in three events at next month’s Sochi Games, added to her impressive resume with eighth place at the World Cup in Vallnord-Arcalis, Andorra.
The 27-year-old was joined by another Australian woman, Belle Brockhoff, inside the top ten.
Bright’s quest to become a recognised Snowboard Cross athlete was escalated early last year and today was clearly her most successful result in that time.
She went into the first of the knock-out finals, consisting of 32 women, with the seventh fastest time in qualifying, which was also a personal best.
Bright was second across the line in her quarter-final, which enabled her to advance to the semi-finals.
However she was up against a hot field that included Canadian Dominque Maltais and American Lindsey Jacobellis, who went on to take second and third in the final, with Czech Eva Samkova taking out the top placing.
Bright was fourth in the semi, which meant that instead of advancing to the final to fight for a medal, her next race was in the consolation final or “small final” with Brockhoff and four others.
Bright was second in the race, just ahead of Brockhoff, who finished the day in ninth overall.
In men’s racing, 18-year-old speedster Jarryd Hughes, who recorded his maiden World Cup victory in Canada just before Christmas, was also impressive by making the consolation final, adding a ninth overall to his successful World Cup season.
The men’s final was won by Italian Omar Visintin, with Spain’s Lucas Eguibar in second and Italian Lucas Matteotti taking the third spot on the podium.
In other results with Australians, Cameron Bolton was 30th after making the finals, and Daniel Morrissy was 55th.
The Andorra event ends the snowboard cross World Cup season, as the Veysonnaz round, originally scheduled for January 18, has been cancelled.
Hughes was bumped into World No.2 on overall World Cup standings behind Italian Visintin. Compatriot Bolton is 29th with Brockhoff and Bright 13th and 15th respectively in the women's rankings.
