Australian slider Emma Lincoln-Smith has completed a successful Skeleton World Cup season by securing a top 10 ranking after the eighth and final event in Cesana, Italy. Although the AIS Scholarship holder’s form dropped off in the European leg of the World Cup, it was her good speed in the North American rounds that set up her best World Cup finish yet.
Australian slider Emma Lincoln-Smith has completed a successful Skeleton World Cup season by securing a top 10 ranking after the eighth and final event in Cesana, Italy.
Although the AIS Scholarship holder’s form dropped off in the European leg of the World Cup, it was her good speed in the North American rounds that set up her best World Cup finish yet.
In the last World Cup qualifier before this month’s World Championship in Germany, Lincoln-Smith was the best placed Australian down the 2006 Winter Olympic Games course, in 11th place. Fellow AIS Scholarship holders Michelle Steele and Lucy Chaffer were 12th and 15th respectively.
Germany’s Anja Huber secured the World Cup with her fourth win of the season, ahead of countrywoman Marion Thees and Canada’s Darla Deschamps, while Vancouver Olympic Gold Medallist, Amy Williams, could manage only eighth in Italy.
An hour's drive from Turin, the mountains of San Sicario formed the backdrop for the event, the fifth time that a bobsleigh and skeleton World Cup has been held on the 1435m long track.
It was a tough three days of official training leading into the event for the Australians, with the track not sliding like usual due to the Luge World Championships having just being completed.
Emma Lincoln-Smith, in particular, had a tough time of it, but was still confident of performing well.
“I was pleased with sixth fastest on my first run, especially considering that the last training run I had I ended up on my back and in a pretty bad way, physically and mentally,” Lincoln-Smith said.
“I felt confident and ready for the second run and just mistimed a few steers up top and could not fix them, which unfortunately just followed me down the track.
Michelle Steele, after a delayed start to her World Cup campaign, repeated her 12th place from the previous event in St. Moritz.
“I always enjoy racing in Torino, the track always makes for an interesting race,” Steele said.
“I wasn't happy with my first run, but made changes in the second and picked up a few places which I was happy with.”
Chaffer, who finished 15th, was disappointed with her second run, in particular.
“I was looking forward to the race and was fairly happy with the first run,” she explained. “I was hoping to build on that in the second run, but unfortunately that didn’t happen.
“I’m very disappointed to finish the World Cup season with that run, but hopefully the Worlds will be better.”
The World Championships will be held in Konigssee, Germany, on February 25 and 26, with Australia to be represented by Lincoln-Smith and Chaffer.
John Farrow will also compete for Australia in the Men’s Skeleton, after finishing 25th in Cesana.
Although the AIS Scholarship holder’s form dropped off in the European leg of the World Cup, it was her good speed in the North American rounds that set up her best World Cup finish yet.
In the last World Cup qualifier before this month’s World Championship in Germany, Lincoln-Smith was the best placed Australian down the 2006 Winter Olympic Games course, in 11th place. Fellow AIS Scholarship holders Michelle Steele and Lucy Chaffer were 12th and 15th respectively.
Germany’s Anja Huber secured the World Cup with her fourth win of the season, ahead of countrywoman Marion Thees and Canada’s Darla Deschamps, while Vancouver Olympic Gold Medallist, Amy Williams, could manage only eighth in Italy.
An hour's drive from Turin, the mountains of San Sicario formed the backdrop for the event, the fifth time that a bobsleigh and skeleton World Cup has been held on the 1435m long track.
It was a tough three days of official training leading into the event for the Australians, with the track not sliding like usual due to the Luge World Championships having just being completed.
Emma Lincoln-Smith, in particular, had a tough time of it, but was still confident of performing well.
“I was pleased with sixth fastest on my first run, especially considering that the last training run I had I ended up on my back and in a pretty bad way, physically and mentally,” Lincoln-Smith said.
“I felt confident and ready for the second run and just mistimed a few steers up top and could not fix them, which unfortunately just followed me down the track.
Michelle Steele, after a delayed start to her World Cup campaign, repeated her 12th place from the previous event in St. Moritz.
“I always enjoy racing in Torino, the track always makes for an interesting race,” Steele said.
“I wasn't happy with my first run, but made changes in the second and picked up a few places which I was happy with.”
Chaffer, who finished 15th, was disappointed with her second run, in particular.
“I was looking forward to the race and was fairly happy with the first run,” she explained. “I was hoping to build on that in the second run, but unfortunately that didn’t happen.
“I’m very disappointed to finish the World Cup season with that run, but hopefully the Worlds will be better.”
The World Championships will be held in Konigssee, Germany, on February 25 and 26, with Australia to be represented by Lincoln-Smith and Chaffer.
John Farrow will also compete for Australia in the Men’s Skeleton, after finishing 25th in Cesana.
