Winter Olympics: Snowboarder Bray 'gutted' after 20th placing

Juliane Bray said she was "pretty gutted" by her performance in the woman's snowboard cross event at the Olympic Winter Games at Bardonecchia today which left her with a 20th placing .

The experienced Wellingtonian had hoped to advance past the preliminary stages into the final 16 race-offs but failed to find her best form.

In her first ride Bray, 30, was timed at 1min 34.45s, which left her placed in 15th position.

Bray said she was not happy with the first ride as she had lost a lot of speed near the start, forcing her to try to make-up the time for the rest of the course.

" So I was under no illusions that that would be quick enough to get me into the top 16.

"I knew I would have to improve on my second ride."

After looking impressive through most of her second ride Bray crashed just before the end and was eventually timed at 1min 39.81s -- leaving her near the bottom of the 23-strong field.

"I feel very frustrated.

"I know I'm good enough to be in the top 16, but it's a matter of putting it together on the day.

Bray said even though she been on the ride about 15 times in practice she had not had any trouble in the place where she crashed on her second run.

"I suppose it comes from trying to push right to the limit. The fact that it was so close to the finish made it even more frustrating.

"What's disappointing is that it was not a lack of skills, but that it was my mistake. I felt that if I'd put together the sort of ride I was looking for I should have finished about 12th or 13th in that field."

The women's event was won by Tanja Frieden, of Switzerland.

- NZPA