World Champs Silver Medal for NZ Ski Cross Racer
World Champs Silver Medal for NZ Ski Cross Racer
Jamie Prebble
(Christchurch)
Sierra
Nevada, Spain (18 March 2017) – The 2016/17 ski
cross season came to a satisfying conclusion on Saturday at
the Sierra Nevada 2017 Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World
Championships with New Zealand ski cross racer Jamie Prebble
(Christchurch) earning a silver medal.
Ladies’ and men’s big finals highlights
video
His best result at the end of a long
and demanding season, Prebble says there’s definitely
“satisfaction in knowing that when it all comes together,
anything is possible.”
After finishing fifth at the
World Cup in Arosa, Switzerland in December last year
and12th in Canada two weeks ago the Kiwi had been working
hard on both the technical and tactical sides of racing and
had his sights set on a top-12 finish.
With qualifying
rounds and finals held all on the same day, rather than the
normal two-day format, making it to the finals rounds was
always going to be an endurance test. With skiers pushing
themselves to their limits, the surprises came early and
often through the course of the day.
In the very first
heat, three-peat crystal globe winner, 2013 world champion,
and top qualifier Jean Frederic Chapuis (FRA) was bounced
from competition after casing a landing in the middle
section of the course and falling behind. Season
third-overall on the World Cup Alex Fiva quickly followed
suit on his way out of the competition, while top names like
Chris Delbosco (CAN), Marc Bischofberger (SUI), and Jonas
Devouassoux (FRA) all found themselves done for the day
after the 1/4 finals.
Prebble made a solid start and was
happy to finish 13th in qualifying heats. With just a short
couple of hours to manage recovery it was on to the final
rounds. The Kiwi came through in second place in the first
rounds (1/8 final), enough to take him to the quarter final.
Here, he had his work well and truly cut out, moving from
second place to fourth before making a big pass at the
bottom of the course to move back into second and on to the
semi-final rounds.
Now with the bit really between his
teeth the flying Kiwi charged out in front right out of the
gate and held off his challengers right to the end to win
the semi-final and earn his spot in the final.
First
equal out of the start gate, Prebble found himself tangled
with Slovenian racer Filip Flisar, managed to escape but was
passed by Sweden’s Victor Oehling Norberg. It was tight
battle with Prebble holding on to Oehling Norberg’s tails
to take silver.
Full men’s
results
Ladies’ and men’s big finals highlights
video
GEPA Pictures photos (for editorial use)
Ends