Australian ski cross athlete Katya Crema achieved a World Cup career best sixth place in Telluride, USA, today.
The 24-year-old Australian Institute of Sport skier qualified with the sixth fastest time, before going on to record a second place in the quarter finals and a fourth in the semi-finals, which earned her a spot in the consolation final for the second time of her World Cup career.
Crema raced aggressively in the consolation final to finish strongly in second place, one position higher than her other consolation final appearance in France last January.
Swiss ace Fanny Smith was the overall winner, notching her second victory in as many rounds of the new season, ahead of old-time rival Ophelie David from France and Swede Anna Holmlund in third. The podium places were exactly the same as the opening round in Nakiska, Canada, last weekend.
Australia’s World Cup medallist Jenny Owens fought back from a disappointing start to the season by improving her first round result by 13 places, to finish 11th overall in Telluride.
Teammate Sami Kennedy-Sim also showed definite improvements to the opening round when she finished 23rd, seven places higher than in Canada.
AIS ski cross program head coach Matt Lyons said that Crema’s improvement today was a result of skiing aggressively in each of her races.
“She enjoyed the track and took a few risks which paid off,” Lyons said.
“Katya had good starts today, although she wasn’t the first out but she played the percentages well, passed a few and pressed well.
“The girls may have been a little tight in their first event of the year in Canada.
“Training without World Cup competition can sometimes mean that it takes a while to get back into it, get the head space right and get used to the competition again.”
In the men’s event, Australia’s number one Scott Kneller was eighth fastest in qualifying, showing speed that was carried through to the first of the knock-out finals.
Kneller won his first heat but could manage only third in the quarter finals, giving him an 11th place overall.
However, the AIS / NSWIS scholarship holder who trains at NSW’s Thredbo and Perisher resorts will be encouraged by his best World Cup result since January 2011, having missed most of last season with a hand injury.
Anton Grimus was unable to repeat the form that gave him his first World Cup podium finish in Canada, finishing the Telluride event in 18th.
The men’s event was won by Slovakian Filip Flisar, Canadian Brady Leman finished in the silver medal position and Switzerland’s Armin Niederer in third.
The AIS ski cross team now moves to Europe, with two World Cup's scheduled before Christmas, with the first in Val Thorens, France, on December 19.
The 24-year-old Australian Institute of Sport skier qualified with the sixth fastest time, before going on to record a second place in the quarter finals and a fourth in the semi-finals, which earned her a spot in the consolation final for the second time of her World Cup career.
Crema raced aggressively in the consolation final to finish strongly in second place, one position higher than her other consolation final appearance in France last January.
Swiss ace Fanny Smith was the overall winner, notching her second victory in as many rounds of the new season, ahead of old-time rival Ophelie David from France and Swede Anna Holmlund in third. The podium places were exactly the same as the opening round in Nakiska, Canada, last weekend.
Australia’s World Cup medallist Jenny Owens fought back from a disappointing start to the season by improving her first round result by 13 places, to finish 11th overall in Telluride.
Teammate Sami Kennedy-Sim also showed definite improvements to the opening round when she finished 23rd, seven places higher than in Canada.
AIS ski cross program head coach Matt Lyons said that Crema’s improvement today was a result of skiing aggressively in each of her races.
“She enjoyed the track and took a few risks which paid off,” Lyons said.
“Katya had good starts today, although she wasn’t the first out but she played the percentages well, passed a few and pressed well.
“The girls may have been a little tight in their first event of the year in Canada.
“Training without World Cup competition can sometimes mean that it takes a while to get back into it, get the head space right and get used to the competition again.”
In the men’s event, Australia’s number one Scott Kneller was eighth fastest in qualifying, showing speed that was carried through to the first of the knock-out finals.
Kneller won his first heat but could manage only third in the quarter finals, giving him an 11th place overall.
However, the AIS / NSWIS scholarship holder who trains at NSW’s Thredbo and Perisher resorts will be encouraged by his best World Cup result since January 2011, having missed most of last season with a hand injury.
Anton Grimus was unable to repeat the form that gave him his first World Cup podium finish in Canada, finishing the Telluride event in 18th.
The men’s event was won by Slovakian Filip Flisar, Canadian Brady Leman finished in the silver medal position and Switzerland’s Armin Niederer in third.
The AIS ski cross team now moves to Europe, with two World Cup's scheduled before Christmas, with the first in Val Thorens, France, on December 19.
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