Australians Anton Grimus and Katya Crema reaffirmed that they are closing the gap between themselves and the top echelon of ski cross athletes when they both delivered their best ever results in a World Championships in Voss, Norway.
Grimus made it through to the consolation final of the year’s most important event, finishing in seventh overall, while Crema was eighth, which is a massive improvement on the 17th and 26th places in the other World Championships she has contested.
France took the first two places in the men’s final with Jean Frederic Chapuis winning his first world title, ahead of Bastien Midol and American John Teller in the bronze medal position.
The women’s final was won by Switzerland’s Fanny Smith, with Canada’s Marielle Thompson second and Frenchwoman and former World Champion Ophelie David in third.
The three other Australians – Scott Kneller, Sami Kennedy-Sim and Jenny Owens – also qualified for the finals, providing the squad with their best collective result of the season.
Each of the five Australian Institute of Sport / NSW Institute of Sport athletes adapted well to the fast and technical course, recording encouraging times in the qualification session.
Grimus, who has been regularly fast in qualification throughout the season, was eighth quickest in a group of athletes all within 0.5 of a second behind top qualifier Jouni Pellinen.
Grimus retained his speed in the round of 32, finishing in second place, to advance to the quarter finals.
Up against Switzerland’s world number one Alex Fiva, Pellinen and Germany’s Daniel Bohnacker, a World Cup winner, Grimus showed why he is constantly gaining respect among his peers when he crossed the line in second place, earning a spot in the semis.
Grimus again encountered Pellinen and the defending World Champion Christopher Delbosco from France and Midol.
Although Grimus tried every trick in his book, the limited passing opportunities on this course played a major role in preventing the Australian from qualifying for the medal round.
Much the same passing issues were again experienced in the consolation final, with Grimus having to be content with third place in his last race of the day.
Despite having a season interrupted with a minor injury, Kneller showed clear signs of returning to form and was unlucky not to progress to the quarters, having placed third in the round of 32.
Crema posted the ninth fastest time in the qualification session, she won her round of 32, but was unable to progress further than the quarter finals. Although she did not make the semis, her finishing position was elevated one place due to the disqualification of Swiss skier Katrin Mueller. Both Grimus and Crema began their careers as alpine ski racers at the Mt Buller Race Club.
The championships also saw a return to form of Kennedy-Sim, who finished last year with a world ranking of 11, however, she had not been able to reproduce that form until Voss.
Kennedy-Sim finished in 16th place and is now looking for a strong finish to this season.
Jenny Owens’ tough season continued when she crashed in her round of 32 final and did not finish.
The squad now turns their attention to a World Cup double header in Are, Sweden, on March 16 and 17 before all squad members, except Kennedy-Sim, return to Australia for a two week break and then commence their build up for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games in Russia.
Kennedy-Sim will compete in the season's final event in Spain at the end of March.
Grimus made it through to the consolation final of the year’s most important event, finishing in seventh overall, while Crema was eighth, which is a massive improvement on the 17th and 26th places in the other World Championships she has contested.
France took the first two places in the men’s final with Jean Frederic Chapuis winning his first world title, ahead of Bastien Midol and American John Teller in the bronze medal position.
The women’s final was won by Switzerland’s Fanny Smith, with Canada’s Marielle Thompson second and Frenchwoman and former World Champion Ophelie David in third.
The three other Australians – Scott Kneller, Sami Kennedy-Sim and Jenny Owens – also qualified for the finals, providing the squad with their best collective result of the season.
Each of the five Australian Institute of Sport / NSW Institute of Sport athletes adapted well to the fast and technical course, recording encouraging times in the qualification session.
Grimus, who has been regularly fast in qualification throughout the season, was eighth quickest in a group of athletes all within 0.5 of a second behind top qualifier Jouni Pellinen.
Grimus retained his speed in the round of 32, finishing in second place, to advance to the quarter finals.
Up against Switzerland’s world number one Alex Fiva, Pellinen and Germany’s Daniel Bohnacker, a World Cup winner, Grimus showed why he is constantly gaining respect among his peers when he crossed the line in second place, earning a spot in the semis.
Grimus again encountered Pellinen and the defending World Champion Christopher Delbosco from France and Midol.
Although Grimus tried every trick in his book, the limited passing opportunities on this course played a major role in preventing the Australian from qualifying for the medal round.
Much the same passing issues were again experienced in the consolation final, with Grimus having to be content with third place in his last race of the day.
Despite having a season interrupted with a minor injury, Kneller showed clear signs of returning to form and was unlucky not to progress to the quarters, having placed third in the round of 32.
Crema posted the ninth fastest time in the qualification session, she won her round of 32, but was unable to progress further than the quarter finals. Although she did not make the semis, her finishing position was elevated one place due to the disqualification of Swiss skier Katrin Mueller. Both Grimus and Crema began their careers as alpine ski racers at the Mt Buller Race Club.
The championships also saw a return to form of Kennedy-Sim, who finished last year with a world ranking of 11, however, she had not been able to reproduce that form until Voss.
Kennedy-Sim finished in 16th place and is now looking for a strong finish to this season.
Jenny Owens’ tough season continued when she crashed in her round of 32 final and did not finish.
The squad now turns their attention to a World Cup double header in Are, Sweden, on March 16 and 17 before all squad members, except Kennedy-Sim, return to Australia for a two week break and then commence their build up for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games in Russia.
Kennedy-Sim will compete in the season's final event in Spain at the end of March.
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