Murray Buchan, Peter Speight and Rowan Cheshire officially got Team GB’s road to Sochi underway as the first World Cup of the new season began in New Zealand.
Buchan, Speight and Cheshire took to the slopes in Cardrona in the South Island for the qualifying round of the men’s and women’s freestyle ski halfpipe competition.
However, Britain will have to wait for its first finalist of the Olympic season as Buchan and Speight just missed out in the men’s events and Cheshire in the women’s.
Cheshire was the best placed of the Brits in 17th with a best run of 58.20 first time out – however only the top 12 in both the men’s and women’s events progressed.
Buchan gained the highest British score with a best run of 66.00 placing him 22nd while Speight was just behind in 26th after improving to 57.20 second time out.
Canada's Mike Riddle, the world champion in 2011, was awarded the highest men’s score with a first run of 85.80 while Angeli Vanlaanen of the USA topped the women’s qualifying with 91.00.
© Sportsbeat 2013