World Champion and World Cup title holder, “Chumpy” Pullin has had a tough start to the defence of his “World Cup crystal globe”.
Competing in his first World Cup event for the season in Telluride, Collorado, in the United States, the Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder was bundled out in the first round, falling victim to a uncontrollable racing incident and a final ranking of 34th place.
The first event on the snowboard cross World Cup calendar saw a win go to Frenchman Pierre Vaultier, followed by Canada’s Christopher Robanske and American Nick Baumgartner.
AIS snowboard program head coach Ben Wordsworth said that the Australian’s mishap occurred when Pullin was out in front with Vaultier in heat 1, with four other riders bunched closely.
Norway’s Stian Silvertzen caught a heel side edge that forced Pullin to avoid him, in the process the World Champion and last season’s World Cup winner lost all his speed and was not able to recover, relegating the Australian to a position which did not qualify for the next round.
“There was nothing that Chumpy could have done about it,” Wordsworth said.
“He had to avoid hitting Stian and that was it, game over.
“He was riding well and looked like he was going to have a good day but things did not go his way today.
“It would have been nice to get off to a good start to the season but in saying that, there are plenty of races left to do well.”
The AIS Snowboard Cross team will now take a break over Christmas and resume World Cup events in the new year.
Competing in his first World Cup event for the season in Telluride, Collorado, in the United States, the Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder was bundled out in the first round, falling victim to a uncontrollable racing incident and a final ranking of 34th place.
The first event on the snowboard cross World Cup calendar saw a win go to Frenchman Pierre Vaultier, followed by Canada’s Christopher Robanske and American Nick Baumgartner.
AIS snowboard program head coach Ben Wordsworth said that the Australian’s mishap occurred when Pullin was out in front with Vaultier in heat 1, with four other riders bunched closely.
Norway’s Stian Silvertzen caught a heel side edge that forced Pullin to avoid him, in the process the World Champion and last season’s World Cup winner lost all his speed and was not able to recover, relegating the Australian to a position which did not qualify for the next round.
“There was nothing that Chumpy could have done about it,” Wordsworth said.
“He had to avoid hitting Stian and that was it, game over.
“He was riding well and looked like he was going to have a good day but things did not go his way today.
“It would have been nice to get off to a good start to the season but in saying that, there are plenty of races left to do well.”
The AIS Snowboard Cross team will now take a break over Christmas and resume World Cup events in the new year.
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