Australian snowboard cross team faces up to disappointing Beijing Winter Olympics after both teams crash in team event

Australia's two mixed snowboard cross teams crashed out in the same quarter-final at the Beijing Winter Olympics, with Belle Brockhoff taken to hospital for scans.

With huge snowflakes falling to create an ethereal winter-wonderland atmosphere at the Genting Snow Park, both Brockhoff and Josie Baff hit the deck, ruling them out of contention for the medals.

«It was a really disappointing result,» said Cam Bolton, who was paired with Brockhoff.

«I don't think that this Olympics could have gone much worse for the border cross team, to be honest.

»Belle did well to come fourth the other day in the individual but just about everything else that could have gone wrong has gone wrong and in a sport with so many variables… unfortunately, this was a case where almost everything went against us and we weren't able to find a way through.

«It's a shame, because the team can show so much more and achieve such incredible success, as we've shown over the past four to eight years.

»As disappointing as it is, we'll all be looking to bounce back [in the remaining World Cup competitions]."

Australia was the reigning world champions in the mixed team event.

Brockhoff — who finished a heartbreaking fourth place in the women's individual event — was partnered with Bolton, as he was Australia's best performer in the men's individual competition.

Belle Brockhoff finishes a heartbreaking fourth behind American Lindsey Jacobellis, someone who knows just how quickly a medal can be won or lost.

Australia's second team — consisting of Adam Lambert and Josie Baff — were given a spot at the last minute following the withdrawal of one of the other teams.

Each team's male athlete went down the course first, with the time advantage then applied to the starting