Australia's snowboard cross athletes will be out for redemption today as a new Olympic event of snowboard cross teams gets underway.
Leading the Aussies charge will be triple Olympians Belle Brockhoff and Cameron Bolton, who’ll team up as Australia 1.
Australia’s medal hopes doubled yesterday when it was confirmed the Aussies would secure a second team spot, with Jindabyne locals Josie Baff and Adam Lambert teaming up.
It will be redemption time for the Australian snowboard cross riders, who will look to better their performances from the individual competition.
Team veteran Cam Bolton is thrilled to have the mixed snowboard cross team part of the Olympic Games.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity, another medal chance to Australia. I’m really excited to be selected to do the mixed teams… I’m super excited to be with Belle, she’s riding really well on this course.
“I think it will be a good race, this course probably suits it [mixed teams] quite well, it will be exciting and hopefully jam packed full of action.
“I think the whole [Australian snowboard cross] team is looking for redemption, so the fact that we will have four athletes out for some redemption is definitely a tantalising opportunity.
“There are quite a few strong teams, the Candians will be strong, their male is so fast and then they also had Meryeta Odine (women) on the podium. We also have Italy, France and Austria who always put strong teams together,” he said.
Both Australian teams have drawn the same quarter final, with the two sides to face off against USA 1 and Switzerland, with the top two teams advancing through to the semi final.
How it works
Each team is made up of two snowboarders - one woman and one man - with men competing first and women second. When the first team member crosses the line, the time advantage he holds over the next competitor is transferred to his female teammate.
The female athletes then begin their runs in a staggered format, with the time advantage they hold added to the beginning. The first female athlete to pass the line wins the race.
At Beijing 2022, the two best teams from each of the four heats advance to the semi-finals, with the two fastest from each semi-final taking part in the big final.
Full draw - click here.
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