Latest Update from Deer Valley

Just before we got the good news on Andy, Woodsy was putting on the show performance of his life, hopefully all of you have now caught his runs on Eurosport and hopefully they'll be on youtube soon. Switch 270 nose press onto first rail, onto wall - 270 out, 450 disaster onto the flat down - 270 off, left cork 720 mute, double cork 12 mute to switch cork 10. Unfortunately he went so big on the switch cork ten he just couldn't hold it - if he had he'd certainly have been top 5 and contending for a medal. On his second run he reduced the amplitude which cost him on his score.

In his words:
"I was really happy with the rail section today, it was technical and I took a creative line which I was happy with. The first two jump features I was extremely happy with. The third kicker gave me trouble all through training - so when it came to the contest this was always going to be the feature which would be my biggest test. When it came to the finals - my run from yesterday had placed me in third in the qualifiers so I decided to go for the same run. I just went too fast and too big on the final jump and just couldn't hold it all together. On the second run again a perfect top section but was conscious I needed to keep hold of the speed. This meant I went a little too small overall and slightly less technical on the last jump hence I lost points. Although taking 8th at my first World Championships is a great result I can't help but feeling a little disappointed I couldn't hold onto the podium position. In a couple of weeks I think I'll begin to appreciate the result especially as it's my first real season of major competition".

With Andy on the road to recovery in the hospital the whole team: Ski Cross, Aerials, Moguls, Slopestyle and Halfpipe got together for the first time for the parade of nations down the main street of Park City. With TASS there was 26 of us, Katie carried the flag, we waved to the crowd, we got cold. We listened to various dignitaries speak, cheered when Paul Mitchell the hairdresser took to the stage (sponsor of the event), watched a trampoline display - it was a bit surreal.

Thursday was halfpipe training, everyone was asking about Andy and his condition - we were more than happy to give them the good news, most had feared the worst. The patroller who had first dealt with him was in tears, she was that worried about his condition.

That evening we got Andy out of hospital. I took Woodsy and Murray Buchan down to the hospital to pick him up. There was plenty of craic in the car mostly centring around the mobile phone shaped mint boxes we'd scored the previous night at the parade. The laughter soon stopped as we walked into the high dependency observation ward Andy was in and especially so when we saw how battered he was. It was a quiet car on the way back.

Friday was pipe qualification. We reckoned we had an extremely good chance of getting one athlete into finals if not three. In the women's event we had Katie Summerhayes and Emma Lonsdale. Emma had just missed out on finals in Inawashiro 2 years previously and wanted to put that right. Katie was a dark horse, incredibly talented but hadn't done any pipe work for nearly a year. Em put down a marker on the first run taking 8th place, even though she didn't improve on her score in the second run it was more than enough to get her through, in the end she finished 9th.

Katie put down a smooth run on the first but needed to up the amplitude and technicality in the second. She went for it in the second and was heading for a finals place until she lost a ski throwing a 7 on her final hit. She finished a very respectable 14th which is amazing as she hadn't trained in a year.

James Machon was our highest placed male at 18, he trains with Elana Chase in the US. Elana is one of the most successful pipe coaches with a whole stable of X Games medallists like Jen Hudak and Anais Caradeux. He put down a solid run in the first and was pushing it in the second, unfortunately he hit the lip on his second run which cost him points.

James Woods tied with James on his best score but positioned 19 on count back. Woodsy was drained from the previous day but still managed to put down an incredibly stylish run and was still able to wink at Vanessa taking photos whilst he was inverted. The crowd and commentator loved his style and he should go away from this Championship pleased with his performance.

Murray Buchan has worked so hard over the past few days and was an absolute pleasure to work with. Unfortunately he dabbed his hands on his last hit in both runs. This is marked down by the judges and so he came in 20th. Respect to Muzza, he deserved a higher placing but nevertheless should be happy with top 20 in the World. All three of our men are under 20 and should be back in 2013 better and stronger.

So finals day and we have a British athlete in the top 12, go Em!!