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Date: 28/01/03
OWI mogul skier Maria Despas finished fifth in the
Dual Moguls in Fernie, British Columbia, on Sunday,
in the final warm up for next weekend’s world
championships.
Maria, who took the silver medal at the last world
titles in 2001, won her way through the opening two
elimination rounds before going down in the quarter
finals to the eventual winner, Stephanie St Pierre
of Canada.
In the head to head contest to decide fifth and
sixth place, the veteran Australian defeated Salt
Lake 2002 gold medallist and reigning world champion
Kari Traa, the Norwegian crashing on her first jump.
Maria’s Olympic Winter Institute team-mates Jane
Sexton and Manuela Berchtold both lost in the first
round, Berchtold putting up a strong battle against
this season’s World Cup leader Shannon Bahrke of the
United States.
In the men’s event, Adrian Costa was equal ninth,
losing in the round of 16 to eventual silver medallist Stephane Rochon of Canada.
World Cup rookie Michael Robertson won his round of
64 match-up against Finland’s Jussi-Pekka Kinnunen,
but lost in the round of 32 to Germany’s Grischa
Weber after trying for too much on his second jump.
OWI coach Steve Desovich said the team was looking
forward to the world titles.
“Maria has completely recovered from her knee
injury, and is getting back to her best form,” he
said.
“The younger girls have really stepped up a level
this season, so they will go to Deer Valley with a
lot more experience and confidence than their first
world championship in 2001.”
“And the two guys – Adrian and Michael – have both
had a couple of top 12 placings this season, so we’d
certainly be looking for them to challenge for a
place in the finals.” |
Maria
Despas with Adrian Costa
Maria
Despas with OWI Head Mogul Coach Steve Desovich at
the 2003 World Championships |
