Hughes wins Montafon World Cup

Courtesy: www.olympics.com.au 

SNOWBOARD CROSS: Jarryd Hughes has continued Australia’s exceptional start to the Snowboard Cross season after claiming top spot on the podium at the World Cup event in Montafon, Austria.

After finishing 26th in qualification, Hughes confidently progressed through the eight final, quarter-finals and semis to make the four-man big final.

It was there that NSWIS rider showed his credentials as one of the world’s best as he held off local favourites Alessandro Haemmerle and Markus Scharer of Austria to take the gold medal.

"I am absolutely stoked with this result," Hughes said. 

"I have been working incredibly hard in the off season, so it feels amazing to have that pay off at this event.

"This is my second career World Cup win and It's given me a huge confidence boost heading into the Olympic season."

With the final featuring Olympic Champions and World Cup winners, Hughes knew he had to be in his best form to secure a victory  

“It was a great race with a super hot and competitive field,” said the 22-year-old.

”I knew I had to step up, calm any nervous and just put down the best run I could.

”The fact I was able to execute and get the win feels awesome.”

Both Matt Thomas (12th) and last week’s silver medallist Adam Lambert (16th) were knocked out in the quarter-finals. Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin chose to sit out of finals racing and rest after a crash in training before qualifying.

“The depth of Australia’s snowboard cross athlete in the OWIA/NSWIS program is unbelievable right now,” Hughes said with this result seeing Pullin remain on top of the overall World Cup standings, with Hughes now in fourth and Lambert in fifth.

“It puts our country in a great spot leading into the Olympics and that is really exciting.”

The athletes will now focus their attention on next week’s event in Cervinia, Italy.

Matt Bartolo
olympics.com.au