Snowboarders hold best Australian hopes

Alex Pullin and Damon Hayler head Australia's charge in the snowboard cross going into Day Four of the Winter Olympics.

Australian alpine skiers Craig Branch and Jono Brauer will contest the blue ribband downhill event as the Winter Olympics moves into day four.

The event had been postponed from Saturday after fog, rain and snow had enveloped the course at Whistler.

Both Australians have had disrupted preparations, Branch with back problems and Brauer struggling with a knee injury, but both have said they are looking forward to the race.

They will be looking for a mid-pack finish.

Didier Cuche of Switzerland and Michael Walchhofer of Austria have been the top two downhillers on the World Cup circuit for several years and will be amongst the favourites for gold.

American Bode Miller, who is still looking for an elusive Olympic gold medal, is the smokey.

Big hopes for Aussie snowboarders


Alex Pullin and Damon Hayler head Australia's charge in the snowboard cross.

Both are World Cup medallists but Pullin seems most likely to progress the furthest in the rough and tumble sport which pits fours snowboarders against each other in a course with jumps and banked turns.

Ben Sim flies the flag in the cross country, competing in the 15km event.

And at the Whistler Sliding Centre, Hannah Campbell-Pegg starts her campaign in the luge.

The venue has been swathed in controversy after Georgian slider Nodar Kumaritashvili died after catapulting off the track during training.

Campbell-Pegg joined a chorus of others criticising the track which was subsequently modified in light of the fatality.



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Source: AAP



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