Category: Kent Callister

Tough start for Park & Pipe athletes at Dew Tour

14/12/2015

The first event of the northern hemisphere winter has taken place for the OWIA Park & Pipe athletes, with the Dew Tour competition taking place in Breckenridge, CO, USA.

The highest placing athlete was OWIA/VIS Halfpipe Snowboarder Scotty James, who finished in 13th place after the semi-final, which advanced James to the last chance qualification round. In the last chance round, James finished eighth, unfortunately missing out on the final.

Also in action in the men's Halfpipe Snowboard were OWIA/NSWIS riders Nathan Johnstone in 23rd and Kent Callister in 29th.

Competing in the Slopestyle, OWIA/NSWIS skier Russ Henshaw finished 26th, with SSA/NSWIS Snowboard Slopestyle athlete Jess Rich finishing in 15th place.

IMAGE: Scotty James boosting out of the Breckenridge halfpipe © Scotty James Instagram

OWIA Sport Programs Update - Park & Pipe

7/10/2015

Torah Bright, Holly Crawford, Russ Henshaw, Scotty James and Nathan Johnstone trained predominantly in NSW at Perisher and Thredbo resorts during the Australian season.

World Cup events took place at Cardrona in New Zealand during August for Slopestyle and Halfpipe.

Australia’s leading performance in New Zealand came from Nathan Johnstone, who place seventh in the Snowboard Halfpipe event. Russell Henshaw placed 35th in Ski Slopestyle.

Other notable top-10 results in New Zealand came from NSWIS athletes Jess Rich who was seventh in Snowboard Slopestyle and Emily Arthur who placed ninth in Snowboard Halfpipe.

Kent Callister is currently in New Zealand training taking part in on snow training.

Callister wins first World Cup medal

2/3/2015

Australian teenager Kent Callister won his first World Cup medal when he finished third in the snowboard halfpipe event in Park City, USA.

The podium finish is the season’s highpoint achievement for Callister, who ends his World Cup commitments with a world ranking of four and results that support the promise he has shown since his World Cup debut at the age of 16.

Callister delivered an experienced performance, which almost contradicted the fact that today’s event was just his seventh World Cup in an accelerating career.

By finishing on the podium along with event winner Yiwei Zang from China and American Taylor Gold, Callister has added to the steady stream of medals won by Australians in World Cup and the World Championships this season.

Callister stamped his claim for a place on the podium in the qualification session last Thursday when he posted the second best score in his heat.

His qualification score of 87.50 earned him a berth in the 10-man final.

Callister, 19, said that he was “super happy” with the result and went in to the event with a degree of confidence that a medal was within reach.

“I thought the run in the final was great,” he said.

“I definitely thought there was potential for me to get on the podium but I suppose I wasn’t really expecting it.”

Being his first World Cup medal and having his dad, Brett Callister, who arrived at the venue just one hour before the start of the final, in the crowd made the result even more special for the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia/NSW Institute of Sport athlete.

“It was a super good contest and I was riding really well,” Callister said. “I had a lot of fun.

“It was probably the best run I’ve ever done.

“I put in a few tricks that I’ve been working on over the past couple of months.”

One of the additions to his repertoire is a front-side double cork 1080 and today was the first time he has landed one in competition.

Callister scored a 88.50 in the final with a double crippler, a back-side 900, a front-side 1080, a double cork 1080 and finished with a front-side double cork 1080.

Callister has ramped up the level of difficulty of his tricks this season in a quest to become more a threat at major events.

“I don’t think I would have been able to get on the podium today without that last trick,” Callister admitted.

Callister has experience significant improvement over the last two seasons but is certainly not resting on his laurels.

His improvement has drawn attention from many in the halfpipe fraternity, resulting in berths in two upcoming invitations only events, including the prestigious US Open in Vail next week.

Nate Johnstone and Holly Crawford finished in 11th and eighth respectively, narrowly missing the finals while Matthew Cox was 29th and Emily Arthur was 21st.

