Damon Hayler has ridden to 15th place in the World Cup snowboard cross event in Whistler, Canada.

Hayler, who met the Australian Olympic Committee and International Ski Federation qualifying criteria for Torino when he won bronze at the last World Cup, made it through to the top 32 head to head rounds with ease.

OWI halfpipe head coach Ben Wordsworth reports that Hayler "started his assault on the top 32 with aggression and power, moving through the first heat with no trouble".

"But unfortunately he had bad luck through one of the turns in the next round, putting him back into the pack in the quarter finals."

In the second event of the double header in Whistler, the Dee Why snowboarder finished further back in the field in 30th position.

For the Australian women, Emily Thomas and Steph Hickey failed to make the final 16 in both events, Thomas finishing in 28th place in the first of the two, and then 29th on Saturday. Hickey was 32nd and 36th.

Thomas and Hickey both registered top 80 per cent results, part of the qualification requirements for a snowboard cross place in Torino. Both women also have to post a top 25 placing in one of the World Cups prior to the selection cut-off, and a minimum of 120 FIS points on the January 2006 FIS points list.

They will get their next chance in when the next event is held in Bad Gastein in January.

The men's gold medal in the opening Whistler event went to Italian rider Alberton Schiavon, from Nate Holland of the United States. French rider Julie Pomalgalsi won the women's event from team-mate and snowboard legend Karine Ruby.

In the second, Austrian Doresia Krings took the women's gold and Jasey Jay Anderson captured the men's on home snow.

The OWI halfpipe team has had two great days of training and will start qualification for the Whistler event on Sunday morning AEST.



Courtesy OWI/Sportcom