The Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA) and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) is mourning the tragic loss of Winter Olympian Alex “Chumpy” Pullin.

The three-time Winter Olympian and two-times world champion snowboard cross athlete carried the flag for the Australian Team at the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympic Games in 2014.

The Australian Olympic Team’s Chef de Mission at Vancouver (2010), Sochi (2014) and PyeongChang (2018) Ian Chesterman described Alex Pullin as a natural leader.

“This is an incredibly sad day for us all. Chumpy was a champion bloke as well as being a champion athlete. He had great charisma that allowed him to be a natural leader.
 
“He was always prepared to give his time to build winter sport in this country because he was so passionate about what he did. His enthusiasm was infectious and his impact on Olympic sport can’t be overstated.
 
“Chumpy will be greatly missed, not just within our winter sports family but by the so many people he impacted on both here and overseas.
 
“This is a desperately sad time for his family, his friends, teammates and all in winter sports. We are all devastated and our heartfelt sympathies go to his loved ones,” Mr Chesterman said.
 
Chief Executive Officer of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA) Geoff Lipshut also paid tribute to Alex Pullin’s contribution to elite snow sport in Australia.

“Chumpy was Australia’s great snowboard male pioneer. As a junior, he won a medal at the World Junior Championships, before going on to two World Championships, two World Cup Championships and three Olympics Games.

“From day one of his 12 years as an Olympic Winter Institute of Australia athlete, Chumpy attacked each day, competition and training session with his trademark intensity, purpose, energy and enthusiasm.

“Chumpy was a leader, a great champion and will be missed by all of the winter sports community both in Australia and around the World. It is very sad,” Mr Lipshut concluded. 

The Australian Olympic Committee passes on its condolences to Alex’s family, his many friends, teammates and colleagues.
 
Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin

• 3 x Olympian – Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014 , PyeongChang 2018
• 2 x  World Champion (2011, 2013) and 1 bronze (2017), as well as overall World Cup title in both 2011 and 2013
• Best result at Olympics – 6th at PyeongChang

Belle Brockhoff has finished in the bronze medal position, with the 27 year old claiming her fourth podium performance of the season in In Sierra Nevada, Spain.

The NSWIS rider advanced through to the big final, and avoided a fall from Eva Samkova of the Czech Repubic to cross the finish line in third place, extending her streak to three straight podiums
 
Finishing ahead of Brockhoff on the podium was Chloe Trespeuch from France who won the gold medal, with Michela Moioli of Italy in second place.
 
With one event remaining, Brockhoff is currently ranked second on the World Cup standings on 3500 points, with Moioli 900 points ahead in first place with 4400 points.
 
“I am super happy with the result here in Spain” said Brockhoff after landing on the podium.
 
“Last time l was here three years ago I ruptured my ACL for the first time, so this is a big win for me regardless of the medal colour.”
 
“I’ve had my best season ever and I’ve worked so hard for it these last two years. I’m very excited to see what I can do next year and I’m looking forward to more hard work after this season.

2018 Olympic Medallist Jarryd Hughes was the highest placed male athlete in 13th place, with NSWIS teammates Alex Pullin in 21st, Cameron Bolton 25th and Adam Dickson 44th. 
 
The snowboard cross tour now moves to Veysonnaz, Switzerland, for the final event of the season on March 15. 

The FIS World Cup Snowboard Cross season kicked off in Montafon, Austria, with Australian Winter Olympians Cameron Bolton and Belle Brockhoff both winning a place on the podium.

Bolton, 29, from Melbourne, Victoria, won silver in the men’s Snowboard Cross and Brockhoff, 26, from Melbourne, took bronze in the women’s.

Bolton’s silver is his third World Cup medal, and first silver placement. The two time Winter Olympian secured his spot in the final in tough weather conditions with heavy snow and wind to take second at the finish line.

“I’m absolutely wrapped to come away with a second for the first event, I took it one heat at a time” said Bolton of his race strategy. “I’m looking for a podium in every race, I think you have to go into every race looking for that.”

It was a particularly sweet third place for Brockhoff. This season is her first full season back after two separate knee injuries in the past two years. The bronze medal at Montafon on is her eighth World Cup medal (3 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze) and first since 2017.

