Team GB’s Charlotte Bankes and Olympic debutant Huw Nightingale managed sixth-place in the inaugural mixed team snowboard cross. Before the team event, Bankes finished ninth in the women’s individual snowboard cross on Wednesday, and Nightingale finished 30th in the men’s.
Charlotte Bankes
Charlotte said: “We knew it was going to be tough today. Huw did a good run, certainly at the start. It meant I just needed to try and get into the draft, just focus on my stance at the start and try and catch as much time as possible.
“I saw Huw make a mistake at the start but he didn’t give up and he pushed until the end and that’s great. I’ve never done a mixed team event. It was challenging to start but it was fun.”
Commenting on her individual final and whether she’d have done something differently, the 26-year-old said: “I’m gutted but that’s how it is. Unfortunately, it was tight racing and I didn’t have anywhere else to go so there’s no regrets.
Huw, aged 20, added: “I came here with nothing to lose. To do a small final here with Charlotte is just a great achievement for me.
“She’s taught me loads of things. Through the whole preseason she’s just helped me through everything so it’s very appreciated.”
During the mixed team snowboard cross Huw did his best to keep in touch with the frontrunners but found himself trailing in their wake.
He said: “Knowing that Charlotte is still up there, and I can do the best possible time for her, it gives me the motivation to know that Charlotte is also giving her best to try and get whatever we can get.”
“It was really nerve-wracking to see her catch up with the others and I was thinking please don’t fall!”
Huw Nightingale Photo by Sam Mellish / Team GB