WINTER SPORTS: Australia’s Mogul Skiing Team kicked off the New Year with the Calgary World Cup over the weekend, while unpredictable weather hampered Australia’s Skeleton and Alpine athletes.
Olympians Jakara Anthony and Matt Graham were the top placed mogul skiers in Calgary, both recording 4th place finishes in their respective events. Britt Cox and James Matheson also put down top-10 performances, both finishing 9th.
PyeongChang silver medallist Graham qualified in second place for the first final, but said he still needs to give more to boost him back up into the medal positions.
“Yesterday went quite well for me and I am happy to come away with a 4th place,” he said. “I didn't ski my best runs in the finals so I still have a lot left in the tank moving forward.
“After qualifying second, putting down two solid finals runs is something that I am looking to build on this week going into Lake Placid [World Cup].
“We have a big few weeks leading up to the World Championships so putting down consistent performances each week is a high priority.”
Claudia Gueli qualified for her fourth individual World Cup final, placing 14th overall in the women’s event. Fellow Aussie Sophie Ash placed 24th and unfortunately Taylah O’Neill had a crash on course and didn’t record a finishing score.
In the men’s event, Sochi Olympian Brodie Summers narrowly missed out on a place in the top-16 final, placing 17th in qualifiers. Rohan Chapman-Davies placed 32nd and Cooper Woods-Topalovic 38th.
After a strong start to her 2018/19 season, Jackie Narracott was disappointed she wasn’t able to compete at the Königssee Skeleton World Cup, which was cancelled due to continued snowfall and poor weather.
“I’ve had a great start to the season. I feel like I’ve taken another step forward in my sliding which is awesome,” Narracott said.
“Thanks to the OWIA I’ve also been able to create a coaching partnership with the Canadian team and that has been invaluable. The cancellation of our World Cup in Königssee, to put it politely, sucked!
“It’s one of my favourite tracks and I was incredibly looking forward to going fast.
“Time to let it go and focus on the WC in Igls this weekend.”
Australia's up and coming women's bobsleigh team, Team Walker, placed 3rd and 7th respectively in the sixth and seventh Women’s Bobsleigh European Cup events in Igls, Austria. Pilot Bree Walker teammed up with brakeman Jamie Scroop for race #6, and Claire Cuttler for race #7, giving the team valuable experience before they compete in their first ever World Cup in Igls later this week.
Coming up this week:
Scotty James will attempt to maintain his undefeated start to the season as he takes on the Laax Snowboard Halfpipe World Cup this week, alongside teammate Kent Callister.
Greta Small will have to wait another week to kick off her New Year racing, with the St Anton Alpine World Cup cancelled over the weekend. She will be back in action at the Cortina d’Amprezzo World Cup in Italy on January 19.
Australia’s Mogul Skiers head to Lake Placid for the next round of their World Cup season on January 18 and 19. They will be joined by the Flying Kangaroos, who are aiming to reach new heights at the first Aerials World Cup of the year.
Jackie Narracott will have her fingers and toes crossed for a great run at the Innsbruck World Cup in Austria, and the Australian Ski Cross Team will fly out the gates at the Idre Fjall World Cup in Sweden.
Georgia Thompson
olympics.com.au
