2014 WINTER OLYMPIANS – Anna Segal

Anna working her magic over a super-sized park jump, she’s no stranger to getting inverted Image:: Ananda Van Welij/Annasegal.com

Mountainwatch | 2014 Winter Olympians – Words by Nat Segal

If you were to ask the average Australian to list some of the sports that Australia competes in at the Olympics, I doubt that skiing would be amongst the first. As a country where swimming is the norm and skiing is less accessible, our winter athletes have risen above and beyond, to not only participate in, but to dominate ski disciplines that will be part of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Skiing is by no means the highest funded sport in the Australian Olympic Committee’s portfolio, nor is it the biggest; but gosh do we have talent.

With several new disciplines added to the next Winter Olympics, including Slopestyle and Halfpipe skiing, it’s bound to be an interesting one. In the last decade Australia has accumulated an assortment of snow sliding, medal-wielding machines who are in line to qualify for Sochi. With successful northern winters behind them and less than a year until the Games it’s only natural to be a little bit curious about them.

Over the coming weeks we will be bringing you profiles on all our Winter Olympic hopefuls, check back for the rest of the team…

EVENT: Slopestyle

Name: Anna Segal
Age: 26
Discipline: Slopestyle
Years competing: Many
Hometown: Melbourne
Home Mountain: Thredbo and Breckenridge, USA
Are you studying?: On hold
Best result: 1st Winter X Games, Aspen, 2009
Favourite Trick: The Houdini
Breakfast of champions: Coffee and freshly squeezed juice
Sponsors: K2, Dakine, Bolle, Thredbo, Breckenridge, Full Tilt

What is the main challenge you face in the lead-up to the 2014 Olympics?
Keeping up and trying to stay ahead of the rate of progression in the female-side of slopestyle skiing. At each competition up and coming girls are throwing bigger and better tricks. It’s a rat race out there!

How do you think that Slopestyle’s inclusion in the Olympics will impact the sport itself?
I think it’s going to further divide freeskiing into ‘the comp skiers’ and ‘the film skiers’. For these first Olympics it has increased the rate of progression and I would even say participation levels. Which isn’t a bad thing, especially on the female side. However, in the future I think it will also have a negative impact. It’s going to regulate the sport and I hate to say it, but I think in 10 years it’s going to follow the same fate as moguls and aerials. That is, slopestyle competitions will be less creative and more predictable.

Slopestyle is a judged sport and one of the criteria is style. A rider’s outerwear can have impact on this criteria, can you tell us about the importance of having a suitable Australian team uniform?
It’s important in all sports to be dressed appropriately. You wouldn’t turn up to a surfing comp in your speedos. It may not affect your performance, but if you did, you would be viewed as a clown. Same goes for skiing. I wouldn’t turn up to a big event in a Skier Cross outfit. It’s hard to say whether it would affect judging or not. There is no criteria for attire, but subconsciously it could affect the judges overall impression of your run, which is part of the judging criteria. The AUS team organisers realise this, so I’m pretty confident we won’t be given race suits to compete in.

The race for consistent double cork spins in women’s runs has kickstarted, how important do you think it will be at Sochi?
I don’t think doubles are going to be completely necessary for the Olympics. Firstly, it depends on what double is being thrown and whether it is grabbed. I think it will be possible to podium without one. Slopestyle isn’t a one hit wonder style of event and one trick isn’t going to make your run. In saying that, having a stylish double is going to give you a good advantage as a girl.

Your love of fresh fruit salads is infamous amongst your family and friends, do you have any strategies for finding these in Russia for a pre-comp feast?
Ughh, don’t get me started about Russian food. My strategy is to ween myself off fresh fruit before I go to Russia. I’m going to start eating pickled cabbage, potatoes and meat a couple months out so my stomach can get used to the stodge.