SNOWBOARD: Snowboard cross young gun Alex Dickson has completed his final competition before heading to the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games.

Competing at the Nor-Am Cup at Tabor Mountain in British Columbia, Canada, the Jindabyne speedster was unlucky to finish 31st in the first competition before improving to 13th on the second day.

Highlighting his speed on the course, Dickson qualified third overall on the opening day before, as is the nature of the sport, a collision saw him knocked out of competition earlier than he would have liked.  

He bounced back to qualify seventh in the second competition and went on to challenge for a spot in the finals, eventually crashing over the line when attempting a pass to finish just outside the top ten.

“Although I crashed both races I am still happy with how I rode and how I went,” said the 17-year-old.

“I am confident that I am now up to speed with the top Nor-Am riders, I just have to execute my runs.”

With Lillehammer 2016 just around the corner, Dickson is looking forward to the challenges that await at the Winter Youth Olympics.

“The excitement is definitely building.

“I am feeling confident leading into the games as I know I'm riding super well and am improving every race I do. This is a good feeling leading into the Games, we will see how I handle the pressure.”

Dickson will take to Lillehammer course on Day 4 of competition (Monday, February 15) in the individual event before getting the opportunity to compete in the team ski-snowboard cross event the following day.

He will compete alongside fellow snowboard cross athlete Mollie Fernandez along with 15 other Australians who will take on the world’s best youngsters in biathlon, luge, short track speed skating, alpine skiing, ice hockey skills challenge, freestyle snowboard (slopestyle and halfpipe), freestyle skiing (slopestyle and halfpipe), snowboard cross and ski cross. 

Matt Bartolo
olympics.com.au