The Australian Mogul Skiing team has had its most successful day in history, with Britt Cox and Matt Graham both winning World Cup gold in Canada.
 
Cox is now a triple World Cup winner, having won three of the four World Cups so far since the season opened mid-December in Ruka, Finland. She backed up the opening win with another gold in Lake Placid a month later, securing the yellow bib for the World number one ranking. Last weekend Cox had to settle for fifth in Val St Come, Canada but retained her lead in the ranking.
 
The 22-year-old Cox led the field in the qualifying round by over three points (78.22), went up a notch in the first final to lead scoring 81.11 and then had more for the medal round, taking the win with 82.11 points.
 
“Last week in Val St Come was a good learning event. This week in Calgary I stayed really focused on the process.”
 
“The course in Calgary is very technical because the pitch changes midway and becomes steeper. In previous years, I’ve found the course to be challenging, but now I can attack it more aggressively.”
 
“I wanted to be lofty in the jumps and also snappy, aggressive and fast,” Britt said.
 
Cox was satisfied with her three runs on the way to the win.
 
“I felt I did a clean run in the qualifying with room for improvement, because the level rises for the finals and I was able to lift all day. Each time I win, it’s more and more motivating.”
 
Retaining the yellow bib had a special significance for Cox this week.
 
“Our first day of training here was Australia Day. I was able to wear my green jacket and yellow bib. That was pretty exciting.”
 
The historic win puts the dual-Olympian into rare company as a multiple World Cup winner in one season with seven World Cup events to come before the World Championships in early March in Spain.

Matt Graham scored an impressive win over the five-time Overall World Cup Champion Mikael Kingsbury from Canada, who is widely regarded as the most successful World Cup mogul skier ever.
 
Graham has been steady throughout the season so far, scoring silver behind Kingsbury in the first World Cup and fourth last week in Val St. Come, Canada.
 
After qualifying in fourth, Graham was relaxed saying, “I knew I had more in the tank.”
 
In the first final, he took the top position for the medal run: a space he hasn’t occupied before.
 
“The course here is very technical. There’s not many courses like this in the world. The second half is much harder.”
 
“It was pretty bizarre being the last to go and up there by myself. It was windy with a cross tail wind. There was the sound of the wind and I just got in a good head space,” he said of the time waiting.
 
“I executed well, putting all the pieces together with two clean jumps and landings and good turns with no breaks in form or leg splits.”
 
Arriving at the finish Graham’s first reaction was how he could have done better.
 
“To be honest – I know I made a few mistakes and I wasn’t super confident (of winning). I couldn’t hear anything up the top. Then the score and placing came up and I was stoked – super excited.”
 
Overhauling Kingsbury for the second time is major win for the 22-year-old, Graham now moves into second on the world rankings behind the Canadian.
 
Britt Cox was just as excited for her NSWIS team mate. “It feels unreal to share the top spot on the podium with Matt. We train together all year round and I’m stoked to see his hard work paying off.”

See Britt Cox and Matt Graham’s winning runs: https://youtu.be/-zEn_IHNVbs

A number of NSWIS athletes also achieved personal best results, with three athletes reaching their first ever World cup final. These personal best results included Madii Himbury in 10th, Jakara Anthony 11th and Krystle Yin in 14th.

Also in action for Australia was Nicole Parks 22nd, Pip Sparrow 26th, Brodie Summers 28th, James Matheson 29th, Claudia Gueli 32nd and Rohan Chapman-Davies 42nd.

Official training has begun for the Mogul Skiing World Cup in Calgary’s WinSport Olympic Park ahead of the event early Sunday morning.

Britt Cox, Matt Graham, Brodie Summers and Nicole Parks head up the OWIA team along with seven NSWIS athletes who have completed three days of strength and conditioning work after the Val St Come World Cup last weekend.

“It was a great period for the guys to be active off snow with head trainer John Marsden in charge of taper and peak and physical preparation activities,” coach Steve Desovich said.

“Physio Peter Hogg has also taken the time to treat athletes and manage any on-going smaller injuries they might have, as well as contribute to the recovery process.”
 
Britt Cox is looking to retain her yellow bib as World number one, having won the first two World Cups in Ruka, Finland and then again in Lake Placid. The Canadian women swept the podium last weekend with Britt in 5th place but happy with her performance.
 
“It was a strong performance but a few mistakes in the middle section cost me a spot on the podium,” she said.
 
Matt Graham, who is now ranked number three in the world,  has collected one silver and a fourth place in his three World Cup appearances and remains a podium chance in any event he enters.
 
The Australian mogul skiers are known for their attention to detail and high technical standards, which may prove beneficial in Calgary.  
 
“The Calgary mogul course is quite steep in the second half of the run and therefore quite a challenge to master,” coach Desovich advised.