“I’m so happy, it’s been a long road” said an ecstatic Brockhoff. “I had quite a few plans in place to see what would happen at the start and best options to take. This is a great way to start the 2019/2020 season.”

Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) took gold and Omar Visinton (ITA) took bronze in the men’s event and Eva Samkova (CZE) took gold and Michela Moioli (ITA) took silver in the women’s event.

Olympic silver medallist, Jarryd Hughes, also performed well, finishing third in the small final, giving him a final ranking of seventh place overall.

Other Australian athletes competing in Montafon were Adam Lambert (19th), Adam Dickson (31st) and Alex "Chumpy" Pullin (48th).

The Australian snowboard cross team will now travel to Cervinia, Italy, for the next FIS World Cup on December 22. 

Two time Olympian Cameron Bolton has finished the season off in style, taking bronze at the World Cup Final in Veysonnaz, Switzerland.

The third place result is the NSWIS rider's second podium of the season. In February he won his maiden World Cup victory in Feldberg, Germany.

After the event a happy Bolton commented.

"Had a crazy start to the day, had a big crash in training but luckily had Wennie here to help me out and work some miracle physio at the top."

"The first heat was shaky too, I was in second place and got passed by everyone after I made a mistake, and then went from fourth back to first."

"It's been a rollercoaster day, won the next round of 16, second in the semi-final, and then finished on the podium."

Also in action for Australia was Alex "Chumpy" Pullin, who finished 18th and Adam Lambert 25th.

The final World Cup standings reflect Bolton's breakthough season, with a personal best fifth place end of season ranking, easily surpassing his previous best of 20th in 2017.

Pullin finished the season in seventh, with Adam Lambert 15th.

IMAGE - Cam Bolton celebrates on the podium © OWIA/Lachy Keevers

NSWIS Snowboard Cross athlete Adam Lambert has become the second Australian Snowboard Cross athlete to win a World Cup medal this season, taking silver in Baqueira Beret, Spain.

His second place finish was the 21-year-old's first podium appearance since last season.

"I am so happy to finally get back on the podium, it's been a tough year for me with fewer races this season but I'm stoked to have pulled a result out and I'm excited to get to Veysonnaz."

It was a strong event for the NSWIS athletes, with four Australian athletes reaching the top 16 quarter final stage.

Triple Olympian Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin also placed well, taking out the men's small final to finish fifth overall. Jarryd Hughes came in at 11th, Cameron Bolton in 16th, while Adam Dickson placed 22nd and Josh Miller 49th.

The final event of the season in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, will feature a limited field of only the top 32 ranked athletes on the World Cup standings.

Four Australians will be in action, with Alex Pullin currently ranked fourth, Cameron Bolton eighth, Adam Lambert 10th and Jarryd Hughes 25th.

IMAGE - Adam Lambert (left) on the podium in Spain © FIS Snowboard

olympics.com.au

Australian dual Olympian Cameron Bolton has claimed his first ever FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup win in Feldberg, Germany. The victory was even sweeter for the 28-year-old NSWIS rider who crashed on this course three years ago which resulted in a broken back. 

Lining up in the 40th start of his career matched up in a tough final heat against German pair Paul Berg and Konstantin Schad, as well as young Japanese rider Yoshiki Takahara, jumping quickly out of the left gate and into the lead before the first corner with the Germans hot on his tail.

With Takahara clipping Schad’s board and nearly crashing on the first corner, Schad and Berg would be free to battle for second while Bolton opened up a comfortable lead, holding on easily through the finish for the win.

“It feels really, really good,” said Bolton of his first World Cup win, “It was a tricky race today and I'm happy I was able to come out here and do it.

"Three years ago I broke my back on this course, so to come out here and qualify first and then take the win, it feels like I have a little bit of redemption. And to share the podium with a couple of German riders on their home turf is nice, too.

"I took a lot of confidence out of qualifying in first, however, I immediately shifted my focus to the heat racing, which was going to be another kettle of fish.

"Everything came together and I had one of those days where you feel as though you can control everything around you. 

