All three members of Australia’s moguls ski team made the World Cup finals in Calgary, Canada, this morning (AEDT) with Britt Cox picking up the squad’s best overall finish by advancing through to the super final and Matt Graham posting the fifth best qualification result.
Cox’s and Graham’s fellow Olympic Winter Institute of Australia/NSW Institute of Sport athlete Nicole Parks placed 10th, a World Cup personal best for the 22-year-old.
The World Cup was won by Canadian Mikael Kingsbury ahead of compatriot Simon Pouliot-Cavanagh and Japan’s. Sho Endo in third while American Hannah Kearney won the women’s with Canadian sisters Cloe Dupont-Lapointe and Justine Dupont-Lapointe taking second and third.
With World Championships fast approaching this month, the Australian team leaves Canada encouraged by the knowledge that Cox is making up for a delayed start to the season and Graham and Parks are also continuing to grow as athletes.
However, unfortunately for Graham, a small mistake in the turns before the bottom jump in the first final in Calgary dashed his chances of progressing to the super final.
Coach Steve Desovich labelled the day as “solid” and was encouraged by a number of positive aspects with each of his three athletes.
Desovich said that he was pleased with Cox’s result given that today was the first time she had competed at World Cup level this season.
Her pre-season preparation was interrupted by a recent trampoline mishap to her left elbow but apart from being a “little rusty”, Desovich said that Cox showed signs that strong results this season are within her grasp.
“Britt did as well as she could have today,” Desovich said.
“She had some good runs in the first and the second final.
”She seems to be skiing fast. The speed was competitive.
“Matt’s fifth in the qualification was particularly encouraging. He made a small mistake in F1 which took him out. Moguls is all about avoiding mistakes so we will learn from that.
“To have three guys here and all three making it to the finals is good and generally positive. We now have to keep working to get better and better.”
“Overall it was a solid day for them and from here we will move forward.”
The team leaves Canada tomorrow for their next World Cup, a double-header, in Deer Valley, Utah, in the USA.
Results
Women’s World Cup moguls skiing, Calgary, Canada
1. Hannah Kearney (USA), 2. Cloe Dupont-Lapointe (CAN), 3. Justine Dupont-Lapointe (CAN), 4. Andi Naude (CAN), 5. Nicola Sukova (CZE), 6. Britt Cox (AUS), 10. Nicole Parks (AUS).
Women’s standings after round 2
1. Hannah Kearney (USA) 160, 2. Cloe Dupont-Lapointe (CAN) 160, 3. Justine Dupont-Lapointe (CAN) 105, 4. Yulia Galysheva (KAZ) 100, 5. Andi Naude (CAN) 90, 6. Audrey Robichaud (CAN) 86, 12. Britt Cox (AUS) 40, 19. Nicole Parks (AUS) 26
Men’s World Cup moguls skiing, Calgary, Canada
1. Mikael Kingsbury (CAN), 2. Simon Pouliot-Cavanagh (CAN), 3. Sho Endo (JPN), 4. Alexandr Smyshlyaev (RUS), 5. Anthony Benna (FRA), 6. Jimi Solonen (FIN), 13. Matt Graham (AUS)
Men’s standings after round 2
1. Sho Endo (JPN) 140, 2. Mikael Kingsbury (CAN) 129, 3. Anthony Benna (FRA) 105, 4. Simon Pouliot-Cavanagh (CAN) 104, 5. Philippe Marquis (CAN) 100, 6. Alexandr Smyshlyaev (RUS) 95, 16. Matt Graham (AUS) 29.
Cox’s and Graham’s fellow Olympic Winter Institute of Australia/NSW Institute of Sport athlete Nicole Parks placed 10th, a World Cup personal best for the 22-year-old.
The World Cup was won by Canadian Mikael Kingsbury ahead of compatriot Simon Pouliot-Cavanagh and Japan’s. Sho Endo in third while American Hannah Kearney won the women’s with Canadian sisters Cloe Dupont-Lapointe and Justine Dupont-Lapointe taking second and third.
With World Championships fast approaching this month, the Australian team leaves Canada encouraged by the knowledge that Cox is making up for a delayed start to the season and Graham and Parks are also continuing to grow as athletes.
However, unfortunately for Graham, a small mistake in the turns before the bottom jump in the first final in Calgary dashed his chances of progressing to the super final.
Coach Steve Desovich labelled the day as “solid” and was encouraged by a number of positive aspects with each of his three athletes.
Desovich said that he was pleased with Cox’s result given that today was the first time she had competed at World Cup level this season.
Her pre-season preparation was interrupted by a recent trampoline mishap to her left elbow but apart from being a “little rusty”, Desovich said that Cox showed signs that strong results this season are within her grasp.
“Britt did as well as she could have today,” Desovich said.
“She had some good runs in the first and the second final.
”She seems to be skiing fast. The speed was competitive.
“Matt’s fifth in the qualification was particularly encouraging. He made a small mistake in F1 which took him out. Moguls is all about avoiding mistakes so we will learn from that.
“To have three guys here and all three making it to the finals is good and generally positive. We now have to keep working to get better and better.”
“Overall it was a solid day for them and from here we will move forward.”
The team leaves Canada tomorrow for their next World Cup, a double-header, in Deer Valley, Utah, in the USA.
Results
Women’s World Cup moguls skiing, Calgary, Canada
1. Hannah Kearney (USA), 2. Cloe Dupont-Lapointe (CAN), 3. Justine Dupont-Lapointe (CAN), 4. Andi Naude (CAN), 5. Nicola Sukova (CZE), 6. Britt Cox (AUS), 10. Nicole Parks (AUS).
Women’s standings after round 2
1. Hannah Kearney (USA) 160, 2. Cloe Dupont-Lapointe (CAN) 160, 3. Justine Dupont-Lapointe (CAN) 105, 4. Yulia Galysheva (KAZ) 100, 5. Andi Naude (CAN) 90, 6. Audrey Robichaud (CAN) 86, 12. Britt Cox (AUS) 40, 19. Nicole Parks (AUS) 26
Men’s World Cup moguls skiing, Calgary, Canada
1. Mikael Kingsbury (CAN), 2. Simon Pouliot-Cavanagh (CAN), 3. Sho Endo (JPN), 4. Alexandr Smyshlyaev (RUS), 5. Anthony Benna (FRA), 6. Jimi Solonen (FIN), 13. Matt Graham (AUS)
Men’s standings after round 2
1. Sho Endo (JPN) 140, 2. Mikael Kingsbury (CAN) 129, 3. Anthony Benna (FRA) 105, 4. Simon Pouliot-Cavanagh (CAN) 104, 5. Philippe Marquis (CAN) 100, 6. Alexandr Smyshlyaev (RUS) 95, 16. Matt Graham (AUS) 29.
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