With Justine’s determined effort to take the win in Val St. Come, a strong runner-up showing by 21-year-old Andi Naude, and a third-place for 2015/16 moguls crystal globe winner Chloe Dufour-Lapointe, the Canadians will be looking to keep some momentum going into a Calgary competition where they were able to complete a similar ladies’ podium sweep last season. 

Action in Calgary gets underway with ladies’ qualifications at 3.25am on Sunday (AEDT), followed by men’s qualifications at 6.25am and men’s and ladies’ finals scheduled for 7.30am.

You can watch the finals live on Eurosport.

Photo: FIS/Buchholz
 
 

The Australia Day Honours List include Dale Begg-Smith who has received a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division for his Services to Sport.
 
Begg-Smith, who celebrated his 32nd birthday last week, won the Gold Medal for Men’s Mogul Skiing at the 2006 Torino Olympic Winter Games as a 21-year-old. 
 
Begg-Smith came from Canada to settle in Australia as a 15-year-old with his 19-year-old brother Jason to become a part of the Australian sports system and to work with Olympic Winter Institute of Australia legendary coach, Steve Desovich.
 
His international career over three Olympics (Torino, Vancouver and Sochi) delivered the Olympic Gold Medal (Torino), Olympic Silver (Vancouver), one World Championship (2007), 18 World Cup golds and four overall World Cup Championships.
 
“I am honoured and proud to have received this recognition,” Mr Begg-Smith said.
 
Ï had excellent support from Australia, my organisations and team mates and I’m proud to remember what we achieved together, particularly during each World Cup season and then the Torino and Vancouver campaigns.”
 
Ï would not have had the opportunity to achieve what I did without being a member of the Australian team and I am both appreciative and grateful.”
 
Widely regarded as the pioneer of Mogul Skiing in Australia, Dale Begg-Smith has mentored current Men’s world-ranked number three, Matt Graham and Ladies triple World Cup winner Britt Cox.
 
“Dale’s performance in Torino is one of most all time favorite and special memories of an Australian at an Olympic Winter Games,” said CEO of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia.
 
“To be ranked number one, expected to win and absolutely do it when it counts is the definition of a true champion.”
 
“Dale’s performance in Vancouver four years later in different circumstances was extra special. Returning from serious injury within twelve months, he was again on top of the world and gave himself every chance to win a second gold.”

“The legacy Dale created for Australians in mogul skiing is obvious in 2017 when we see Matt Graham and Britt Cox. These young Australian skiers who were fortunate enough to be team-mate’s of Dale’s are now near the best of the world themselves.”
 
“Australia had never had anyone near medal contention each week prior to Dale and the success Australia has enjoyed since is because of his influence,” Mr Lipshut stated.
 
In early February, Begg-Smith will meet up with Graham and Cox in Deer Valley, Utah for the season’s fifth World Cup.

Home snow had a positive effect on the Canadian team, reversing the drought from the previous weekend sweeping the women's podium and also taking first in the men's at the Mogul Skiing World Cup in Val St Come, Canada.

Despite the Canadian podium rush, Britt Cox has retained her World Cup number one l ranking and Matt Graham’s top five performance moving him to 3rd in the men’s world ranking.   

Graham, qualified fifth and was joined by team mates Brodie Summers and Rohan Chapman-Davies in the final 16.

Only Graham moved through to the top six medal round, ranked fourth and that was where he ended up – scoring 81.11 just missing the podium in a tightly judged event, was won by Canadian Mikael Kingsbury (86.44), followed by Frenchman Sacha Theocharis (82.20) and 17-year-old Swede Walter Wallberg (82.19).

“I am pretty happy overall with how today went,” Matt said.

“My goal was to bounce back with a good result after last week's disappointment in Lake Placid. The course was tricky and catchy so I am happy to put down three reasonably clean runs.”

“Obviously, I would have liked to finish on the podium so I am a little disappointed with my super final run as I made a small error or my bottom jump landing (cork 1080). 

I am looking forward to Calgary next week as I really enjoy that course and I think it can suit my skiing if I perform well,” he said.

Head coach Steve Desovich says a couple of errors were costly.

“Matt had a nice run going into Final 2 but had some key errors with turns and on the landing of the second jump,” said Desovich. “Calgary has been a big challenge in the past, so like Britt he looks forward to setting the right tone on the initial training day.

Leading the Ladies qualification round, Britt Cox skied brilliantly notching up 75.30 points going into Final 1 where she again posted a high score (78.81) just behind leader Canadian Justine Dufour-Lapointe.

The dual World Cup winner from Lake Placid and Ruka had to settle for 5th behind four Canadians in the medal final but retains her yellow bib at the top of the World Cup standings.

“Today was a solid day for me,” Britt said.  

Ï was really happy with the execution of my jumps today but a few mistakes in the middle section cost me a spot on the podium. I’m keen to get to work and fix those things up.”

