FEATURE

Christy Prior Takes Bronze at Olympic Snowboard Test Event

By Snow Sports New Zealand

Snowboarder Christy Prior (Kaukapakapa) has won bronze in the penultimate slopestyle World Cup of the season which was staged at the Bokwang Phoenix Park, Korea and served as the official Olympic test event for the upcoming PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

Competitors were challenged by the changing weather situation with the wind going up and down and an overnight cold snap making for an icy course.

Christy Prior had put together a stunning performance in Friday’s qualifying rounds, earning the top score by making best use of the unique course with its technical rail features and unusual twisted side-hits on either side of the final jump. Her run had included back to back 720s on the jumps, a personal best performance.

Using the same trick combo on the first of her three runs in the finals, Christy earned a score of 66.68. The score was solid but nowhere near the 90.00 points she’d earned in qualifying and she knew that a step up run would be required.


Women’s podium at Slopestyle World Cup staged at Bokwang Phoenix Park as Olympic test event for PyeongChang 2018 with 2nd Karly Shorr (USA), 1t Jamie Anderson (USA) and 3rd Christy Prior (NZL).  Photo © Oliver Kraus

Her fellow competitors were also struggled with the conditions, Olympic gold medallist Jamie Anderson (USA) only managing a 62.40 on her first attempt and Karly Shorr (USA) 70.10.

It was a tough battle and Christy worked hard to execute her step up manoeuvres but it wasn’t to be and her first run score would stick.

Jamie Anderson scored a 81.25 in her third and final run to take home the glory relegating her teammate Karly Shorr to second and keeping Christy Prior in the bronze medal spot.

With Jossi Wells also earning bronze in the freeski slopestyle on Saturday, Snow Sports NZ Head Park & Pipe Coach Tom Willmott says, “It’s been an amazing test event for both staff and athletes with some great learning.

“There are definitely areas for us to work on to ensure we can be more robust in two years’ time. We now have really clear direction about where we’re doing well and where we can make gains.”