Damon Hayler has climbed to a world ranking of nine after riding
to seventh place in a snowboard cross World Cup event in
Stoneham, Canada.
Hayler saved his best performance of the season for the Cup
finale, qualifying in ninth place then winning his heat of the
round of 32 and placing second in his quarter final.
In the semis he was eliminated by eventual gold and silver
medallists Pierre Vaultier of France and Nick Baumgartner of the
USA.
In the ensuing consolation final he rode to third position for
the final placing of seventh.
It was the second best result of his career and the third top
ten placing.
Hayler was briefly upstaged in qualifying by Australian
team-mate Alex Pullin, who qualified in eighth place.
That put the pair together in the opening round of the finals,
Pullin going out for a final placing of 19th.
Pullin ended the season in 30th place on the World Cup
standings.
Canadian Drew Neilson, the bronze medallist in Stoneham, took
the snowboard cross World Cup title on 3600 points, from Nate
Holland of the US on 2426.
Hayler had 980 points for his ninth place finish and Pullin was
on 340.
Holly Crawford will line up against arch-rival Manuela Laura
Pesko in the final snowboard halfpipe event of the season Monday
morning Australian Eastern Summer time.
A victory to the OWI rider would give her the World Cup title.