Overall it was a positive day but one that has left me determined to make the adjustments that I know will help me perform my best.”

Coach Desovich is already looking toward tomorrow.

“Britt skied well in the qualification and Final 1 runs and just had a few mistakes in the middle of her run in the super finals. We look forward to the Calgary training with an eye towards progress. It’s a long season and therefore she needs to just focus on the next training day and go from there.”

Brodie Summers and Rohan Chapman-Davies made it to the final 16 of 55 competitors and finished 13th and 14th respectively.  

“Brodie continues to gain consistency run by run and just needs to complete the job in competition,” said Coach Desovich.  

“This is a function of his skills but also adapting to the course and the never ending set of variables that are present in our sport. Brodie is skiing soundly strategically now but not necessarily yet for the whole run on every occasion,” he concluded.

Other Australian qualification results were James Matheson (30th) in the men and for the ladies Claudia Gueli (18th) a PB, Jakara Anthony (20th) equal PB, Madi Himbury (22nd), Kyrstle Yin (25th), Pip Sparrow 26th) and Nicole Parks (30th).    
Next stop for the fourth Mogul Skiing World Cup is Calgary, Canada on January 28.

Leading the Ladies qualification round, Britt Cox skied brilliantly notching up 75.30 points going into Final 1 where she again posted a high score (78.81) just behind leader Canadian Justine Dufour-Lapointe.

The dual World Cup winner from Lake Placid and Ruka had to settle for 5th behind four Canadians in the medal final but retains her yellow bib at the top of the World Cup standings.

“Today was a solid day for me,” Britt said.  

Ï was really happy with the execution of my jumps today but a few mistakes in the middle section cost me a spot on the podium. I’m keen to get to work and fix those things up.”

Overall it was a positive day but one that has left me determined to make the adjustments that I know will help me perform my best.”

Coach Desovich is already looking toward tomorrow.

“Britt skied well in the qualification and Final 1 runs and just had a few mistakes in the middle of her run in the super finals. We look forward to the Calgary training with an eye towards progress. It’s a long season and therefore she needs to just focus on the next training day and go from there.”

Brodie Summers and Rohan Chapman-Davies made it to the final 16 of 55 competitors and finished 13th and 14th respectively.  

“Brodie continues to gain consistency run by run and just needs to complete the job in competition,” said Coach Desovich.  

“This is a function of his skills but also adapting to the course and the never ending set of variables that are present in our sport. Brodie is skiing soundly strategically now but not necessarily yet for the whole run on every occasion,” he concluded.

Other Australian qualification results were James Matheson (30th) in the men and for the ladies Claudia Gueli (18th) a PB, Jakara Anthony (20th) equal PB, Madi Himbury (22nd), Kyrstle Yin (25th), Pip Sparrow 26th) and Nicole Parks (30th).    
Next stop for the fourth Mogul Skiing World Cup is Calgary, Canada on January 28.

Mogul skier Britt Cox has fulfilled her goal by retaining the coveted ‘yellow bib’ after winning her second World Cup in Mogul Skiing in Lake Placid, USA this morning, making it back-to-back golds having won in Ruka, Finland in December. 
 
The 22-year-old upped the ante in execution, finding perfect form at exactly the right time winning the qualifying round with a massive 77.00 points, repeated the same form in the first final making it into the top six and then nailed the steep course yet again to stand atop the podium on Whiteface Mountain.
 
Despite her young age, the  Lake Placid win marks her 35th World Cup appearance.  Now firmly ranked as the World number one, Britt again scored the yellow bib – a feat no other Australian woman has achieved in Moguls and only Dale Begg-Smith has in the Men.
 
“I’m so excited to have back-to-back wins. After my win Ruka, this was the goal I set myself and I’m really happy to have executed today,” Britt said from Lake Placid.
 
“The course and conditions changed significantly throughout the rounds today, so I needed to be adaptive and just take it run by run.”
 
Preparation and detail are the keys to success according to head coach Steve ‘Des’ Desovich.

“Britt's early season success has been a very pleasant surprise and we are quite happy that all of her work has come to fruition,” Desovich said.

“As per usual Britt jumped quite well today so that was great. A lot of people have made contributions and we would like to acknowledge Marissa Downes from the OWIA/VIS Strength and Conditioning department who has worked very closely with Britt to improve her physical prep.”

“It’s a very exciting and dynamic period of growth that we hope to continue with.”

The OWIA mogul ski coaches plan to keep working on skills.

“From here the goal is just to keep working on skills and incorporating those skills into consistent performance.” 

“Dr Tom Hammond, our OWIA performance coach, has helped Britt a great deal so we would like to thank him as well.” 