Slopestyle Ski & Snowboard: 13th place for Mullins in Park City
Also competing in Park City for Australia where a number of slopestyle ski and snowboard athletes.

OWIA/NSWIS and 2015 World Championship medallist Russ Henshaw had a difficult day in the men's skiing slopestyle qualifying, finishing in 26th place.

Competing in her second World Cup start, 16-year-old NSWIS athlete Mahalah Mullins recorded a 13th place performance in the women's snowboard slopestyle event.

IMAGE: Kent Callister (right) on the podium in Park City © Kent Callister

Scotty James World Champion!

18/1/2015

Snowboard halfpipe rider Scotty James claimed Australia’s second gold medal in the FIS Ski and Snowboard World Championships in Kreischberg, Austria, this morning (Australian time).

The 20-year-old Olympic Winter Institute/Victorian Institute of Sport athlete secured his first major title ahead of China’s silver medallist Zhang Yiwei and Slovakian Tim-Kevin Ravnjak.

In a day heralding a new beginning for Australian men’s halfpipe, 19-year-old fellow OWIA/NSWIS rider Kent Callister also finished impressively in sixth place in the 10-man Championships final after winning his qualification heat yesterday.

James’ gold medal comes 48 hours after aerial skier Laura Peel provide the perfect start to these Championships by leaving Kreischberg with her first major title win.

With wins to James and Peel, Australia has won two of the six gold medals awarded so far.

Right from the start of the halfpipe competition, James asserted his dominance over the strong field, and like Callister, he also won his heat to advance to the final.

And in the final, James immediately declared his intentions by putting down a highly impressive performance in his first run of the day.

It was this run of 91.50 points that the rest of the field were unable to equal. The next best were Zhang on 89.50 and Ravnjak on 89.25.

James said that the win “means the world to me” and was especially pleased to share the experience with his brother Tim, who was pipe-side to see his younger sibling secure gold.

“It’s been such a crazy journey the last couple of years and I’m absolutely over the moon right now,” he said.

“It feels like it has been a long time coming but today I guess it all worked out for me.

“I’m really happy right now and to do it for Australia is even better.”

It’s a journey that started 17 years ago when James’ father Phil brought home a surprise for his then three-year-old son, a novelty display $10 snowboard.

James admits that the surprise was a “bit of a joke at the time” which has since evolved into serious business for the talented Australian.

At the age of three, the now 185cm tall athlete was too small for a conventional snowboard but when Phil saw the display snowboard, which was being used as a doorstop by a retailer, he had no idea that it would lead to a world championship title for his son.

“It all started when I was three when Dad bought me a little board which was actually a doorstop in a snow shop. It was like $10 and that is when it all started and I haven’t stopped since,” James recalled.

“I remember when he came home that night he said: ‘I’ve got a little surprise for you’.

“I used that for a couple of years and onwards from there.

“I have an awesome crew around me and my family have been amazing.”

Today’s huge win is a clear sign of the transformation of James who, at the age of 15, was the youngest male athlete at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.

“A while ago I was told I can stay where I am or put in the work and get some podiums.

“That has been my mentality this year and last year. The biggest thing is that I have grown up a lot. I’m a bit older and mature, making better decisions.

“My hunger to win big competitions has been a big part of it too.

“I’d like to say this is the start of a new journey for me. I like the feeling that I have right now. I’m going to fight for it every day and let my results do the talking.”

James' good friend and mentor, two-time Olympic medallist, Torah Bright, finished in 6th place after qualifying in third while World Championships debutant Emily Arthur did well to finish 16th. Holly Crawford was 21st.

The women’s title went to China’s Cai Xuetong, the silver was won by Spain’s Querait Castellet and Frenchwoman Clemence Grimal was third.

The other Australian, Nate Johnstone, was 12th.

The spotlight switches to moguls skiing tonight (Australian time) with the qualification session followed by the finals tomorrow.

