NSWIS mogul skier Matt Graham has become the first Australian male since the legendary Dale Begg-Smith to win a World Cup Crystal Globe title in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Heading into the final event Graham had an 18 point lead in the standings, but after a number of delays due to snow and bad visibility, the event organisers were forced to cancel the competition and Graham was crowned the World Cup champion.
The 26-year-old from the NSW Central Coast had an outstanding season, winning three World cup medals (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) and also claimed the silver medal at the Word Championships in Almaty mid last week.
Graham finished the season on 289 points, followed by Frenchman Benjamin Cavet on 271 points, with Ludavig Fjallstrom of Sweden in third place with 258 points.
“I am very excited and very happy to have earnt this, the Crystal Globe is one of those things I have always wanted competing in mogul skiing” said the 2018 Olympic silver medallist.
“We arrived overseas in November not even sure if events would happen, we more or less came over with the intention to train as much as we can and if we got to compete that would be a bonus.”
“Winning the globe would be the highlight of my season, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, some events didn’t necessarily go my way and I didn’t ski that great, but I managed to hang in there and get enough results and a few podiums to be on top when it counted.”
Graham’s teammate Brodie Summers finished the season in fifth place on the standings, the highest end of season ranking of the 27-year-olds career. Cooper Woods-Topalovic was 17th in his first full World Cup season and James Matheson was ranked 27th.
In the women's standings Jakara Anthony the highest ranked Australian female in tenth, with Britt Cox 15th and Sophie Ash 33rd.
IMAGE: Matt Graham celebrates the first Crystal Globe trophy of his career © FIS
Heading into the final event Graham had an 18 point lead in the standings, but after a number of delays due to snow and bad visibility, the event organisers were forced to cancel the competition and Graham was crowned the World Cup champion.
The 26-year-old from the NSW Central Coast had an outstanding season, winning three World cup medals (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) and also claimed the silver medal at the Word Championships in Almaty mid last week.
Graham finished the season on 289 points, followed by Frenchman Benjamin Cavet on 271 points, with Ludavig Fjallstrom of Sweden in third place with 258 points.
“I am very excited and very happy to have earnt this, the Crystal Globe is one of those things I have always wanted competing in mogul skiing” said the 2018 Olympic silver medallist.
“We arrived overseas in November not even sure if events would happen, we more or less came over with the intention to train as much as we can and if we got to compete that would be a bonus.”
“Winning the globe would be the highlight of my season, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, some events didn’t necessarily go my way and I didn’t ski that great, but I managed to hang in there and get enough results and a few podiums to be on top when it counted.”
Graham’s teammate Brodie Summers finished the season in fifth place on the standings, the highest end of season ranking of the 27-year-olds career. Cooper Woods-Topalovic was 17th in his first full World Cup season and James Matheson was ranked 27th.
In the women's standings Jakara Anthony the highest ranked Australian female in tenth, with Britt Cox 15th and Sophie Ash 33rd.
IMAGE: Matt Graham celebrates the first Crystal Globe trophy of his career © FIS
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