Alex “Chumpy” Pullin has finished in eighth place on day one at the 2012 snowboard cross World Cup in Valmalenco, Italy.
He captured the fastest time of the event in qualifying, the fourth time this season he has achieved this distinction, and dominated his first knock out final and a quarter final, winning each race by about four metres.
Pullin’s fortunes changed in the semi-final, unfortunately catching a patch of snow softened by the mild conditions, which caused the Australian to fall, putting an end to his hope of making the final.
In the consolation final, Pullin led for almost the entire race but Italian Alberto Schiavon crossed the finish line a few centimetres ahead of the Australian.
The day belonged to Norway’s Stian Sivertzen, who recorded his second World Cup career win, ahead of American Alex Turtle and Frenchman Tony Ramoin, who both made the podium for the first time.
Sixteen-year-old Australian Jarryd Hughes, racing in only his second World Cup event, once again caught the attention of AIS snowboard cross head coach Ben Wordsworth.
Although Hughes’ finish of 21st today was not as strong as 10th place in his World Cup debut in Stoneham, Canada, in February, the young gun showed he has potential by securing the fifth fastest time in qualifying.
“He was incredible. He is really good in time trials. Unfortunately in the second heat he got caught up on one of the jumps and they passed him.
“Given that he is 16 and the level he is riding at, he is doing really well. It’s exciting for the sport to have someone like him come through.”
In other Australian men’s results, Andy Fischer was 52nd, Cam Bolton 57th place and in 60th place was Daniel Morrissy.
In the women’s event, 19-year-old Australian Belle Brockhoff made the semi-finals, finishing in an encouraging ninth place overall.
He captured the fastest time of the event in qualifying, the fourth time this season he has achieved this distinction, and dominated his first knock out final and a quarter final, winning each race by about four metres.
Pullin’s fortunes changed in the semi-final, unfortunately catching a patch of snow softened by the mild conditions, which caused the Australian to fall, putting an end to his hope of making the final.
In the consolation final, Pullin led for almost the entire race but Italian Alberto Schiavon crossed the finish line a few centimetres ahead of the Australian.
The day belonged to Norway’s Stian Sivertzen, who recorded his second World Cup career win, ahead of American Alex Turtle and Frenchman Tony Ramoin, who both made the podium for the first time.
Sixteen-year-old Australian Jarryd Hughes, racing in only his second World Cup event, once again caught the attention of AIS snowboard cross head coach Ben Wordsworth.
Although Hughes’ finish of 21st today was not as strong as 10th place in his World Cup debut in Stoneham, Canada, in February, the young gun showed he has potential by securing the fifth fastest time in qualifying.
“He was incredible. He is really good in time trials. Unfortunately in the second heat he got caught up on one of the jumps and they passed him.
“Given that he is 16 and the level he is riding at, he is doing really well. It’s exciting for the sport to have someone like him come through.”
In other Australian men’s results, Andy Fischer was 52nd, Cam Bolton 57th place and in 60th place was Daniel Morrissy.
In the women’s event, 19-year-old Australian Belle Brockhoff made the semi-finals, finishing in an encouraging ninth place overall.
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