"I'm feeling great on snow and have a terrific team around me.  I'm looking forward to building on this result," he said.

Also in finals for Australia was Alex "Chumpy" Pullin, who finished in 18th place, with Adam Dickson 29th, and Jarryd Hughes 31st.

Adam Lambert in 33rd and Josh Miller 43rd just missed qualifying for the 32-man final rounds.

The Snowboard Cross team now has a break before the next World Cup in Baqueira Beret, Spain, on March 2nd.

IMAGE - Cam Bolton celebrates his first career Victory after crossing the finish line in Feldberg © FIS Snowboard

Two time World Champion Alex "Chumpy" Pullin has made a strong start to the season, finishing seventh and fourth in the opening FIS Snowboarding World Cup events in Cervinia, Italy.

After the two events, Pullin is currently ranked fifth in the world, a testament to consistent form in both events  in Cervinia.

Olympic Silver Medallist Jarryd Hughes was Australia's highest ranked qualifier in eighth place, and went on to finish in 19th on day one and 22nd on day two.

The other NSWIS program athletes, Cameron Bolton (26th and 34th), Adam Dickson (30th and 52nd), Josh Miller (40th and 54th) and Adam Lambert (43rd and 14th) were also in action in Italy.

A special mention to Josh Miller, who was able to compete after a hospital visit following a bad crash during training on the day before qualification.

The Snowboard Cross program now has a long break before the next event, the 2019 World Championships at the end of January in Solitude, UT, USA.

Australian Athlete Results
Alex Pullin - 7th and 4th
Jarryd Hughes - 19th & 22nd
Cameron Bolton - 26th & 34th
Adam Dickson - 30th & 52nd
Josh Miller - 40th & 54th
Adam Lambert - 43rd & 14th

IMAGE - Alex "Chumpy" Pullin out in front in the yellow bib © Miha Matavz/FIS

With the penultimate Snowboard Cross individual World Cup and team event completed in Moscow, Russia over the weekend, Alex Chumpy Pullin has strengthened his position in third on the World Cup Standings after finishing 8th and is currently on 5,016 points behind Pierre Vaultier (FRA) and Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT).

Finishing in 11th in the Moscow World Cup was Adam Lambert who now looks to be safely inside the top ten in the World Standings on 2472.20 points.

Together, Pullin and Lambert rode in the SBX team event, placing 13th, again picking up valuable points.  

The FIS SBX World Cup tour will continue next weekend in Switzerland, where Veysonnaz is set to host the season's finals with an individual and a team event race from 16 to 18 March.
 
 

 

PyeongChang is over but the Snowboard Cross World Cup circuit still has races to run in the 2017/18 season with La Molina in Spain hosting the tenth out of twelve Cups up for grabs last weekend.

Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin was the best performed athlete featuring again in the final eight riders after placing second in qualifying, ending up in eighth overall in an event plagued by gusty winds, requiring pump track-like riding technique.

“Pretty windy here in Spain,” Pullin said after qualifying. “Qualified in 2nd and looking forward to racing finals today if we get the green light.”

Adam Dickson had one of his two-best events of his season, equalling his career best 12th place from Cerro Catedral, Argentina last September.

Adam Lambert finished 14th, whilst Matt Thomas (33rd) and Josh Miller (45th) did not qualify in the top 32.

Cam Bolton, who is recovering from a wrist injury incurred at PyeongChang did not compete, nor did PyeongChang silver medallist Jarryd Hughes.   

Austrian Alessandro Haemmerle headed up a national one-two on the men’s podium with his team mate Hanno Douschan taking silver.  

After La Molina, Pullin is sitting in third place on the overall World Cup standings with 4,696 points behind Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) on 4,840 points and leader Pierre Vaultier from France on 6,520 points.

Adam Lambert is currently in 10th on the World Cup Standings and Jarryd Hughes 11th.

The SBX World Cup tour will continue next weekend with an in-city race staged in Moscow on 18 March.  

Australia's quartet of 2018 Olympic male snowboard cross athletes have had their second last dress rehearsal before PyeongChang 2018, taking on the final pre-Games World Cup in Bankso, Bulgaria. 

