Press Release
Australian snowboarder Alex Fitch has put down some fantastic runs and just missed the podium at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Austria, finishing fourth in the snowboard halfpipe.
Fitch went into the exciting final in fourth position and after her blistering semi-final run she was looking good to challenge her more fancied rivals. However, a hard fall minutes before the final meant she played it safe with her runs.
"I just wanted to keep it safe and do my safety runs so I got that down and ended up coming fourth so that was pretty good anyway, a great result," the upbeat 16-year-old from the NSW Central Coast said.
Fitch is motivated to go back training and step up her tricks and amplitude to bridge the gap to the medallists. The Games are far from over for Fitch however as she still has the women's slopestyle event starting on Tuesday.
There were some other outstanding results on a busy day for the small Australian Winter Youth Olympic Team.
Jindabyne skier Thomas Waddell finished 11th in the Ski Halfpipe final only months after first tackling the pipe. This exciting event has been added to the Olympic program for Sochi 2014.
Sydney figure skater Chantelle Kerry produced a fantastic performance to thrill the crowd and be placed 11th after her jazzy short program. She skates the long program on Tuesday.
"It was a good skate. I got the triple loop all good so I'm really happy," Kerry said.
Perth skier Greta Small backed up from her seventh yesterday in the Super G to finish 13th in the Super Combined. She skied below her best but an outstanding result for an Australian alpine skier.
"Thirteenth is okay but I have definitely skied a lot better and it was not the result I was after," Small said. "That's ski racing though! One day you are skiing awesome and the next day you can struggle for rhythm. You can't afford to be off your game at this level."
Townsville Luge rookie Alex Ferlazzo produced two personal best scores for the Igls track to place 19th against his experienced 25-man competition. With his Youth Olympic campaign now done and dusted, Ferlazzo is looking to the future.
"I'm definitely addicted now!" he said. "The speed - the thrills, it's great."
NSW biathlete Lachlan Porter couldn't be happier with his effort in the 7.5km Sprint to finish 50th. He raced hard and shot well in his first major international competition.
The only disappointing result was Harry Laidlaw failing to complete the Slalom component of the Super Combined. After two days of frustration at the alpine venue he now has three days off before his Giant Slalom.
On Monday, the youngest member of the Team Sam Hodic, 15, and the eldest in 17-year-old Sharnita Crompton contest the Ice Hockey Skills Challenge qualification. The top eight athletes will progress to Thursday's final.
Porter heads back to the biathlon range at Seefeld for the 10km pursuit.
