Australia’s top female ski cross athlete Sami Kennedy-Sim is looking to continue her strong form this weekend at the next World Cup event in Feldberg, Germany.
Fresh off a two strong 2nd and 8th place results at the Europa Cup in Lenk, Switzerland, this weekend’s competition will mark her second competition within a week.
“I went to the Europa Cup in Lenk as a training exercise,” said the 28-year-old. “I had a solid week of training leading into it with volume focused on snow time and big gym sessions.
“It was fun to have a low-key event and especially to see our younger Australian Ski Cross athletes in their race environment.”
The 2014 Sochi Olympian has good reason to be enjoying her racing at the moment, after she equalled her best-ever result in December at a World Cup event in Arosa, Switzerland where she finished 4th.
Currently well-placed in 16th in the World Cup rankings, Kennedy-Sim credits concentration and discipline as the keys to maintaining her great form.
“Staying focused from top to bottom and executing tasks set out. At the end of the day, making it through the rounds is the key.”
With Pyeongchang 2018 just over a year away, the Winter Games are not far from her mind, but for now she is just looking to get as many races under her belt as possible.
“I am looking to ski as many heats of Ski Cross as possible.
“We have World Championships just around the corner and Olympic qualifications are well under way - there are so many boxes that need ticking before I get my plane ticket to Korea so I am focused on those.”
As for her thoughts on this weekend’s World Cup, she remains confident, provided they make it onto the track.
“The weather is not looking great and it has rained a considerable amount over the past week so fingers crossed we get to race at all.”
Meanwhile, top Australian male athlete, Anton Grimus is currently battling a knee injury and has been ruled out for the World Cup event.
The 26-year-old had surgery on his knee, after it had caused him troubled at the back end of 2016.
“I ended up missing a few World Cups in December due to knee pain and decided with help from all the OWIA medical staff and ski cross coaches that surgery was the best option,” Grimus said.
“Not only was it getting unsafe to race with discomfort, it was also hindering my ability to perform.”
Well on the way to recovery, Grimus was aiming to be back in full competition by mid-February, but has decided to play it safe this weekend and take in Feldberg from the side-line.
“The knee bounced back quite well, responding to treatment and now is pain free when skiing and general day-to-day training.
“The plan now is to continue to strengthen the knee to be able to return to competition as soon as possible. The aim is to compete in the Sweden World Cup in Idre Fjall in early-to-mid February.”
This weekend marks the first time Feldbery has hosted a World Cup event and the action kicks off (weather permitting) on Friday.
Fresh off a two strong 2nd and 8th place results at the Europa Cup in Lenk, Switzerland, this weekend’s competition will mark her second competition within a week.
“I went to the Europa Cup in Lenk as a training exercise,” said the 28-year-old. “I had a solid week of training leading into it with volume focused on snow time and big gym sessions.
“It was fun to have a low-key event and especially to see our younger Australian Ski Cross athletes in their race environment.”
The 2014 Sochi Olympian has good reason to be enjoying her racing at the moment, after she equalled her best-ever result in December at a World Cup event in Arosa, Switzerland where she finished 4th.
Currently well-placed in 16th in the World Cup rankings, Kennedy-Sim credits concentration and discipline as the keys to maintaining her great form.
“Staying focused from top to bottom and executing tasks set out. At the end of the day, making it through the rounds is the key.”
With Pyeongchang 2018 just over a year away, the Winter Games are not far from her mind, but for now she is just looking to get as many races under her belt as possible.
“I am looking to ski as many heats of Ski Cross as possible.
“We have World Championships just around the corner and Olympic qualifications are well under way - there are so many boxes that need ticking before I get my plane ticket to Korea so I am focused on those.”
As for her thoughts on this weekend’s World Cup, she remains confident, provided they make it onto the track.
“The weather is not looking great and it has rained a considerable amount over the past week so fingers crossed we get to race at all.”
Meanwhile, top Australian male athlete, Anton Grimus is currently battling a knee injury and has been ruled out for the World Cup event.
The 26-year-old had surgery on his knee, after it had caused him troubled at the back end of 2016.
“I ended up missing a few World Cups in December due to knee pain and decided with help from all the OWIA medical staff and ski cross coaches that surgery was the best option,” Grimus said.
“Not only was it getting unsafe to race with discomfort, it was also hindering my ability to perform.”
Well on the way to recovery, Grimus was aiming to be back in full competition by mid-February, but has decided to play it safe this weekend and take in Feldberg from the side-line.
“The knee bounced back quite well, responding to treatment and now is pain free when skiing and general day-to-day training.
“The plan now is to continue to strengthen the knee to be able to return to competition as soon as possible. The aim is to compete in the Sweden World Cup in Idre Fjall in early-to-mid February.”
This weekend marks the first time Feldbery has hosted a World Cup event and the action kicks off (weather permitting) on Friday.
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