She may be only 16 years-old but Australian moguls skier Britt Cox is already earning a reputation for her plucky determination. After making her World Cup debut only last week in Canada, the AIS/NSWIS scholarship holder battled hard to turn disappointment into a creditable top 20 place over the weekend during the second day of a double-header at Lake Placid in the United States.
She may be only 16 years-old but Australian moguls skier Britt Cox is already earning a reputation for her plucky determination.
After making her World Cup debut only last week in Canada, the AIS/NSWIS scholarship holder battled hard to turn disappointment into a creditable top 20 place over the weekend during the second day of a double-header at Lake Placid in the United States.
Cox fought back from 33rd on day one of the double-header to record a 20th place 24 hours later in minus 20 degrees Celsius conditions.
Sunday’s race, which was won by American Hannah Kearney with Canada’s Chloe Dufour Lapointe in second spot and compatriot Kristi Richards in third, comes on the heels of finishing 18th in Cox’s World Cup debut, the dual moguls at Mont Gabriel, Canada on January 15.
Given her youthful age and her limited international experience, indications are that Australia may soon have another contender for international freestyle skiing honours.
NSWIS Mogul Skiing Head Coach Peter “Toppa” Topalovic said that Cox was again the team’s best performing athlete.
“It was impressive to see her come out today and bounce back from a disappointing event yesterday (the first of the double header)”, Topalovic said.
“After yesterday, we encouraged Britt to ski a different line in the moguls which paid off.
“As a result, she picked up her speed by a few seconds today. The top half of her run was great, but she had a little bit of trouble with the bottom air.”
Cox’s teammate David Graham showed that his preparation for the World Championships at Deer Valley in the United States from February 2 is also gathering speed.
Graham could manage only 34th in Mont Gabriel but finished in 28th on day one in Lake Placid and 26th on day 2.
Topalovic rated Graham’s second day performance as much better than other World Cup appearances this season with signs of further improvement ahead.
He added that all athletes are gaining valuable experience from the intense competition of the World Cup and the lead up training
In other results, fellow Australian Nicole Parks finished in 25th place on day one and 31st on day 2 while Sam Hall’s finishes in the men’s events were 26th and 33rd.
The team now heads back to Canada, for next weekend’s round seven of the World Cup tour at Calgary’s Olympic Park.
Results Women’s World Cup moguls skiing, Lake Placid, January 23:
1. Hannah Kearney (USA)
2. Chloe Dufour-Lapointe (CAN)
3. Kristi Richards (CAN)
4. Jennifer Heil (CAN)
5. Ekaterina Stolyarova (RUS)
6. Heather McPhie (USA)
7. Regina Rakhimova (RUS)
8. Nikola Sudova (CZE)
9. Marika Pertakhiya (RUS)
10. Justine Dufour Lapointe (CAN)
20. Britt Cox (AUS)
31. Nicole Parks (AUS)
Standings in World Cup women’s moguls skiing, after round 6:
1. Hannah Kearney (USA), 509
2. Jenniefer Heil (CAN), 390
3. Kristi Richards (CAN), 286
4. Justine Dufour-Lapointe (CAN), 253
5. Audrey Robichaud (CAN), 220
6. Heather McPhie (USA), 191
7. Eliza Outtrim (USA), 173
8. Regina Rakhimova (RUS), 164
9. Ekaterina Stolyarova (RUS), 161
10. Nikola Sudova (CZE), 158
31. Britt Cox (AUS), 24
Results Men’s World Cup moguls skiing, Lake Placid, January 23:
1. Guilbaut Colas (FRA)
2. Michael Kingsbury (CAN)
3. Pierre-Alexandre Rousseau (CAN)
4. Marc-Antoine Gagnon (CAN)
5. Cedric Rochon (CAN)
6. Jeremy Cota (USA)
7. David Digravio (USA)
8. Byron Wilson (USA)
9. Adam Gummesson
10. Patrick Deneen (USA)
26. David Graham (AUS)
Standings in World Cup Men’s moguls skiing, after round 6:
1. Guilbaut Colas (FRA), 500
2. Mikael Kingsbury (CAN), 355
3.Alexandre Bilodeau (CAN), 299
4. Patrick Deneen (USA), 297
5. Jeremy Cota (USA), 233
6. Pierre=Alexandre Rousseau (CAN) 218
7. Bryon Wilson (USA), 202
8. Cedric Rochon (CAN), 176
9. Alexandr Smyshlyaev (RUS), 160
10. David Digravio (USA), 128
After making her World Cup debut only last week in Canada, the AIS/NSWIS scholarship holder battled hard to turn disappointment into a creditable top 20 place over the weekend during the second day of a double-header at Lake Placid in the United States.
