Snowboarder Ben Kilner this week declared his ambition to qualify for next year’s Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver after a weekend of competition in Canada produced a third top 20 finish of the season in the FIS World Cup for the British athlete. The 20-year-old Half Pipe specialist from Banchory faced a daunting prospect to qualify for the Vancouver Olympics at the start of the season, as only competitors ranked in the top 40 in the world next January will go to the Games the following month.
His 16th place in the FIS World Cup Half Pipe event at Stoneham, Canada at the weekend was his second best career result. Added to his earlier 15th in New Zealand last September and 19th in Gujo, Japan last month, it gives him a real chance of qualifying for Vancouver 2010. With two events remaining for this season, he is now ranked 28th in the world.
Kilner said: “I managed to keep my run clean with no errors so I managed to score quite high. The Halfpipe was in good shape and weather conditions suited me so I was in a good frame of mind when I dropped in. It was a good feeling crossing the line on my feet. I am pleased with a 16th overall. That should give me a boost of points towards my goal to get to the Olympics.”
Meanwhile, Lesley McKenna finished 14th in the women’s Half Pipe event and is also on course for a third appearance in the Olympics.
