August 28 was a momentous day for Snowboard cross rider and Sochi Olympian, Belle Brockhoff who got back on a board and hit the slopes for the first time in over five months.

“It feels really good to be back,” said Brockhoff who has undergone serious knee surgery after a crash before World Championships saw her tear her ACL.

“I’m really happy to get on a snowboard again.”

Five months out from a Winter Olympic Games, most athletes would have spent plenty of time on the snow but the 24-year-old has taken another route - undergoing surgery and focusing on a full recovery before she takes on international competition.  

“Rehabilitation is going really well. My knee feels good and there weren’t any issues on snow.

“Right now, I’m just over preparing it since it’ll be a full-on schedule this tour,” said Brockhoff who is aiming to return to international competition this December.

“There’s no rush to compete but to really make sure things are solid with my knee. The priority is the Games in February.”

Brockhoff’s Australian boardercross team mates kicked off their Olympic season in Argentina last week with race one and two of the World Cup circuit, displaying performances Brockhoff described as “really amazing!”

Two-time Olympian and Brockhoff’s close friend, Alex “Chumpy” Pullin proved his means business in 2017, taking out both races. 

“The boys did so well, especially with Chumpy’s double win, what a legend! I’m really happy for him.”

Brockhoff who is hoping to replicate this success at her second Olympics in February, which she believes she can do if she focuses on being fit, both mentally and physically.

“I know once I get to the Games, I won’t be able to improve my skill level that much more but trust myself with my skill set and make sure I’m in a good headspace,” said Brockhoff who has been using meditation a tool for best performance. 
 
“I’ve been working with Tom, the Olympic Winter Institute’s Sport psychologist, on many things.

“I’m really excited about the progress I’ve made and looking forward to using the tools I have in action.

In her spare time between recovery and training, Brockhoff has started her own clothing label, a unisex line called Yuzoko.

“It’s going really well, ticking along slowly like any other start-up business.

“It does keep me busy but I love what I’m learning from it and enjoy the marketing side of it.

“It’s definitely something that I’ll want to keep doing 5-10 years from now if i keep working at it.”

Brockhoff will train in Melbourne for two more weeks, before heading to Europe to begin on snow training. 

Ash Knight
olympics.com.au
 

CHUMPY WINS AGAIN: Story update from yesterday:
Australia’s march toward PyeongChang 2018 has been boosted by Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin’s double gold medal haul in the season’s opening Snowboard Cross World Cups in Cerro Catedral, Argentina.
 
The two extraordinary victories under glorious skies makes it the eighth and ninth career World Cup golds for Pullin and marks the start of the medal count for Australia’s winter athletes this season. 
 
Double World Champion Pullin was dominant in the two Snowboard Cross World Cups held in the South American ski resort over the weekend.

Pullin, the second fastest qualifier lived up to expectations in the first World Cup, charging out of the gate in the final four to dominate the race by a wide lead from start to finish over Italy’s Emanuel Perathoner and Jonathan Cheever from USA.

“I’m stoked to take the win at the first World Cup of the tour. The track and the weather were both bloody beautiful,” Pullin said after the first win. “The course was great. I'm just very excited that I put down a win. There is no feeling than crossing the line when there is no one in front of you.”
 
Backing up for the second World Cup was almost a repeat of the previous day. 
 
“I felt fast in training so I knew I should be pretty good today with the racing again.  I just had to keep the body feeling good and positive vibes,” he said this morning. 
 
“The first few heats got underway and they were pretty good and then, yeah, I was just able to do it again and lead the heat from the start, find some daylight and go. Feels amazing, unreal. I couldn’t be happier to be honest. It’s a perfect way to start the season.”

Pullin won his second gold ahead of Alessandro Haemmerle from Italy and Mick Dierdorff (USA).
 
Australia was heavily represented in Argentina, having qualified all its men into for the first World Cup with only Pullin making it into the finals. Cameron Bolton finished 14th, Jarryd Hughes 15th, Josh Miller 20th, Matt Thomas 23rd, Adam Lambert 24th and Adam Dickson 32nd.
 
In the second World Cup Adam Lambert and Jarryd Hughes both made it the small final, finishing 5th and 8th respectively. Other Aussie placings were Adam Dickson 12th, Cam Bolton 16th, Josh Miller 28th. Matt Thomas was unable to qualify. 
 
Pullin and the majority of Australia’s SBX team head back to Australia for more training. The next Snowboard Cross World Cup will be held in mid-December in Val Thorens, France.
 
World Cup winner Belle Brockhoff hopes to rejoin the team in Europe during November after completing rehabilitation from a knee injury suffered at the World Championships in March.
 
Alex Pullin’s dominant first race to gold on Sunday morning can be viewed here.

His second World Cup victory can be viewed here

Australia’s march toward PyeongChang 2018 has been boosted by Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin’s gold medal in the season’s opening Snowboard Cross World Cup in Cerro Catedral, Argentina today.

The victory under glorious skies makes it his eighth career World Cup gold.

“I’m stoked to take the win at the first World Cup of the tour. The track and the weather were both bloody beautiful,” Pullin said.

The men's final turned into a one man show as Alex Pullin lived up to expectations as the second best qualifier, charging out of the gate to dominate the race by a wide lead from start to finish.  
 
“It's been a super exciting day. It was a really nice environment to go out and race in today. The racing was really close, and the course was great. I'm just very excited that I put down a win. There is no feeling than crossing the line when there is no one in front of you,” said the two-time World Champion.

Italy's Emanuel Perathoner and US racer Jonathan Cheever took silver and bronze.

Australia had qualified all its men into the main drawer with only Pullin making it into the finals. Cameron Bolton finished 14th, Jarryd Hughes 15th, Josh Miller 20th, Matt Thomas 23rd, Adam Lambert 24 and Adam Dickson 32nd.
Full results from today’s World Cup can be found here.

The FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup tour will continue tomorrow with the second SBX race staged on the 1,000 metres long technical course of Cerro Catedral which became the second Argentinian host to ever host a SBX World Cup since Chapelco back in 2008 and 2009.

Qualifiers for the second World Cup is scheduled for 11pm (AEST) tonight with finals from 2am Monday morning (AEST).

The world's best boardercross athletes are ready to kick off their season in Argentina this weekend with qualifying tonight at the majestic Cerro Catedral.

Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin, Jarryd Hughes, Cam Bolton and Adam Lambert will all be looking for a huge start to their Olympic season with back-to-back races from Friday night until early Monday morning (AEST time) on a 1,000 metres long technical course.  

The Patagonian resort becomes the second ever in Argentina to organise a FIS Snowboard World Cup event since snowboard cross races were staged in Bariloche in 2008 and 2009.

Two-time world champion and 2017 World Championship bronze medallist Alex Pullin arrived in Argentina after winning the Australian New Zealand Cup tour at Mt Hotham in late August.

Jarryd Hughes says the conditions are excellent and he “can't wait for the first race of the season.”

Cam Bolton is very happy with the course saying, “Now that's a start section.”

Coach Ben Wordsworth is happy with his squad.

“The course and conditions in Catedral have been excellent. We had training yesterday, which went well and all the athletes are riding at a high level. The course is technical and that suits our athletes.”


Time schedule

• Friday, Sep 8: Qualifiers SBX 1 at11.30pm AEST.
• Sunday, Sep 10: Finals SBX 1 at 1am AEST.
• Monday: Qualifiers SBX 2 at 10pm AEST, finals at 2am AEST.  

The latest time schedule for the Cerro Catedral World Cup weekend is available online.