Dual Olympian Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin was the top finisher of the Australians with a 5th place in the final, just weeks before the 30-year-old is set to compete at his third Olympic Games. 

Sochi 2014 Olympian and 2018 Team member, Cameron Bolton qualifed through to the small final where a 3rd place finish saw the 27-year-old record a 9th place finish. The result was a season best for Bolton and his top finish since December 2015. 

"I was happy with the race overall. I was having some trouble in the start section and I was pleased to make the necessary adjustments and lead both the small final and semi final," Bolton said. 

"The race was a step in the right direction and i'm looking to keep building momentum at the next two world cups, leading into the Olympics.

"Bansko put on a great event and Bulgaria is my favourite stop on tour. It's an amazing place."

Despite being the 14th fastest qualifier, Olympic debutant Adam Lambert was disappointed with his Bulgaria World Cup, with the 20-year-old finishing 6th in his 1/8 heat and not advancing to the next round. Lambert ended the competition with a 41st place finish. 

Fellow Australian rider Matthew Thomas finished in 22nd. 

Sochi 2014 Olympian, Jarryd Hughes recorded the fastest qualification time in his second run heading into the finals but a crash in the initial time trial forced him to withdrawn from the event to be on the safe side. 

"I messed up a jump in a time trial and ended up landing 30m further down the course than I intended and had nothing to land on," Hughes said.

"I suffered a bit of bone bruising in the process and decided it was best not to compete this close to the Olympics."
This week's World Cup sees the Australians all sit in the top 20 on the world rankings heading into the Olympic Games with Pullin in 2nd, Lambert in 7th, Hughes in 12th and Bolton in 18th. 

Men's snowboard cross will be held on Day 7 (February 15) at the 2018 Olympics, with the top 40 competitiors in the world all vying for a top spot on the podium.

Ashleigh Knight
olympics.com.au

Ezurum proved to be challenging for the first ever Snowboard Cross World Cup held in Turkey last weekend.After an unusual trip to the picturesque ski resort that required a detour through the mountains, the weather did not cooperate requiring the cancellation of training and qualifications.

Racing went directly to finals without the riders having the opportunity to train on the course and whilst the Aussies put on a good show with five of the six-man squad making it through the heats, the best result came from Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin placing fourth in the small final and eighth overall.

Pullin retained his leader’s yellow bib and overall number one world ranking, now sitting on 3,346 points.

“Chumpy feels pretty positive about the result, more just keeping his points up to stay with the yellow bib” coach Ben Wordsworth said.

Adam Lambert made it to the semi-final finishing overall in 13th, Matt Thomas 22nd, Cam Bolton 28th, Josh Miller 29th and Adam Dickson 38th.

Cam Bolton had been looking to build on his previous tenth place in Italy.

“I had OK result in Italy and was looking forward to building on that for Korea,” Bolton said.

“It was so windy (in Erzurum). Today was the first time that I even went to the top of the course because there was so much snow and wind. It was about who picked up the course the quickest today would be rewarded.”

“The start section was tricky because the first feature was changing because of the soft snow, so, how you rode it completely changed.”

“In the heats I started strongly in the start section. Then I was having a tough time of the heat.

In the second heat I got sucked behind and couldn’t make the pass I was planning on making.”

Getting to Erzurum was problematic after the plane that was carrying many of the SBX World Cup tour athletes was diverted to another airport near the Syrian border.

“It’s been a crazy trip so far and definitely made it a very interesting four or five days. Our flight was delayed and we couldn’t land (near Erzurum) but flew further south near the Syrian border. Then we were all on a bus and had a military escort through the mountains.”

The Australians found an upside in the situation. For Adam Lambert, making another semi in adverse conditions is a plus for the 20-year-old.

“Erzurum was definitely interesting. I’ve never done a World Cup and not done a qualification because of weather. They (the Turkish resort) put on a pretty decent show though,” Lambert said.

“Racing was alright. I did the best I could and put out the runs and ended up 13th.”

“Got a poor start in the quarters but tried my best to get through that heat. The track was a bit small and you do what you can do.”

