Cynthia Appiah Battles Back to Fifth at Monobob World Cup in Norway
LILLEHAMMER, Nor.—Canada’s Cynthia Appiah matched her best monobob result of the season, sliding to fifth at a rare World Cup stop in Lillehammer, Norway.
The Torontonian mixed together fifth place start times with solid drives down the 16-corner Olympic Track to clock a two-run time of 1:49.16.
“I felt pretty good today, especially after the first run,” said Appiah, who finished third overall in the World Cup monobob standings one year ago.
The 33-year-old Olympian was hunting down her 10th career World Cup monobob podium, and first this year, while sitting in second place after her first blast down the 1,710-metre frozen waterslide.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t keep my spot, but equaling my best finish of the year I feel I’ve turned a new leaf in my season and I’m confident that I’m tracking in the right direction as we now get ready with our final preparation for World Championships in a month’s time.”
Appiah was also fifth in Igls, Austria this year – the site of her World Cup debut as a pilot in 2021.
Kaysha Love had the fast lines on Saturday in Norway. The American posted top times in both heats to lock up the gold medal at 1:48.52. Australia’s Bree Walker was .42 seconds behind in the silver-medal position at 1:48.94. Germany’s Lisa Buckwitz scrapped her way to third place with a time of 1:48.95.
Calgary’s Bianca Ribi was the only other Canadian on the start line in Norway. Ribi celebrated her 28th birthday with two consistent runs to put her in 12th place at 1:49.86.
The Canadians arrived in Norway for the first time ever with a track full of confidence.
“The track here is very similar to Calgary, with both of them built in the same era, so it’s no surprise to me that I’ve enjoyed driving it,” said Appiah, who said her week in Lillehammer has brought back great memories of sliding on the 1988 Olympic Track in Calgary, which has been closed since 2019 until the necessary funds are raised to upgrade it.
“There is great momentum building to get Lillehammer back on the World Cup circuit as a perennial stop. I can only hope this resurgence spurs the seam energy to get our Calgary track going again too.”
Appiah and Ribi will bring those good vibes to the top of the hill in Norway on Sunday for the two-women’s race.
Complete Monobob Results: https://www.ibsf.org/en/result/503365/?cHash=1644a89f06c7b8ae026d4e49e9a308dc
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