Strong performances at Snowboard & Ski Cross Olympic Test Event

Courtesy of www.owia.org

Australia’s snowboard cross athletes have had a successful test run on the Beijing 2022 Olympic course, with Adam Lambert and Belle Brockhoff recording encouraging semi-final performances at the World Cup event in Secret Garden, China.
 
Lambert was particularly impressive and looks well suited to the Secret Garden track, qualifying for finals in seventh place, followings wins in the round of 32 and 16.
 
In the semi-final round, Lambert had some good sections out front and led for parts of the race, but just missed out on advancing to the big-final in third place. Lambert bounced back in the small final, crossing the line for the win to finish the day ranked fifth overall.
 
“Not a bad week, I qualified seventh and finished fifth and I always try to beat my qualifying result so I am happy with that," the 24-year-old Olympian from Jindabyne said.
 
“This course is really my style, I love gliding and flat basing, and I am short, which helps when there are head winds.
 
“China is definitely a different place, we are used to competing in Europe and North America, but all in all it was run really well.”

 
In the women’s finals, Brockhoff advanced through the quarter-final round in second place, and then had to face off in the semi-finals against Olympic gold medallists Eva Samkova of the Czech Republic and Michaela Moioli of Italy. In a tough race, Brockhoff just missed out on making it though to the big final in third place. In the small-final, Brockhoff finished second, to finish the event in sixth place.
 
“Mixed feelings from today, I came here to win, I know I have the ability and have the drive to, but it just didn’t come together for me at this race,” the 28-year-old Mixed Team World Champion said.
 
“I had a heavy hit in training just before heats, but I powered through, so happy I can fight through like that.
 
“They did a really good job here, they wanted to put on a good event, and they did, the track, accommodation and facilities for teams were well put together. Hopefully they can improve even further on that I am looking forward to the Olympic Games.”
 
The men’s event was won by Austrian Alessandro Haemmerle with Eva Samkova taking the win in the women’s event.
 
Also in action for Australia was 2018 Olympic silver medallist Jarryd Hughes in 12th place, Adam Dickson 16th, Cam Bolton 31st, and in her World Cup debut 17-year-old Mia Clift finished 22nd.
 
The snowboard cross athletes will next be in action when the World Cup tour resumes in Montafon, Austria, with the single event on December 10 and mixed-team event on December 11.

Ski Cross athletes also kicked off their World Cup campaign in China. Dual Olympian Sami Kennedy-Sim had a great qualification run to go through in seventh place, however a disappointing round of 16 finish saw her miss out on the semi-finals and finish in 15th.

On the men's side, Doug Crawford and Robbie Morrison finished 42nd and 43rd respectively, missing out on the finals after a tough qualification.