Australia’s ski cross squad delivered one of their best combined results of the World Cup season in the German resort of Bischofswiesen-Goetschen.
Sami Kennedy-Sim, who was the best performer among the Australians, won her quarter final in difficult conditions to advance to her third semi-final for the season.
Swiss racer Katrin Mueller won the eighth round event, ahead of French veteran and series leader Ophelie David and Canadian Marielle Thompson in third.
Despite drawing the tougher of the two semis, alongside the eventual event winner and silver medalist, the Australian Institute of Sport / NSW Institute of Sport scholarship holder bolted out of the starting gate to lead most of the way.
Kennedy-Sim, 23, from NSW’s Perisher, was two ski lengths in front of the other three athletes with a berth in her first World Cup final in sight, but a lack of experience brought about a mistake which forced her wide on the top turn, allowing the other skiers to overtake her.
Kennedy-Sim was unable to regain enough speed to recover and was forced to settle for a place in the consolation final.
Fellow AIS / NSWIS skier Katya Crema found much better form on the second day of the double header at Bischofswiesen-Goetschen by qualifying fifth fastest, her best qualifying result of the season, and finished the day in 10th overall.
Crema placed third in her quarter final, a result that did not qualify her for the semis.
According to AIS ski cross program head coach Matt Lyons, Crema focused on skiing “closer to the edge.”
He asked Crema to “worry less about being perfect, because it will not be perfect” and use a strategy based around raw aggression.
“Often when it feels great it can be slow,” Lyons said.
The plan paid dividends, providing Crema with her best result since January 15, when she finished in seventh place in France.
Anton Grimus is also displaying season best form by finishing 16th, adding to another 16th yesterday.
The 22-year-old AIS / NSWIS athlete impressed many when he debuted last season but until the last few races this year, has since struggled to repeat that form.
Lyons is encouraged by Grimus’ recaptured form, believing that he is learning every time he competes.
“Anton is showing encouraging signs, learning every race and he recognises a couple of mistakes he made today,” Lyons said.
“He said to me that he could see what was going on around him, being aware of things and not so reactive to what happens at a particular moment.
“This is the result of experience and being in that environment, up against stiff competition, and he is definitely holding his own, knowing how to perform.”
The squad was further encouraged by Australia’s number one male ski cross athlete Scott Kneller returning to the snow after missing most of the season with a hand injury. While Kneller did not race, he trained with the squad and acted as the event forerunner.
SSA devleopment ski cross athletes Brooke Dunleavy and Rebecca Wyatt also competed in the event, with Brooke recording a 22nd place result.
Sami Kennedy-Sim, who was the best performer among the Australians, won her quarter final in difficult conditions to advance to her third semi-final for the season.
Swiss racer Katrin Mueller won the eighth round event, ahead of French veteran and series leader Ophelie David and Canadian Marielle Thompson in third.
Despite drawing the tougher of the two semis, alongside the eventual event winner and silver medalist, the Australian Institute of Sport / NSW Institute of Sport scholarship holder bolted out of the starting gate to lead most of the way.
Kennedy-Sim, 23, from NSW’s Perisher, was two ski lengths in front of the other three athletes with a berth in her first World Cup final in sight, but a lack of experience brought about a mistake which forced her wide on the top turn, allowing the other skiers to overtake her.
Kennedy-Sim was unable to regain enough speed to recover and was forced to settle for a place in the consolation final.
Fellow AIS / NSWIS skier Katya Crema found much better form on the second day of the double header at Bischofswiesen-Goetschen by qualifying fifth fastest, her best qualifying result of the season, and finished the day in 10th overall.
Crema placed third in her quarter final, a result that did not qualify her for the semis.
According to AIS ski cross program head coach Matt Lyons, Crema focused on skiing “closer to the edge.”
He asked Crema to “worry less about being perfect, because it will not be perfect” and use a strategy based around raw aggression.
“Often when it feels great it can be slow,” Lyons said.
The plan paid dividends, providing Crema with her best result since January 15, when she finished in seventh place in France.
Anton Grimus is also displaying season best form by finishing 16th, adding to another 16th yesterday.
The 22-year-old AIS / NSWIS athlete impressed many when he debuted last season but until the last few races this year, has since struggled to repeat that form.
Lyons is encouraged by Grimus’ recaptured form, believing that he is learning every time he competes.
“Anton is showing encouraging signs, learning every race and he recognises a couple of mistakes he made today,” Lyons said.
“He said to me that he could see what was going on around him, being aware of things and not so reactive to what happens at a particular moment.
“This is the result of experience and being in that environment, up against stiff competition, and he is definitely holding his own, knowing how to perform.”
The squad was further encouraged by Australia’s number one male ski cross athlete Scott Kneller returning to the snow after missing most of the season with a hand injury. While Kneller did not race, he trained with the squad and acted as the event forerunner.
SSA devleopment ski cross athletes Brooke Dunleavy and Rebecca Wyatt also competed in the event, with Brooke recording a 22nd place result.
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