The gap between success and failure comes down to the finest of margins and Rowan Coultas is keen to ensure he does not finish on the wrong side of it again.
After missing out on the Olympic final at PyeongChang 2018, slopestyle and big air snowboarder Coultas is learning from his mistakes.
The 21-year-old Olympian fell short of the finals in the Men’s Big Air competition by just half a point as he watched his friend Billy Morgan go on to make history and set a new Team GB record medal haul.
“If I’d gone an extra metre bigger I would have got that extra half a point. I sat and thought about it for five minutes but then realised it’s hard to really get upset about it. This happens,” he said.
“I was just really amazed to be there. I landed my tricks and that’s all you can ever do. I did what I wanted and I was happy.”
Coultas didn’t dwell on the loss for too long before brushing himself down and getting back on the slopes.
“It’s a lot more training based this season,” he added.
“It’s a bit quieter because we’re out of the Olympic cycle. I’m learning new tricks for competitions to hopefully do better. I’m looking forward to competitions, the World Cups and the World Championships in February.”
The World Cup season continues in earnest in Beijing this week but all Coultas is thinking about is the World Championships in Utah in February.
He and teammate Matt McCormick have become the flagbearers for the team this season, with Billy Morgan taking a break, and they are desperate to deliver.
“The team are great. We learn new tricks together and you kind of feed off each other," he said.
"If I’m riding with Matt McCormick he’ll learn a new trick and then maybe I’ll try it a little but differently. It really helps.”
“I don’t take it crazy seriously though. Everyone always says it’s a job, it’s not a job to me.
“I’d have been a PE teacher if I wasn’t doing this. That’s what my mum says anyway.
Sportsbeat 2018