Melbourne University Sport - News

Crema tackles Skier Cross at World Championships
09 March 2009; Katya Crema (pictured right, with an Australian team-mate)
crema & teammate

For the past week I have been in Inawashiro, Japan, for the Freestyle World Championships. The World Championships are held every two years. It has been a great experience to be here, competing amongst the absolute best in the world. The general atmosphere has been very exciting and vibrant.

The Skiercross was the first event to be held. Also competing is moguls, aerials and halfpipe…all freestyle skiing events.

Training on the first day was a little intimidating. The jumps were really large, and the course seemed to run very fast, very similar to a super G. Speeds were high and the air was big. After my first run, I gained a lot of confidence and started to really enjoy myself. I did the majority of training with the boys, following right behind them down the course. It is good to train beside people to get used to the feeling of having skiers around you whilst on the course.

By qualifying day, I was really enjoying the course and the big jumps. I qualified in 25th position, which I wasn’t overly happy with. Unfortunately on my qualifying run I didn’t ski quite as well as training. I got a bit distracted, and didn’t quite focus on what I needed to. I made it through to finals however which was exciting.

I was in the second heat with world number 2 from Austria, Karen Huttary, as well as Katrin Hoffner from Austria (also in the top 10 in the world) and a German girl. A tough heat to start on! I had quite a good start and was pushing for 3rd place coming into the first set of rollers. Unfortunately over the first large jump, I came off right next to the Austrian girl. We got tangled up in the air, and I landed on the back of her skis. I lost my balance and went down hard, crashing into the fences, tearing through 2 layers and finally stopping at the third. The crash was hard and at high speed, so it shook me around a bit but fortunately I’m fine. A bit bruised up, and my knees are a little sore, but I should be right to ski again in a few days.

We’re having the next few days off, just to rest up and to allow the body to recover. We’ll spend 2 days in Tokyo, before flying to Switzerland for the final 2 world cups of the season.

Again, not as great as I would have hoped but all in all, a great experience in Japan. Another top 30 world cup result, as well as my first start in the head-to-head finals since my injury.

In Switzerland we will be racing in Grindelwald and Meiringen (where I blew my knee last year). I’ll have to overcome a few mental demons on that course, but I’m sure I will be fine.


Home Membership Facilities Group Fitness Health Services Clubs Sport and Recreation Ski Lodge About Us Contact Us News Archive Merchandise	Crema tackles Skier Cross at World Championships 09 March 2009; Katya Crema (pictured right, with an Australian team-mate) For the past week I have been in Inawashiro, Japan, for the Freestyle World Championships. The World Championships are held every two years. It has been a great experience to be here, competing amongst the absolute best in the world. The general atmosphere has been very exciting and vibrant. The Skiercross was the first event to be held. Also competing is moguls, aerials and halfpipe…all freestyle skiing events. Training on the first day was a little intimidating. The jumps were really large, and the course seemed to run very fast, very similar to a super G. Speeds were high and the air was big. After my first run, I gained a lot of confidence and started to really enjoy myself. I did the majority of training with the boys, following right behind them down the course. It is good to train beside people to get used to the feeling of having skiers around you whilst on the course. By qualifying day, I was really enjoying the course and the big jumps. I qualified in 25th position, which I wasn’t overly happy with. Unfortunately on my qualifying run I didn’t ski quite as well as training. I got a bit distracted, and didn’t quite focus on what I needed to. I made it through to finals however which was exciting. I was in the second heat with world number 2 from Austria, Karen Huttary, as well as Katrin Hoffner from Austria (also in the top 10 in the world) and a German girl. A tough heat to start on! I had quite a good start and was pushing for 3rd place coming into the first set of rollers. Unfortunately over the first large jump, I came off right next to the Austrian girl. We got tangled up in the air, and I landed on the back of her skis. I lost my balance and went down hard, crashing into the fences, tearing through 2 layers and finally stopping at the third. The crash was hard and at high speed, so it shook me around a bit but fortunately I’m fine. A bit bruised up, and my knees are a little sore, but I should be right to ski again in a few days. We’re having the next few days off, just to rest up and to allow the body to recover. We’ll spend 2 days in Tokyo, before flying to Switzerland for the final 2 world cups of the season. Again, not as great as I would have hoped but all in all, a great experience in Japan. Another top 30 world cup result, as well as my first start in the head-to-head finals since my injury. In Switzerland we will be racing in Grindelwald and Meiringen (where I blew my knee last year). I’ll have to overcome a few mental demons on that course, but I’m sure I will be fine.