Big Weekend for Australian Snow Athletes: Gold and Silver for James and Guseli, Record Win for Jakara Anthony, Bronze Medal at Winter Youth Olympic Games
Mountainwatch | Press Release
It was another big weekend for Australian snow athletes including a historic result for Australian snowboarding, when Scotty James and Valentino Guseli claimed gold and silver in the halfpipe event in Laax, Switzerland. It is first time Australia has taken out the top two spots in the sport.
In a spectacular final under lights, both James and Guseli put down two great runs with both riders displaying huge amplitude, style and super difficult tricks.
James’ best score in the two-run final came in his first run, where he scored 94 points to record the ninth World Cup win of his impressive career and third victory in the Laax halfpipe.
Guseli scored 90 points on his first run, and then in the final round stepped it up performing a trick that had never been landed in snowboard halfpipe competition, stomping a frontside 1620 tailgrab to score 92.25 points and finish in second place.
Rounding out the podium was Ruka Hirano of Japan who scored 90 points on his final run.
Also in action for Australia was Cooper Woods who had a personal best dual mogul finish in fifth place, with teammates George Murphy in 38th and Oliver Logan in 40th.
Rounding out the podium was Ruka Hirano of Japan who scored 90 points on his final run.
“I feel pretty damm good, it’s tough to win this event so tonight I had to bring my best and it feels amazing to stand on top of the podium” said James the two-time Olympic medallist and triple World Champion from Warrandyte in Victoria.
“Laax feels like a home away from home, it’s always such an incredible the event, the fans and the crowd and the atmosphere is always really special here and unmatched.”
James on his impressive switch McTwist pullback to regular jump.
“It’s something I brought in this year, and I really try to push creativity and technicality in snowboarding, and of course you can’t really do these things without a lot of amplitude and execution, so tonight it was thankfully a combination of all those things which is really nice.”
For Guseli, the podium performance is the seventh World Cup medal of his career, and first in the Laax halfpipe.
“To get to the bottom of two runs and having stomped them both, and I think they are some of the best runs I have done, so I am really happy and stoked to have some momentum rolling into the season,” said the 18-year-old teen snowboard prodigy from Dalmeny on the NSW South Coast.
“He (Scotty James) is amazing, coming from Australia we actually don’t have a 22-foot halfpipe anywhere in the whole country, and it’s pretty crazy being second to one of the guys that is the best to ever do it and we are both from the same country and can hold our flag up really high which is a beautiful thing.”
James and Guseli will now head to Aspen, USA, for the X-Games on January 26.
Anthony Sets Australian Record for Most World Cup Wins in a Season
Jakara Anthony’s incredible season has reached a new milestone, setting the record for the most World Cup wins in a season by an Australian in any wintersport discipline, with her eighth victory under lights in the dual moguls in Val St Come, Canada.
The victory sees Anthony move past former teammate Britt Cox who had seven World Cup wins in the 2016-2017 season, and Anthony can further add to the tally with seven World Cup events remaining in the season.
In the final to decide the gold medal, Anthony faced American Jaelin Kauf, the only other skier to also win an event this season. Both skiers pushed their limits into the top air, but Kauf was unable to maintain the pace crashing out in the middle section, giving Anthony her 16th career win with a score of 35-0.
“You dream of coming and skiing World Cup when you are a little kid, but to actually be here and be as dominant as I am at the moment is really special,” said the 25-year-old from Barwon Heads in Victoria.
In the men’s event, 2018 Olympic silver medallist Matthew Graham won his first World Cup medal of the season and 24th of his career, finishing third after a freak accident saw his opponent Ben Cavet of France in the bronze medal duel crossing over into Graham’s side of the course, with Graham landing on the French skier whilst completing the top air jump.
“The course here is amazing, the guys who built it did a great job here in Canada and the organising committee, we are skiing some big proper moguls and I love that”, said the 29-year-old Graham from the NSW Central Coast.
“Really happy to walk away from that crash against Ben, probably one of the scariest crashes I have been in, I just saw him at the last minute and pulled my legs though to try and miss landing on his face essentially.”
“I took a bit of time off after the Ruka World Cup (in early December), because I had a couple of shoulder surgeries over the course of 2023, so I missed the offseason. I then went back home and went to the water ramps and cut my knee really bad and had to have surgery just a month ago, so this is the first time I have skied since Ruka and I am just stoked to be back, and the body is feeling good.”
Also in action for Australia was Cooper Woods who had a personal best dual mogul finish in fifth place, with teammates George Murphy in 38th and Oliver Logan in 40th.
The mogul skiers athletes will now head to Waterville Valley in the USA, for another single and dual mogul event next weekend.
Youth Olympic Bronze for Snowboarders Abbey Wilson and William Martin
Abbey Wilson and William Martin have won Australia’s first ever Winter Youth Olympic Games (WYOG) snowboard cross teams medal, claiming bronze in Gangwon, South Korea today.
The result also marks Australia’s first medal for the 2024 edition of the WYOG.
In strong form from start to finish, the Australian team crossed the line just 0.26 seconds behind second place, France’s Maja-Li Iafrate Danielsson and Bejamin Niel, with France’s team of Lea Casta and Jonas Chollet claiming gold.
Jindabyne local Abbey Wilson, who yesterday finished the women’s snowboard cross event in fourth place, said she was happy she was able to come out and land on the podium today alongside her teammate.
“There are no words for it, it feels amazing to win this medal,” Abbey said, “I was over the moon with my results yesterday, I just came out and tried to put myself in the same position and ended up with a bronze, so I am stoked.”
“As soon as I saw we had a good shot at a podium in the big final, only a second behind France after Will finished his race, I just went for it. Going second is always hard, I felt a bit of pressure, but I just fought to the bottom and to cross that finish line was amazing.”
“I have worked really hard over the past year to put myself in the best position possible and earn this medal, so to win another medal for Australia is incredible,” Abbey said.
“Standing up on the podium with Will next to me was a feeling I have never felt before, it was really nice to be able to get up there as a team and be proud of not only my efforts but his as well.”
17-year-old William Martin said he was excited to walk away with a bronze medal in the team event and happy all his hard work had finally paid off.
“Winning this medal for Australia is surreal, and to be able to have Abbey there to share this moment with, it’s been a fantastic experience,” Will said.
“It feels so good to be able to come out and do what I love, and to do it in front of my family was amazing.
“Hearing them cheering us across the finish line was just incredible!”
The mixed snowboard cross relay sees two snowboarders, one male and one female, race as a team with the men racing first and the women second.
The time differential from the male athlete’s race is passed onto the female, resulting in a staggered start for female racers, with the first female athlete passing the finish line winning the race.
Australian team snowboard cross coach Jackson Holtham said coming into the race he knew his athletes were in a good position, but to land on the podium was a bonus.
“I am just so happy for Abbey and Will,” Mr Holtham said.
“I know this result means so much to them, they have both worked really hard over the season and I am just so happy they were able to have this moment, leave it all out there and be up on the podium.
“We were fortunate to have great support from our team physio, performance manager and wax technician, they were able to keep the athletes focused and calm in the start gate, which ultimately allowed them to deliver on course when it mattered most.
“A bronze medal today was just the cherry on top, it gives them a taste of what it’s like to perform at this level and under pressure. I think for both Abbey and Will this medal will motivate them to keep working hard and keep chasing their dreams.”
Australia’s second snowboard cross team made up of Tasmania’s Lara Wilson and Victoria’s Cameron Turner were eliminated in the quarterfinals, placing 13th overall.
The Winter Youth Olympics continue until Feb 1st and you can catch the action on Stan and the None Network