RESULTS
Women’s snowboard halfpipe World Championships, Kreischberg, Austria
1. Cai Xuetong (CHN), 2. Querait Castellet (SPA), 3. Clemence Grimal (FRA), 4. Hikaru Oe(JPN), 5. Sophie Rodriguez (FRA), 6. Torah Bright (AUS), 16. Emily Arthur (AUS), 21. Holly Crawford (AUS).

Men’s snowboard halfpipe, World Championships, Kreischberg, Austria
1. Scotty James (AUS), 2. Zhang Yiwei (CHN), 3. Tim-Kevin Ravnjak (SLO), 4. Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI), 5. Taku Hiraoka (JPN), 6. Kent Callister (AUS), 12. Nate Johnstone (AUS).

Career best third place for James in Dew Tour

15/12/2014

Scotty James has continued his strong early season form with an impressive career best third place finish at the Dew Tour event in Breckenridge, CO, USA.

James put down two solid runs in the Snowboard Superpipe final against a strong field that included many of the best athletes in the world.

After the first run in the finals, James was sitting in second place with a score of 87.5, behind eventual event winner Taylor Gold of the USA with a score 90.5.

In the second and final run of the event, James improved on his first run score posting 88.25, but was narrowly relegated to third place by Yiwei Zhang of China who finished second with a score of 88.75, just 0.5 ahead of James.

Other Australian's in the Superpipe event were Holly Crawford (12th), Nathan Johnstone (20th) and Kent Callister (30th).

In the Freeski Slopestyle event, Russ Henshaw placed fifth in the last chance qualifier, giving him an overall finish of 15th in his first performance back since knee surgery following the Sochi Olympics.

Image: Scotty James celebrates after finishing on the podium at the Dew Tour © Scotty James

Aussie snowboarders narrowly miss final in opening World Cup

7/12/2014

Australian Snowboard Halfpipe athletes have competed in the opening World Cup event of the season at Copper Mountain, CO, USA, with Scotty James and Kent Callister narrowly missing out on the final.

Qualifying for the men’s event was split into two heats with the top five from each heat qualifying for the 10-man final. All three Australian male athletes were drawn in the same heat, making the challenge of an Australian advancing to the final round difficult.

Scotty James came agonisingly close to qualifying for the final, placing sixth in his heat, which gave him an overall result of 11th place.

Kent Callister was also narrowly close to making the final, placing two spots behind James in eight place, finishing in 14th.

Nathan Johnstone was 14th in his heat and 24th place overall.

In only her second World Cup start, 15-year-old Ski and Snowboard Australia (SSA) athlete Emily Arthur placed a very encouraging 13th place, which was easily the best place by an athlete under the age of 18.

IMAGE: The halfpipe at Copper Mountain © Sarah Brunson/U.S. Snowboarding

SSA Conducts Snowboard Slopestyle Performance Camp

30/9/2014

SSA Snowboarder Mahalah Mullins jumping into an airbag at the SSA performance camp

The first Ski & Snowboard Australia (SSA) Snowboard Slopestyle Performance camp wrapped up last week at Perisher with Australia’s top slopestyle riders enjoying a week long, intensive progression session under the guidance of legendary snowboard coach, Bud Keene.

Last week, twenty of Australia’s top park and pipe riders came together for a high performance training opportunity supported by SSA, the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS), the Olympic Winter Institute (OWIA) of Australia, Jindabyne Sport and Recreation Centre and Perisher. The Camp which was led by Bud Keene, former US Snowboard Team Head Coach and more recently the personal coach of Olympic champion, Shaun White, provided athletes with the opportunity to progress their riding in glorious spring conditions and experience the elements of a supported high performance training program. Bud was supported by local coaching talent, Jarrod Wouters, Chad Collier, Mikey Williams and Jason Clauscen.

The Camp included the exclusive use of a bag jump which was built to perfection by Charles Beckinsale and his Perisher Park team, replicating the first jump of the Perisher Front Valley Slopestyle. Most athletes were introduced to the bag for the first time and were able to put into practice progressive new tricks, before moving them directly onto snow.

