Mogul skiers heading for the home straight

They may be a little weary from the week-in week-out competing, travelling, training and resting on the FIS Mogul Skiing World Cup tour this season but the Australians are staying on top of their game in a spectacular season that has created history.
 
Britt Cox became the first Australian female to win a Mogul Skiing World Cup title last week in Japan and Matt Graham won a bronze medal, but now their focus is on the last two World Cups in Thaiwoo, China this weekend before the World Championships in Spain in March.
 
Juggling the athletes’ regime is the responsibility of coaches Steve ‘Des’ Desovich and Jerry Grossi.  
 
"With Britt, the focus remains on rest and recovery ahead of the event in China this week,” Coach Desovich explained.
 
“We have had a rigorous schedule leading to the normal travel fatigue so that is a primary challenge right now.
 
“Britt has done so well this season due to her attention to detail and being able to execute what she needs to do when she needs to do it. First in training then transferring to the event, " he said.
 
Training in China will be about learning the course, continuing with skill development and execution.

The Australian coaches have consistently maintained their focus on skill and execution – a plan that has also kept Matt Graham in podium contention throughout the season and boosted  results for  Brodie Summers.
 
Leading into China, Graham is in third position in the overall World Cup standings – and trails second position by 47 points. Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury – like Britt Cox – has already secured the overall Crystal Globe as number one.
 
"Matt has had some real highlights this season which we are quite happy with,” Desovich said.
 
“The near misses that have transpired are just a reminder of which skills need further enhancement and really getting all the ingredients correct in the three sectors of our sport which are jumps, turns and speed.”
 
“He has some exciting opportunities left in the season and we look forward to the next day of training in China which is the next step required to execute at the highest level more consistently."  
 
Brodie Summers has had a much improved 2016/17 season delivering three top ten World Cup results including a bronze in Dual Moguls at Deer Valley.
 
"Brodie has done a nice job this season on many levels. Jerry and I are quite pleased with his work right from April onwards where he has been able to experience some nice growth across the board,” Coach Desovich said.
 
“As per usual, the focus will remain on skiing and jumping better while also preparing for the specifics of the course simultaneously. Brodie needs to continue to put himself in a position to succeed by completing his training runs along with lifting the quality of his skills while doing so."  

The Thaiwoo, China Moguls World Cup is on Saturday 25 February from 12 noon with live coverage of the finals on Eurosport Australia from 4.30pm. 

Article courtesy of OWIA