“I’m happy that I got to the quarters again. That makes it every quarters this year. That’s pretty good.”

The Erzurum World Cup was the final race for Olympic qualification. Selection of the four male Snowboard Cross to the Australian Olympic Team is expected this week.

There are more events on the calendar before Pyeongchang and that’s the focus for the SBX team as they head to Bankso, Bulgaria for the next World Cup on January 27th and then to Germany for another event immediately prior to Korea.

Belinda Noonan
OWIA

Snowboard Cross riders return to World Cup competition this weekend in the last Olympic qualifying event in Erzurum, Turkey with Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin looking to extend his comfortable lead on 3,026 points at the top of the world rankings.

The Erzurum event becomes the first ever Turkish ski resort to host a Snowboard Cross Word Cup and therefore a new venue for Australia’s strong team that includes Alex Pullin, Adam Lambert, Cam Bolton and NSWIS riders Josh Miller, Matt Thomas and Adam Dickson.

Jarryd Hughes is sitting Turkey out, electing instead to train in Whistler, Canada.
 
“We’ve never raced there,” Head SBX coach Ben Wordsworth said about Erzurum. “There won’t be a great deal of snow and we think the course will probably be something close to Cervinia (Italy).”

Pullin, who won double gold in Argentina at the start of the season and a bronze at Cervinia late last year, is an athlete making smart decision says Wordsworth.

“Chumpy is in a good place - a really good place. He didn’t have the results he wanted in December. He wanted to win one of the three races he had, but he managed to pull together some good results and bounced back.”

Coach and athlete have been working together for eight years, with Wordsworth seeing a positive shift in Pullin going towards PyeongChang.

“He’s an older athlete. His decision making is better now and more adaptable to all the situations and he is extremely talented.”

 “He is good at reading race situations, getting into heats and coming out the other end at the final - better than what I’ve seen in the past.”

“Certainly, Chumpy is making good decisions in his racing and it shows. Argentina was back to back (gold). Val Thorens was not so great and then Cervinia (with bronze).  All those decisions make the difference in the long run.”

“One of the big decisions is to stay healthy. (It’s about) racing to your potential.”  

Jindabyne’s Adam ‘Lambo’ Lambert stamped his claim to a potential Olympic selection last season and has only looked forward, now currently fourth on the world leader board on 1,690 points going into Erzurum.
 
According to Wordsworth, Lambert has fitted into the SBX team with ease.

“Lambo’s a good snowboarder and good racer. His results have shown that over the past two seasons,” Wordsworth said.

“There was silver at Val Thorens and he knows what he wants. Lambo is in the sport to have a career and he wants to win races. That’s what drives him – there’s nothing else he’s in it for.”

“He’s the perfect athlete.  He wants results and has fitted in really well - good to travel with and fits into the group. Just got on with it, got results and tried to keep it pretty simple.”  

Australia is looking to qualify four men to PyeongChang and with a strong team, Turkey is the last event to cement a place – a goal that will be high on Cam Bolton’s to do list.

“It was good for Cam being in the top again (Cervinia with a tenth place),” Wordsworth said. “He’s got the skills and we want to see him push toward the small final and final and believe he can do it. It was a super close race in Cervinia.”

“Turkey is the last qualifying. The other three have an opportunity. Should be an interesting race,” he added.

Qualifiers for the Erzurum World Cup stop are on Friday, 19 January from 6.30pm (AEDT).
Finals start at 6.30pm (AEDT) on Saturday. 
 
Live timing links for qualifiers and finals, can be found here
Follow OWIA Twitter for updates here and watch the Finals live on Eurosport from 6.30pm on Saturday, 20 January.
 
Belinda Noonan
OWIA
 

Revisiting an outstanding story by revered sports reporter Nicole Jeffrey that was published in The Weekend Australian  on January 6.

Snowboard cross world champion Alex “Chumpy’’ Pullin is out of air. He’s lying on the bottom of a swimming pool, there’s a man standing on his chest, his lungs are screaming but he’s trying to stay calm. He’s there voluntarily, after all.