Brodie Summers chalked up his first appearance in a World Cup first Final since 2014, scoring a PB of 73.10 after qualifying 7th ahead of his team mate and World number two, Matt Graham who qualified in 10th position but did not finish in the first Final.
 
“We are thrilled with this step up in Brodie’s performance but want to remain diligent moving forward,” said Coach Desovich.
 
“The coaching staff have been very impressed with Brodie’s work at our recent Winter Park camp in which he appeared to click on many levels. Brodie jumped extremely well today and we look forward to his continued growth in each sector of his skills and then into the whole runs completion percentage.”
 
Matt Graham did not have his best day on a changing course but is in great shape going forward.

“Matt had a challenging day on a difficult course but regardless of this particular performance the objectives remain the same in terms of skills and competition,” Desovich said.

“The coaching staff have full confidence in Matt and appreciate his overall great work. We will treat each event as a separate entity moving forward and look forward to the next stop in Val St Come.”

Final result for the Lake Placid Ladies Mogul Skiing World Cup: 1st Britteny Cox AUS (75.27) 2nd Perrine Laffont FRA (74.20) 3rd Morgan Schild USA (72.51).

Nicole Parks made her return to competition with a 24th place in the qualification round, scoring 61.73 points. NSWIS development athletes Claudia Gueli placed 27th, Krsytle Yin 28th, Madi Himbury 31st and Pip Sparrow 32nd.

Other men’s results for Australia include NSWIS skiers James Matheson 35th (61.69) and Rohan Chapman-Davies 36th (61.61).
 
The Australian Mogul Skiing team are looking forward to cheering on the Flying Kangaroos Aerial Ski team before heading to Val St. Come, Canada for the third World Cup on January 28.  
 
 

Courage, loads of ability and a calm mind is required for a skier standing alone in the moguls start gate because the only way is down – at extreme speed, in an extreme environment with knee-punishing risky bumps over a 250 metre-long course at an angle of between 26 and 30 degrees.  

The expanded Australian moguls team, led by Britt Cox and Matt Graham, is back in action for the second World Cup on Whiteface mountain in Lake Placid, USA early on Saturday morning (AEDT).   

Britt Cox claimed a breakthrough victory at the season-opening World Cup in Ruka, Finland in December, winning her first gold medal.

Britt found her rhythm in Finland after having to fight through the qualification round.

“I realised after the first final (in Finland) to stay calm, use breathing and focus on the process and not the outcome because there is still a job to be done,” Britt said after her win.

She will be hoping to emulate that form in Lake Placid, having had two weeks at home for her first Australian Christmas in nine years before returning to the snow and her team mates and coaches in Colorado for a pre-comp camp.

"The training camp in Winter Park was really productive.

The moguls team heading to Lake Placid has expanded with OWIA athlete Nicole Parks now on deck plus a contingent of NSWIS skiers.

"We had some excellent training conditions and ended up with nine quality days on snow. It was great  to train alongside more Aussies and I'm looking forward to having more girls join me on the circuit for these upcoming events," Britt explained.

"I'm excited to get back in the start gate this weekend in Lake Placid for the first World Cup of 2017."

Also home for a short summer burst on the NSW Central Coast was 22-year-old Matt Graham, who has heads turning following his impressive growth in consistency that saw him ranked second only to Canadian Mikael Kingsbury.

Graham opened his new season in Finland with another silver behind the Canadian, cementing his ranking as a podium athlete before heading home for Christmas.

“It was nice to spend some time with my family and friends before getting back into an intense training block over the past two weeks,” Matt said.
 
“I was able to capitalize on my time at home and have a strong strength and conditioning focus by getting into gym to train with John Marsden.”
 
“I think overall it was very beneficial to give the mind and body a break and also get some good strength and fitness gains. This will make a big difference come World Championships in March.”

Perth born and bred Brodie Summers, is looking for more this season, after placing 36th in Finland following a strong preparation.
 
“I wasn’t pleased with last year’s season at all. My major goals for this season are to compete how I practice and put down a good base,” Brodie said.
 
“The second half of this off-season went well and I want to build on top of that and execute to the best of my ability.”
 
Summers paid tribute to coaches Steve (Des) Desovich and Jerry Grossi.
 
“Des and Jerry have an unbelievable technical knowledge. They see and pick up on minute details, provide good tactical advice and we benefit from that. They are the difference between a good run and an amazing run.”
 
Nicole Parks spent last season rehabilitating a knee injury and is now ready to compete.

Lake Placid marks Nicole's first World Cup for the 2016/17 season. The OWIA athletes have been joined by NSWIS mogul skiers Rohan Chapman Davies (who finished 14th in Ruka, Finland), James Mathieson, Jakara Anthony, Madii Himbury and Claudia Gueli. Also competing in Lake Placid are Krystle Yin (NSW) and Pip Sparrow (VIC)

The World Cup for Moguls in Lake Placid will be held January 13 and 14.