In the first program of its kind in Australia, the team of athletes including Sochi 2014 Olympians Scotty James, Nate Johnstone, Kent Callister as well as a host of young up and comers, Josh Vagne, Mahalah Mullins and all those in-between benefited from a range of off snow activities to complement their on-snow goals. Daily ice baths in Lake Jindabyne were followed by video analysis, acrobatics and trampoline training, physiotherapy, strength and conditioning and performance workshops.

“We’re really pleased with how this week turned out”, said SSA Pathway Coordinator, Ramone Cooper. “It has proven to be an important step in supporting our developing talent and enhancing Australia’s prospects for success at future international competition”.

Following on from the Camp, and in-line with the Australian Institute of Sport’s new high performance strategy – Australia’s Winning Edge, SSA are working towards the establishment of a new Park & Pipe program within the institute network to build on the success of this initiative.

Athletes in Attendance
Kent Callister, Nate Johnstone, Scott James, Declan Vogel-Paul, Lauren Stavely, Michaela Davis-Meehan, Jess Rich, Mahalah Mullins, Cameron Staveley, Valentino Guseli, Cassandra Fortune, Matthew Cox, Josh Vagne, Luke Staveley, Angus Waddington, Joss McAlpin, Josh Glen Crisp, Tim Laidlaw, Alex Fitch, Jye Kearney, Tom Halverson

Video Edit:
http://youtu.be/e0I9GTCraQU

Photos:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/15gub11w7j7gyqz/AAD7RTk8r3Uq3QMW8ukmQy3_a?dl=0

No luck for Aussie men in Snowboard Cross

12/2/2014

Kent Callister smiles after his Snowboard Men's Halfpipe Semifinal © Al Bello/Getty Images

Teen sensation Kent Callister had the best day of his life, competing in the men’s Halfpipe final at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on Tuesday night local time. “It was just unreal. That’s the best contest I’ve ever been in,” he said.

The 18-year-old came 9th in a star-studded field of 12 that included defending Olympic Champion Shaun White.

“I just had so much fun out there riding with everyone. It was a really good experience.”

Callister’s first run didn’t quite go to plan when he fell on the landing of his fourth trick, scoring a lowly 40.00 points. Sitting in 10th, he had to pull out all stops on his second run if he was going be in with a chance at the podium – and he did, scoring 68.50.

Unfortunately for him seven of the eight riders to drop into the pipe after him also lifted, doing better in their second runs than their first.

The final result was a major upset, with Russian-born Swiss rider Iouri Podladtchikov scoring an unbeatable 94.75 to win Gold, ahead of Japanese teammates Ayumu Hirano with Silver (93.50) and Taku Hiraoka with Bronze (92.25).

A crash landing on the lip of the pipe in his first run and a wobbly 90.25 to recover in his second, wasn’t enough for Shaun White to claim his third consecutive Olympic Winter Games Gold medal.

"I was looking for four - I was hoping to do Slopestyle too, but it didn't pan out," said White.

"Tonight was just not my time."

18-year-old Callister took the long way to the medal round, via the semi-final. After failing to land the last trick in his first run, the Olympic debutant relied on a stylish second run to get the 79.50 points needed to be in the group of six to progress.

A gutsy semi-final performance by teammate Nathan Johnstone wasn’t quite enough to get him through, missing out on a spot in the final by just one place.

Earlier in the day, Australia’s best chance at a men’s Halfpipe medal, Scotty James, made a shock exit from the competition, when he didn’t make it through the heats.

Tough judging in his first run and an unfinished program in the second brought the 19-year-old’s time at the Sochi Games to a premature end.

James was the first rider of the session to drop into the pipe, scoring 68.50, in what was seemed like a tidy and skilled performance.

“I thought it would have made the nine. But I hate blaming it on the judges. At the end of the day, it’s me, that didn’t make it. I didn’t do enough to make it through,” James said.

