Australia’s Jenny Owens had to be content with 12th place in the second race of a double-header World Cup ski cross event in the Italian resort of Innichen / San Candido on Sunday December 20.

Owens, who has stood on a World Cup podium four times throughout her career and had set herself a goal of a top eight place in Innichen / San Candido, admitted that a lack of aggression in her quarter final was the reason for finishing lower in the results than the Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder was hoping for.

The event was won by Canada’s World Champion Kelsey Serwa, completing back-to-back victories after her win on Saturday in the season’s opening round, with Switzerland’s Sanna Luedi second and compatriot Katrin Mueller taking third.

“I was third coming into the first turn and wasn’t aggressive enough, so stayed in third for the rest of the way down which moved me into 12th place for race two,” Owens said.

“The start was a tricky one and not qualifying for the finals the day before disadvantaged me, as there was no practice on the start before the race.

“I knew how I wanted to start but wasn’t exactly sure how to put it into action so I just went with it and tried to do what I could.

“I was a little bummed with my efforts here in San Candido but at the same time this is the first World Cup of the season and this is a strange race where strange things happen.”

Owens and the rest of Australia’s ski cross team will focus their attention on round three in St Johann on January 7, however, before journeying to Austria, Owens will benefit from a training session in Sweden.

In other results for the AIS/NSWIS ski cross squad, Sami Kennedy-Sim finished in 19th place in Innichen / San Candido while Katya Crema managed 22nd.

Scott Kneller, who secured his first World Cup victory in this event last season, finished 50th while Anton Grimus was 61st.