SNOWBOARD: After Belle Brockhoff and Josie Baff proudly represented Australia in the women's snowboard cross, the action continues with the men's snowboard cross on Thursday.
In an impressive Australian line up, triple Olympians Jarryd Hughes and Cam Bolton join dual Olympian Adam Lambert and Olympic debutant Adam Dickson.
Jarryd made history at the PyeongChang 2018 Games when he claimed Australia’s first ever snowboard cross medal.
It’s been a much more difficult preparation for the Olympics this time around. Jarryd suffered a fall at training on the Thredbo ski fields during the 2021 Australian winter that required ankle surgery.
"I’ve had a unique experience [coming] into this one. I had surgery three to four months ago now, so a little bit of chaos coming in… but [the] body’s good,” Jarryd said.
“I’ve been kind of holding it together to this point to make sure I could perform at these Games. I’m here to win gold, that’s the mission.”
With the largest snowboard cross team across men and women that Australia has ever assembled for an Olympic Games, Hughes said the Aussies are sure to entertain.
"I think everybody here is going with a mission of performing here. It’s just who is best on the day. Every single one of us here on the Australian team is capable of winning,” he said.
For Cameron, he comes into these Games with a recent bronze medal at the World Cup in Italy and is looking to capitalise on the good form.
"I’ve been able to build throughout the whole season. To come away with a podium [place] leading into the Games is a confidence boost and more a tick of approval that everything we’ve been doing this season is really good. It’s another indicator that things are on track,” Cameron said.
“I’m looking forward to competing here, and also seeing the rest of the team compete because we can all achieve success. It’s probably the best snowboard cross team that we’ve ever put forward.”
For Adam Lambert and Adam Dickson, they will line up alongside their teammates ranked 14th and 15th respectively on the FIS World Cup ladder.
Lambert’s journey to his second Olympic Games hasn’t been without its bumps along the way, after an unfortunate season ending injury at the beginning of the 2019-20 season. But he made he made a strong return in 2020-21.
For 25-year-old Dickson he had a breakthrough during the 2019-20 World Cup tour, recording his first World Cup podium with a bronze in Switzerland. The following season he finished eighth at the World Cup in Bakuriani, Georgia and ended the season ranked 25th in the world.
Seeding runs in the men’s snowboard cross get competition underway at 2:15pm AEDT, with the finals to start from 5pm AEDT. Watch on Channel 7 and 7plus.
Lauren Ryan
#HaveAGo
Snowboard
CAN YOU SNOWBOARD IN AUSTRALIA?
Yes! There are 10 Ski Resorts in Australia that are easy to access.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Snowboarding is very affordable to #HaveAGo. You can rent all the equipment you need which is a low-cost way to try snowsports.
WHAT KIT DO I NEED?
All you need is a snowboard, snowboard boots, helmet, snow jacket, gloves and pants. All these items can be rented from snowboard shops to help get you started without having to buy everything for your first time.