This is a training drill, one that he hopes will teach him how to keep his cool in the cauldron of Olympic competition in South Korea next month, and emerge with the gold medal that was denied him at the Sochi Games four years ago.

Pullin was the reigning world champion, world No 1, Olympic gold medal favourite and Australian flag-bearer in Sochi, but his campaign unravelled, picked apart by internal and external factors. Aside from competing in one of the most unpredictable events on the Olympic program, Pullin was wrestling with physical and mental demons in Sochi.

His confidence was dented by a less-thanperfect preparation. Some of his lead-up events were cancelled; he picked up an injury; and there were distractions of dissent and jealousies in the Australian team. Then warm conditions in the Caucasus mountains reduced the snow on the Olympic course to Mr Whippy consistency rather than the hard, fast, technical conditions in which Pullin usually thrived.

The event became a lottery and Pullin picked out No 13. A lot of soul-searching followed. The consensus was that although Pullin was the fastest, fittest, strongest rider in the field, he had not been the most adaptable to circumstance, and that had brought him undone. In the past four years he has embraced far less regimented training.

He’s still fast, fit and strong but he’s more resilient when things aren’t going his way. And most of that is down to Nam Baldwin, the Gold Coast strength and conditioning expert who trained surfing world champion Mick Fanning.

When snowboard cross head coach Ben Wordsworth brought Baldwin in to do some group training with his riders, Pullin and Baldwin clicked immediately. “Chumpy took an instant liking to him,’’ Wordsworth said.

Pullin began making pilgrimages to the Gold Coast to work with Baldwin, who employs some unusual methods to improve the strength and agility of his athletes, in both body and mind. His signature is the breath-hold exercises he has athletes do under water. His sessions also include obstacle courses of hurdles and balance boards that Pullin has to complete while dodging the balls Baldwin is throwing at his head.

“Nam has been unreal,’’ Pullin said. “We moved up to the Gold Coast for two months after Argentina (the first two World Cup events in September) to be closer to him and it was a really great thing. I have been training since I was really young and it’s refreshing to see a new challenge like that.

“We talk and discuss each training session as if it’s a competition event and we look for those one percenters in every session. “With Nam I am really challenged. I am always a little nervous before a session because I don’t know what he will throw at me.

“The pool stuff is really different, the empty lung breath holds and doing wrestling under water. It’s always really difficult to get that exact feeling of race day, to get those nerves, but that’s what Nam tries to do. He brings the physical and mental side into play.

“If I exhale and then he pushes me to the bottom of the pool and stands on my chest, it means I have to stay calm and if I do, I gain confidence.’’

Pullin showed all of that confidence at the start of the season in Argentina. He dominated the first two World Cup events there in the hard, fast conditions he loves, riding at a level above all of his rivals. But when the circuit reached Europe last month, the conditions didn’t suit him at the next race in France, where he finished sixth, and then he crashed in training in Austria, injuring his shoulder, which forced him out of the next World Cup at Montafon.

He returned at Cervinia, in Italy the week before Christmas and bounced back to the podium, finishing third.

Wordsworth says things that once would have shaken Pullin no longer do.

“Nam has been really effective in making him aware that you have to be good in every situation, not just the ones that suit you,’’ he said.

“The training they have done has really calmed him down. Now he can take in any situation, bad weather or conditions or something happening off the course, and think his way through it.

“When we did the test event in South Korea (two years ago), we had a bad event. There was a lot of wind and other variables and that was unsettling for Chumpy, but now he’s a very different athlete.’’

Pullin said the entire aim of this Olympic cycle had been to prepare him “for what you don’t see coming’’.

He now regards his Olympic flop in Sochi as “an opportunity to grow as a human being’’ and he wants to show that he has.

“If I can be there feeling 100 per cent ready and I have enjoyed getting myself there, if I can enjoy it all, I think that’s the best way to bring out my best performance,’’ he said.

“I was ranked No 1 before the last Games and I’m currently the World Cup leader and that’s where I want to be, on top.

“(Olympic gold) is the one I would love to have in my career and I am pushing as hard as I can to be as ready as I can be for the Games.’’


