Ben Kilner of the British Snowboard Team started his season in amazing form, taking 15th place in the half pipe World Cup in Cardrona, New Zealand on Sunday 7th September.
The competition was the first LG Snowboard FIS World Cup of the 2008/09 season and attracted a world class field with 53 men from 20 nations competing in the newly designed 150m long half-pipe.
During the qualification rounds, under the winter New Zealand sun, Ben produced his highest scoring run to date of 38.9, out of a possible 50, landing a perfect front side 900 on his first run, and beating that in his second run with a flawlessly executed front side 1080.
Unfortunately the weather for the finals was not so perfect and took place on an overcast and windy day. Ben scored a 28.3 after fractionally over-rotating on his front side 900, and ultimately took 15th position. This result means that Ben has successfully completed the first of the qualifying criteria for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and shows the potential promise of more successes for Ben in the coming season.
This round of the World Cup was ultimately won by Japanese rider Kohhei Kudoh, followed by his compatriot Ryoh Aono with Canadian Crispin Liscomb taking third, all three of whom are aiming for the World Cup title this season.
Ben’s coach, Leo Addington, stated how proud he was of Ben’s performance, adding that this was ‘a wonderful way to kick off the world cup tour of 2008 – 09’. Mark Simmers, CEO of Snowsport GB said ‘This is one of the best performances by a British Snowboarder in a World Cup that we’ve ever seen. It really proves that Ben Kilner truly has world class potential. ‘
Results
1 Kohhei Kudoh (Japan)
2 Ryoh Aono (Japan)
3 Crispin Liscomb (Canada)
Three other members of the British Snowboard Team were in action at the New Zealand World Cup this weekend, Dom Harrington finishing in 36th with Sam Cullum close behind in 39th. In the Women’s World Cup Lesley McKenna took 26th.
Next week sees another member of British Snowboard Team in action as Zoё Gillings take part in the first LG Snowboard Cross World Cup in Chapelco, Argentina in the Patagonian Andes on 12 & 13 September 2008. Zoё will be aiming for a strong result after taking 5th place in the South American Cup competition held at the same resort last week.
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The British Snowboard Team would like to thank the following for their invaluable support: Sponsors: Land Rover www.landrover.com, Halliwells - www.halliwells.co.uk, FOGG - www.fogginsure.co.uk, BASI www.basi.org.uk Chill Factore – www.chillfactore.com , Funding organisations: UK Sport – www.uksport.gov.uk, TASS – www.tass.gov.uk, Sport Scotland – www.sportscotland.org.uk, BOA - www.boa.org.uk Sports Aid – www.sportsaid.org.uk
