Slopestyle skier Russ Henhaw became a dual World Championships medallist when he picked up the silver at the FIS Ski and Snowboard World Championships in Kreischberg, Austria, early this morning (Australian time).
The Olympic Winter Institute of Australia/NSW Institute of Sport athlete added the silver medal to the bronze, which he captured in the 2011 Championships.
Henshaw’s heroics provided Australia with the fourth medal at these Championships, placing Australia in equal third place on the medal tally board, level with China and ahead of a number of winter sports powerhouse nations, after the completion of 14 of 24 events.
The United States currently leads the medal tally, with Canada in second position.
The 24-year-old Henshaw skied brilliantly throughout the event scoring just 0.8 of a point less than the gold medallist, Switzerland’s Fabian Boesch, with American Noah Wallace in the bronze medal position.
However, for much of the final, it looked like Henshaw would join snowboard halfpipe rider Scotty James and aerial skier Laura Peel, who both won gold medals this week.
Right from the start of the event Henshaw, who qualified for the final in equal second place, was the pacesetter, grabbing the lead at the end of the first of three runs with a score 90.6.
Boesch fell during his first run, which pushed the Swiss skier down to ninth place going into the second round.
Henshaw further excelled in the second run by improving his score, earning a 91.8 from the judges with a performance boasting a little more speed and amplitude compared with run one.
In his second time down the mountain, Boesch answered the challenge and was able to address the problems with his first run. The judges awarded him with a 92.6, which grabbed the lead from Henhaw and established a score that remained unbeaten.
The Australian stepped things up in his final run in an attempt to snatch back first place, however, it was not to be.
Henshaw said he was “wrapt” to secure silver and was particularly pleased with the way he skied today.
“It felt good today and I put down three good runs and I’m pumped,” Henshaw said.
When Henshaw arrived at the Championships, he thought he was skiing well enough to be a medal chance but did not put any pressure on himself.
“I kind of came into the event to have some fun and put down a run that I would be happy with,” he said.
“If it worked out, it worked out, if it didn’t, it didn’t.”
What added to Henshaw’s satisfaction was the fact that he medalled on a day when so many of the 10 finalists were putting down high standard runs.
“A couple of the runs were crazy so it’s really nice to get up on the podium.
”I can’t remember the last time I put all three runs down and stood on the podium. I’m pretty pumped.”
Henshaw rates today’s result as being “up there” with the many highlights he has achieved throughout his career.
Not that he is regretting anything about his performance today but he said that a “slight wobble” on the top rail in his third run may have been the difference between gold and silver.
“At the end of the day the gold could have gone either way,” he said.
“If I had not had that wobble on the top rail, it could have been a close call. It would have been interesting to see how the judges would have called it.”
Henshaw said he tossed up between competing at X Games in the United States and competing in Kreischberg but chose the World Championships purely because he wanted to represent Australia, a thrill he has experienced at three World Championships and the Olympic Winter Games in Russia 12 months ago.
“I’m sure I made the right decision,” he said.
Who could disagree with him?
Henshaw's highest scoring second run included:
The Olympic Winter Institute of Australia/NSW Institute of Sport athlete added the silver medal to the bronze, which he captured in the 2011 Championships.
Henshaw’s heroics provided Australia with the fourth medal at these Championships, placing Australia in equal third place on the medal tally board, level with China and ahead of a number of winter sports powerhouse nations, after the completion of 14 of 24 events.
The United States currently leads the medal tally, with Canada in second position.
The 24-year-old Henshaw skied brilliantly throughout the event scoring just 0.8 of a point less than the gold medallist, Switzerland’s Fabian Boesch, with American Noah Wallace in the bronze medal position.
However, for much of the final, it looked like Henshaw would join snowboard halfpipe rider Scotty James and aerial skier Laura Peel, who both won gold medals this week.
Right from the start of the event Henshaw, who qualified for the final in equal second place, was the pacesetter, grabbing the lead at the end of the first of three runs with a score 90.6.
Boesch fell during his first run, which pushed the Swiss skier down to ninth place going into the second round.
Henshaw further excelled in the second run by improving his score, earning a 91.8 from the judges with a performance boasting a little more speed and amplitude compared with run one.
In his second time down the mountain, Boesch answered the challenge and was able to address the problems with his first run. The judges awarded him with a 92.6, which grabbed the lead from Henhaw and established a score that remained unbeaten.
The Australian stepped things up in his final run in an attempt to snatch back first place, however, it was not to be.
Henshaw said he was “wrapt” to secure silver and was particularly pleased with the way he skied today.
“It felt good today and I put down three good runs and I’m pumped,” Henshaw said.
When Henshaw arrived at the Championships, he thought he was skiing well enough to be a medal chance but did not put any pressure on himself.
“I kind of came into the event to have some fun and put down a run that I would be happy with,” he said.
“If it worked out, it worked out, if it didn’t, it didn’t.”
What added to Henshaw’s satisfaction was the fact that he medalled on a day when so many of the 10 finalists were putting down high standard runs.
“A couple of the runs were crazy so it’s really nice to get up on the podium.
”I can’t remember the last time I put all three runs down and stood on the podium. I’m pretty pumped.”
Henshaw rates today’s result as being “up there” with the many highlights he has achieved throughout his career.
Not that he is regretting anything about his performance today but he said that a “slight wobble” on the top rail in his third run may have been the difference between gold and silver.
“At the end of the day the gold could have gone either way,” he said.
“If I had not had that wobble on the top rail, it could have been a close call. It would have been interesting to see how the judges would have called it.”
Henshaw said he tossed up between competing at X Games in the United States and competing in Kreischberg but chose the World Championships purely because he wanted to represent Australia, a thrill he has experienced at three World Championships and the Olympic Winter Games in Russia 12 months ago.
“I’m sure I made the right decision,” he said.
Who could disagree with him?
Henshaw's highest scoring second run included:
- Right 270 onto the down-rail
- 630 off the canon rail feature
- Left double cork 1080 tail grab
- Right double cork 1260 mute grab
- Switch 270 on, 450 off the high rail
- Switch left double cork 1260 mute to Japan grab
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