On the next run he lost speed on the landing after his second air, slowing his approach to the next trick, which he was unable to complete. Missing out on the semi-final by one place brought his second Olympics to a grinding halt.

“It’s just a bit disappointing because a lot of work’s gone into it over the time. That’s the first time that’s happened to me in a while, not to even make it through to the semis, let alone the final. So I don’t know how to feel right now. I’m not happy, I’m not angry, I’m not sad, I’m kind of just very blunt, I’m just a bit shocked.”

A clearly devastated James admitted he’d been unwell all week; feeling sick in the stomach and experiencing back aches.

“My first run was first time I’d done some tricks in a while.”

James leaves Sochi, having come 16th in the Snowboard Slopestyle and 21st in the Halfpipe. The same Halfpipe result as he recorded four years ago at the Vancouver Olympics.

As for his teammate Callister, whose family was watching the event on television at home in the USA: “I’d just like to soak it all up and remember it for the rest of my life.”

And the plan for his very bright future: “To hopefully a lot of new tricks and some podium finishes.”

Emily Groves | sochi2014.olympics.com.au

Weather too tough to beat

12/1/2014

Australian Institute of Sport / NSW Institute of Sport riders Nathan Johnstone and Kent Callister both qualified for the prestigious snowboard halfpipe US Grand Prix finals in Breckenridge, Colorado, over the weekend but Mother Nature unfortunately trumped their performances.

More than 20 centimetres of fresh snow and wild winds forced organisers to cancel the event, which was also the third of five trial events for American athletes wanting a place in the US Olympic Winter Games team competing in Sochi, Russia, next month.

The damage to the pipe caused by the extreme weather conditions made competition unsafe.

AIS snowboard halfpipe coach Ben Alexander said that he and the athletes were disappointed that conditions had not enabled Johnstone and Callister to continue their strong showing in the qualification session.

“It’s a shame because the guys were in the mix,” Alexander said.

In addition to the confidence gained from making the final, Johnstone was within reach of matching the qualification score of Shaun White, regarded by many as the best in the world.

James records second top-10

23/12/2013

If Christmas is not enough to put a smile on the face of Scotty James, the nineteen-year-old added another reason to grin when he added a second top 10 finish to his achievements at the Copper Mountain World Cup in the United States.

He finished ninth in slopestyle, tacking a strong performance in onto the sixth place in the halfpipe final on the weekend.

James qualified through to the 16-man final after winning his heat several days earlier and was hoping to finish higher in the overall result but he still goes into the Christmas break with his head held high.

James knows that the huge field of 70 athletes boasted the world’s best including a strong US contingent who were using the event to impress selectors of the United States team at February’s Sochi Olympic Winter Games.

Norwegian duo Staale Sanbech and Torstekin Horgmo were first and second, ahead of American Shaun White in third.

The women’s field of 52 athletes included four Aussies – Biba Turnbull, Michaela Davis-Meehan, Mahalah Mullins, Lauren Staveley – who finished in 25th, 26th, 33rd and 44th respectively.

The women’s event was won by Czech Sarka Pancochova, second went to Swiss rider Isabel Derungs and another Swiss rider, Elena Koenz was third.

James makes an impact

22/12/2013

Young gun Scotty James has capped off an impressive snowboard halfpipe World Cup at Copper Mountain with a sixth place.

Nineteen-year-old James, who was the youngest male athlete among all nations competing at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, rode maturely in today’s 16-man final to finish in a stronger position than a number of more highly ranked athletes.

American’s monopolised the podium with Taylor Gold, Gregory Bretz and Ben Ferguson finishing 1-2-3.

AIS / NSWIS athletes Kent Callister and Nate Johnstone were 37th and 38th.

In the women's event Australia's female Snowboard Halfpipe contenders had a tough day in the pipe, finishing in a cluster at the bottom of the qualifying standings: Amber Arazny (30th), Hannah Trigger (31st), Stephanie Magiros (36th), Alex Fitch (38th) and Holly Crawford (41st).