Cox fought back from 33rd on day one of the double-header to record a 20th place 24 hours later in minus 20 degrees Celsius conditions.
Sunday’s race, which was won by American Hannah Kearney with Canada’s Chloe Dufour Lapointe in second spot and compatriot Kristi Richards in third, comes on the heels of finishing 18th in Cox’s World Cup debut, the dual moguls at Mont Gabriel, Canada on January 15.
Given her youthful age and her limited international experience, indications are that Australia may soon have another contender for international freestyle skiing honours.
NSWIS Mogul Skiing Head Coach Peter “Toppa” Topalovic said that Cox was again the team’s best performing athlete.
“It was impressive to see her come out today and bounce back from a disappointing event yesterday (the first of the double header)”, Topalovic said.
“After yesterday, we encouraged Britt to ski a different line in the moguls which paid off.
“As a result, she picked up her speed by a few seconds today. The top half of her run was great, but she had a little bit of trouble with the bottom air.”
Cox’s teammate David Graham showed that his preparation for the World Championships at Deer Valley in the United States from February 2 is also gathering speed.
Graham could manage only 34th in Mont Gabriel but finished in 28th on day one in Lake Placid and 26th on day 2.
Topalovic rated Graham’s second day performance as much better than other World Cup appearances this season with signs of further improvement ahead.
He added that all athletes are gaining valuable experience from the intense competition of the World Cup and the lead up training
In other results, fellow Australian Nicole Parks finished in 25th place on day one and 31st on day 2 while Sam Hall’s finishes in the men’s events were 26th and 33rd.
The team now heads back to Canada, for next weekend’s round seven of the World Cup tour at Calgary’s Olympic Park.
Results Women’s World Cup moguls skiing, Lake Placid, January 23:
1. Hannah Kearney (USA)
2. Chloe Dufour-Lapointe (CAN)
3. Kristi Richards (CAN)
4. Jennifer Heil (CAN)
5. Ekaterina Stolyarova (RUS)
6. Heather McPhie (USA)
7. Regina Rakhimova (RUS)
8. Nikola Sudova (CZE)
9. Marika Pertakhiya (RUS)
10. Justine Dufour Lapointe (CAN)
20. Britt Cox (AUS)
31. Nicole Parks (AUS)
Standings in World Cup women’s moguls skiing, after round 6:
1. Hannah Kearney (USA), 509
2. Jenniefer Heil (CAN), 390
3. Kristi Richards (CAN), 286
4. Justine Dufour-Lapointe (CAN), 253
5. Audrey Robichaud (CAN), 220
6. Heather McPhie (USA), 191
7. Eliza Outtrim (USA), 173
8. Regina Rakhimova (RUS), 164
9. Ekaterina Stolyarova (RUS), 161
10. Nikola Sudova (CZE), 158
31. Britt Cox (AUS), 24
Results Men’s World Cup moguls skiing, Lake Placid, January 23:
1. Guilbaut Colas (FRA)
2. Michael Kingsbury (CAN)
3. Pierre-Alexandre Rousseau (CAN)
4. Marc-Antoine Gagnon (CAN)
5. Cedric Rochon (CAN)
6. Jeremy Cota (USA)
7. David Digravio (USA)
8. Byron Wilson (USA)
9. Adam Gummesson
10. Patrick Deneen (USA)
26. David Graham (AUS)
Standings in World Cup Men’s moguls skiing, after round 6:
1. Guilbaut Colas (FRA), 500
2. Mikael Kingsbury (CAN), 355
3.Alexandre Bilodeau (CAN), 299
4. Patrick Deneen (USA), 297
5. Jeremy Cota (USA), 233
6. Pierre=Alexandre Rousseau (CAN) 218
7. Bryon Wilson (USA), 202
8. Cedric Rochon (CAN), 176
9. Alexandr Smyshlyaev (RUS), 160
10. David Digravio (USA), 128