LILLEHAMMER 2016: Australian flag bearer Emily Arthur and good friend Mahalah Mullins will feature in the snowboard halfpipe competition two hours drive south of Lillehammer in the Norwegian capital of Oslo.
The pair have had a solid couple of days in the pipe and are ready and raring to throw it down at the Youth Olympics.
“You get used to the pipe very quickly and it is amazing,” said Arthur.
“It is a little smaller than usual but I’m going to try and get my full run down.”
Having played a starring role in the Opening Ceremony, short track speed skater Julia Moore hits the Lillehammer 2016 ice for her first competition.
Skating at the iconic Gjovik Olympic Cavern Hall, Moore lines up in the 1000m event in what will be her first international competition.
Each race consists of four racers with the top two progressing while the other racers continue to face off in order to determine their overall placing.
“I’d love to get some personal bests while I’m here,” said Moore. “I really want to do the best I can and be able to walk away feeling proud of myself.”
Biathlon young guns Darcie Morton and Jethro Mahon get their first opportunity to compete in what is likely to be a boisterous local crowd.
The pair have been training hard in Italy leading into the competition and will get the chance to test themselves in the men’s 7.5km and women’s 6km sprint events.
Athletes start at 30 second intervals, with competitors skiing around the course along with one shoot in the prone position and one in the standing position.
“I’m looking forward to the sprint,“ said Mahon. “Just to do my best.”
“There are no distance events here in Lillehammer but the sprint is my next best event,” added Morton.
After they opened their Lillehammer 2016 campaign with the Super G event on Saturday, Katie Parker and Louis Muhlen will take to the Hafjell Olympic Slope for their second competition.
The Super Combined features one run on the Super G course and another on the Giant Slalom course on the one day, in a combined race against the clock.
Parker and Muhlen finished 16th and 29th respectively in their opening event and now that they’ve got a race under their belts they’re pumped for what lies ahead.
“I’m super excited for that and can probably go for it a bit more now that I know the hill,” said Parker.
“I’m looking forward to the Super G,” added Muhlen. “I’ll reset, reassess and see how we go.”
Madison Poole is back in action in the ice hockey skills challenge after finishing the opening day in a share of the lead.
Poole will complete the final four elements of the competition, Skating Agility, Fastest Shot, Passing Precision and Puck Control. She is equal first after the Fastest Lap and Shooting Accuracy on day 1, with the first goal being a top 8 to reach the final.
The last Aussie to compete on Sunday in Norway (Monday AM in Australia) will be Cameron Waddell in the halfpipe. He is confident he has the skills that if he delivers he can reach his goal of a top 10.
Australians competing
Athlete: Katie Parker
Sport: Alpine Skiing
Event: Super Combined
Time: Super G - 10:20-11:20 (8:20pm-9:20pm AEDT) Slalom 1:45pm-2:20pm (11:45pm-12:20am)
Athlete: Louis Muhlen
Sport: Alpine Skiing
Event: Super Combined
Time: Super G - 12:00-13:20 (10:00pm-11:20pm) Slalom – 2:30pm-3:10pm (12:30am-1:10am)
Athlete: Julia Moore
Sport: Short Track Speed Skating
Event: 1000m
Time: 12:00pm-12:40pm (10:00pm-10:40pm AEDT), Semis 1:00pm-1:40pm (11:00pm-11:40pm AEDT) 2:00pm-2:40pm (12:00am-12:40am AEDT)
Athlete: Jethro Mahon
Sport: Biathlon
Event: Sprint
Time: 12:15pm-1:00pm (10:15pm-11:00pm AEDT)
Athlete: Darcie Morton
Sport: Biathlon
Event: Sprint
Time: 14:30-15:15 (12:30am-1:15am AEDT)
Athlete: Madison Poole
Sport: Ice Hockey Skills Challenge
Time 1:00pm-4:00pm (11:00pm-2:00am AEDT)
Athlete: Emily Arthur
Sport: Snowboard
Event: Halfpipe
Time: 9:10am-10:10am (7:10pm-8:10pm AEDT)
Athlete: Mahalah Mullins
Sport: Snowboard
Event: Halfpipe
Time: 9:10am-10:10am (7:10pm-8:10pm AEDT)
Athlete: Cam Waddell
Sport: Ski Halfpipe
Event: Halfpipe
Time: 2:40pm-3:40pm (12:40am-1:40am AEDT)
Athlete: Cameron Waddell
Matt Bartolo
Olympics.com.au