By NICOLE JEFFERY
Senior Sports Reporter
06 Jan 2018 Weekend Australian, Australia

Dual Olympian Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin remains on top of the World Cup Snowboard Cross rankings after winning bronze last night in Cervinia, Italy.  
 
Pullin, who opened his season with a double gold weekend in Argentina, had retained his number 1 status despite electing not contest the finals at Montafon, Austria last week due to risky weather conditions.
 
Opening his Cervinia campaign in emphatic fashion and facing a large field of 79 riders, Pullin qualified in second place on his opening run, guaranteeing a top 16 seeding and entry to the 32-man final. Team mates Cam Bolton and Adam Lambert joined Pullin in the top 32 after hard racing in their second qualifying runs.
 
Pullin and Lambert both won their heats in the opening round of the finals and with Cam Bolton all moved through to the quarters, where Pullin again won but Lambert and Bolton were out in narrow thirds.
 
Experience and smart tactics in the semi delivered Pullin his third medal final of the season – an opportunity he was happy take.
 
“I had a good race and very happy to get a podium and continue to lead the world cup standings,” Pullin said. 
 
“The conditions were challenging with high wind which changed the speed of the features, but I managed to keep a good rhythm and make it to the podium.”
 
The bronze medal win at Cervinia marks his 21st World Cup medal in an international career that began in 2007 and which has included back-to-back World Championship wins and Crystal Globes. 
 
Cam Bolton had a return to the form and a result that he has been after for three seasons as the second highest qualifying Australian and final 10th place.
 
Like Bolton, Adam Lambert narrowly missed the semi-finals and finished overall in 12th.
 
Jarryd Hughes, who just five days ago won the Montafon World Cup, was disappointed to miss the top 32 qualifying time by 0.04 seconds, finding himself in 33rd position and out of the finals.  Matthew Thomas placed 41st,   Adam Dickson 52nd and Josh Miller 72nd.
 
The next Snowboard Cross World Cup will be contested in Ezerum, Turkey on January 19.

After coming out all guns blazing last season Australia’s Adam Lambert has proved that he’s a force to be reckoned with, finishing second in the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup at Val Thorens, France overnight.
 
Lambert’s incredible result isn’t the only cause for celebration though, with the 20-year-old and his fellow OWIA teammate Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin having now taken out first and second places on the overall World Cup Standing.
 
“I’m super stoked, best result I’ve ever had,” a jubilant Lambert said.
 
“The whole day I was in second place, but those first few heats I was working pretty hard to get through. I was a bit slow at the start, I was in third and I was making my moves the last two, three turns but I got through.
 
“I feel like I raced really well and I backed up my qualification. Not quite the first place, but pretty close.”
 
The PyeongChang hopeful is the only Australian to have previously competed at Val Thorens, coming first in two of his races at the French resort during the 2016 Europa Cup.

Pullin said that he had a feeling on the morning of the finals that Lambert was going to have a great race day, especially after coming first in the qualifiers.
 
“He came in here, he’d raced here last year. He was feeling the groove early on in the track, put a lot of that into play, won qualifying convincingly and then this morning when we were just warming up, I looked over at him and I’m like, ‘Man!’,” he said.
 
“I didn’t want to jinx him but I was like ‘This kid’s got it, today he’s in the vibe’.
 
“I’m just so pumped for him. Since starting to ride with him, especially the last year, year-and-a-half when he’s been on tour he’s just really put in some good performances and this one especially.”
 
Sochi Olympian Cam Bolton placed 27th overall after coming fourth in his eighth final alongside fellow Australian Matt Thomas who came 16th. Meanwhile, after progressing through to the quarterfinals, Josh Miller ranked 11th.
 
Despite coming second in the qualification runs on Tuesday, a fall in his final meant that OWIA athlete Jarryd Hughes came in at 25th following the conclusion of the World Cup.
 
Following double gold in Argentina earlier this year, Pullin said that every single run for him at Val Thorens “was a challenge” but nevertheless, the two-time Olympian managed to gain enough points to keep him in the top spot overall after finishing sixth.
 
“And now in the rankings, the first ever in history Australia [is] one and two in the world – it blows my mind,” he said.
 
