Aussie Ski Cross team has one more event to tick
Published Fri 17 Mar 2017
Courtesy www.owia.org
After a hectic World Cup schedule spanning 13 events in seven countries, Ski Cross athletes Anton Grimus and Sami Kennedy-Sim have one competition before season end – the 2017 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships.
A knee injury has interrupted Grimus’ season but he’s gained momentum as the season’s progressed and the 26-year-old is hoping his form will continue into the World Championships.
“I’ve had a few events now and each event my knee’s gotten better and better and my skiing is getting more confident,” Grimus said.
The Sochi Olympian will be fulfilling a goal by starting at these World Championships.
“My aim after hearing that my knee needed the operation was to get back for the World Championships and build up my performances to now,” he said.
“I haven’t had the ideal prep coming in, it’s a very different vibe to the last World Champs where I had no real injuries.
“I want the best result I can get and that’s obviously a podium but I know I am coming in underprepared in comparison to the last world champs.
"There’s no real pressure on myself, I’m going in there to give it my best result and that’s all I can do,” he said.
Grimus will use the off-season to rest his knee so it is ready to go for this all important Olympic year.
“Need a bit of a break with the knee as it hasn’t been perfect, having some time off after this event will definitely be beneficial for my knee.
“Once you have a knee injury you take it for granted just how good your knees are. To get back to the point where I can fully trust my knee will be awesome.”
Sami Kennedy-Sim finished the World Cup season ranked 12th, a result which was buoyed by her first ever podium result that came in Idre Fjall in Sweden where she finished second.
As one of only four Australians to win a Ski Cross World Cup podium, Kennedy-Sim rates it among her career highlights.
“I’ve done 80 plus World Cups and for that to happen this year was a pretty big deal,” Kennedy-Sim said.
“To go to Sweden and put into practice the little changes that me and the team have been making, it’s validated everything that’s happened so far. Showed that I am moving in the right direction. I’m really happy with how things have been going and I’ve carried that into the next few races and obviously the results weren’t the same but the focus and the strategy has always remained the same.
“We’re at the stage where we’re just trying to replicate things with precision so you’re in a good position to have hopefully another podium or many more,” she said.
Kennedy-Sim has high expectations of herself for the World Championships and is hoping to add to Australia’s five medal haul from the event.
“I’m really happy with how it’s been going and I’m happy to continue that momentum hopefully this weekend at the pinnacle event for us of the season.
“Hoping I can rise to the challenge and follow suit in the way the rest of the Aussie team have been doing, everyone’s been doing really well. It’d be nice to slot in there and add a little sweetener at the end,” she said.
Ski Cross qualifying and finals will be held Saturday with Finals held at midnight Sunday 19 March and lived streamed above or at: https://www.skiandsnowboard.org.au/2017-snowboard--freestyle-world-champs/