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PREVIEW: Bright, Brockhoff brace for boardercross

 

PREVIEW: Bright, Brockhoff brace for boardercross

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PREVIEW: Bright, Brockhoff brace for boardercross

SNOWBOARD CROSS: Torah Bright admits that about 18 months ago some people questioned her decision to enter the unique world of Snowboard Cross, but in the event's Olympic Winter Games final on February 16, she hopes to have the last laugh.

SNOWBOARD CROSS: Torah Bright admits that about 18 months ago some people questioned her decision to enter the unique world of Snowboard Cross, but in the event’s Olympic Winter Games final on February 16, she hopes to have the last laugh.

Fresh from her silver medal performance in the Snowboard Halfpipe on February 12, Bright tackles the high speed Snowboard Cross on Sunday. This completes her three-pronged program in Sochi- the first time an Australian snowboarder has taken on such a demanding schedule.

But Bright, of course, is not an ordinary athlete. Over the journey Australia’s most successful female Winter Olympian has demonstrated the versatility and skill to achieve strong performances in three disciplines.

“When I started this boarder cross journey they really laughed at me,” Bright admits.

“They said ‘there is no way she can do it.’

“I definitely didn’t go ‘whatever. It’s easy’. It’s not easy at all- not one bit.

“I put everything on the sideline really to give time to boarder cross and to learning the techniques and learning how to ride these boards.”

Bright said that the Snowboard Cross is the event she is most prepared for, compared with her lead up with the two other events she has contested in Sochi, Halfpipe and Slopestyle.

“I have ridden more boarder cross than anything. I had not ridden Halfpipe since December before the other night.

“Boarder cross is really, really new to me. My response to everybody was ‘really, it’s just snowboarding. I don’t know much but I do know snowboarding!’

“Boarder cross is one of those things when a Bradbury can happen too. Anything can happen in boarder cross.

“I’m here to put my best foot forward. As my six-year-old nephew told me, ‘it does not matter if you get bronze, silver, gold, last place or 10th place, as long as you do your best, that’s winning.’ I’m just here to do my best.”

One of the reasons Bright is looking forward to the head-to-head racing is her love of speed. Early feedback on the Sochi course shows clearly that Bright’s need for speed will be well and truly answered.

Having bagged a silver medal earlier this week, Bright goes into the event without any pressure at all, while her opposition will not be able to take the same approach.

Australia’s other hope, Belle Brockhoff, sits two places higher on the world rankings. Last year in Sochi Brockhoff made the consolation final and finished in sixth place overall in a World Cup event on the same course 12.

The 21-year-old is an accomplished Snowboard Cross rider who is more than capable of going better than last year’s result and pushing for a medal.

Standing in the way of the Australians will be Canada’s powerhouse pair of Dominque Maltais, the current FIS World Cup Champion, and Maelle Ricker, the reigning Olympic gold medallist and World Champion.

However, a huge question mark hangs over Ricker’s head, as a result of breaking her wrist in the United States recently.

She has vowed not to let the injury affect her performance but only time will tell.

The field will fight for seeding positions before four heats of six athletes in each round battle it out in the knock-out section of the draw.

After the quarter-finals twelve athletes will compete in semi-finals with three from each semi going through to a six woman final to determine medals.

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