“I’m so happy and it’s just really cool because we put in a lot of work, we enjoy it, we love our sport. Everyone’s having a good time. Lambo’s comment that really turned my head this morning, he just said ‘I’m just buzzing man, look at what we do. It’s just so fun.”
 
Pullin raced in the finals against long-time rival and Frenchman Pierre Vaultier, who finished seventh.
 
“We’ve had an incredible rivalry throughout our time, met him in the second round and we went the whole way through,” he said.
 
“He didn’t make it to the [big] final either so it was really on my mind to beat him in the small final, which I got the pass at the last turn. I had to elbow the fence out of the way and make some room in the track and that’s really cool.”
 
The team will now have one day off before they’re back in the start gate again in Montafon, Switzerland. 

Dave Barden
OWIA
 
 

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.
 

Sochi Olympians Sami Kennedy-Sim and Alex ’Chumpy’ Pullin both secured double victories in pristine conditions at the Australian New Zealand Cup events at Mount Hotham last weekend.

After wins at the first two Ski Cross Australia NZ Cup races at Mount Buller in early July, Kennedy-Sim matched that result in Hotham for a clean sweep of the series.

With the World Cup season kicking off in December, the 29-year-old is using this season to iron out any kinks in her performance to ensure she is in an optimal state during the Olympic qualification period.

“I was using the Hotham ANC race to try and apply the technical changes I have made in training, into the race environment,” the Sydney-sider said.

“Some things worked and others did not - the best training for racing is racing!”

In both races at Hotham, Nikol Kucherova of the Czech Republic won silver, and USA’s Mazie Harden rounded out the podium in third.

Lily Speiser was the next best placed Aussie, finishing sixth in Race 1 and fifth in Race 2.

In the men’s Ski Cross events, New Zealander Jamie Prebble took out Race 1, followed by USA’s Tyler Wallasch and Brant Crossan in second and third. Robbie Marrison was the first placed Aussie in fifth place.

Race 2 saw Wallasch increase his standing to take home gold, followed by fellow American Erik Sparkowski and Australia’s Doug Crawford in third.

The weekend’s competition wraps up the Southern Hemisphere season for Kennedy-Sim.

“I now enter a big strength and conditioning block, and then depart for Europe at the end of the month to train alongside the Canadian team.

“World Cup season kicks off early December so I am looking forward to that,” she said.

In the men’s Snowboard Cross events, Chumpy added his two gold medals to his gold and bronze from the first Australia NZ Cup races in July.

Fellow PyeongChang 2018 hopefuls Matt Thomas and Adam Lambert rounded out the podium respectively in both races.

In the women’s events, the field opened up with top riders Belle Brockhoff and Georgia Baff sidelined due to injury.
17-year-old Emily Boyce took out both races, followed by Christina Taylor in second and Georgia Crisp in third.

Pullin and his fellow PyeongChang 2018 hopefuls will now join Australian teammate Jarryd Hughes in Argentina for the first World Cup event from 8-10 September.

Georgia Thompson
olympics.com.au

After five World Cups and the world championships events completed, the best snowboard cross riders are in Veysonnaz, Switzerland for the final 2016/17 World Cup and Team SBX event with Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin coming into the race currently ranked fourth overall in the world on 2,790 points.

Joining Pullin in Veysonnaz is Cam Bolton and NSWIS skiers Adam Lambert, Matt Thomas and Adam Dickson.
Jarryd Hughes decided not to contest the final race and three-time Ladies World Cup winner Belle Brockhoff is recovering from injury.

Two-time world champion and recent World Championship bronze medal winner Alex Pullin is well within reach of the overall podium and has had a strong season, having been consistently in the top five during this season, collecting a gold (Feldberg) and bronze (Montafon) along the way.

Despite the course in Veysonnaz being described as becoming more ‘mellow’ over the years, Australian coach Ben Wordsworth says everyone is “looking forward to the final World Cup to finish the season strongly.”

“The course here has always suited riders like Alex Pullin as it has always been fast and technical,” he said.  

Men’s qualifying gets underway on Friday evening 24 March at 8.45pm with the finals on Saturday night from 11.30pm.