Australians impress at Dew Tour

15/12/2013

Australia’s reigning Olympic champion Torah Bright won the coveted Dew Tour snowboard superpipe title in Breckenridge, USA, today.

The 26-year-old captured first place in a specially invited field of the world’s best, including the full squad of American athletes who are vying for team selection for the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games in Russia.

Two other Australians, Scott James and Australian Institute of Sport / NSW Institute of Sport scholarship holder Kent Callister were also impressive with 5th and 11th place in an equally high-calibre men’s superpipe final.

James’ performance, one of the best of his career, will set him up for the next week’s halfpipe World Cup event at Copper Mountain in the USA.

The event was won by American Greg Bretz who outclassed event favourite Shaun White, with Taylor Gold in the bronze medal place, making it an American 1-2-3 finish.

The results by the Australians have added importance, given that the event is the first leg of five events used by American selectors for the Sochi Games.

Bright, who recorded the fifth best qualifying score three days ago, was excellent in the final, easily accounting for second placed American Kelly Clark. Another American, 13-year-old Chloe Kim was third.

Going into the second run of the final, Bright knew that her score of 95.4 could not be knocked off the leaders’ board.

She used her second pass as a “display run.”

“If I did my second run any better, I don’t think I would have gotten any more points,” Bright said.

“My whole idea with my riding right now is that I want to do a run that is memorable.

“I want to do it big, I want to do it smooth and stylish.

“I’ve got more tricks to work on but I’m riding to the beat of my heart these days.”

Snowboard Halfpipe international season preparation update

9/10/2013

In June, the AIS Snowboard Halfpipe Team attended a training camp at Mt Bachelor, Oregon USA with a focus on big tricks in soft conditions.

During August, the AIS Snowboard Halfpipe Program headed to New Zealand to train for three weeks at Cardrona and Snow Park. With the shortage of a world class halfpipe facility in Australia, it was essential that the athletes be based in New Zealand to train effectively.

Whilst in New Zealand, the team competed in the opening World Cup of the season at the Cardrona Resort. Holly Crawford and Nathan Johnstone launched their seasons with positive performances, both finishing in seventh place. In a promising sign for the future Kent Callister finished in 16th place after qualifying in equal sixth place, and Scott James finished in an equal career best sixth place.

A major focus for the athletes has been a comprehensive strength and conditioning training program in Sydney. John Marsden, OWIA Strength and Conditioning coach, attended the AIS Snowboard Program camp in New Zealand in August to ensure athletes continue to make strength and conditioning gains whilst overseas and on snow.

After a straining block back at home in Sydney, the Halfpipe team has returned to New Zealand to take part in a month long spring training camp at Cardrona.

The Cardrona Halfpipe has been in great, but the athletes have been challenged with difficult weather.

Olympic Champion Torah Bright, will be participating in an OWIA supported four week spring camp Halfpipe & Slopestyle initiative, at Mt Hutt, New Zealand, from mid October through to mid November.

Season's positive start to Sochi

24/8/2013

Australian snowboard halfpipe athletes launched their season and their march towards the 2014 Winter Olympic Games with positive performances in the season’s first World Cup event in New Zealand’s Cardrona resort today.

Australian Institute of Sport / NSW Institute of Sport athletes, Holly Crawford, the silver medallist in this year’s World Championships, and Nathan Johnstone, ranked in the top 10 in the world, both finished seventh in the event which was part of the annual New Zealand Winter Games.

Nineteen-year-old NSWIS rider Scott James went one better placing sixth today, equalling his best World Cup result, after qualifying in equal sixth spot in the 61 man field and advanced through to the final with the fourth highest score in his semi-final.

Adding to the encouragement for the Australians, seventeen-year-old Kent Callister, who is also striving to win team selection for the Sochi Winter Olympic Games in Russia next February, qualified in equal sixth place, but was unable to maintain his level in his semi-final, missing the cut for the final and finishing 16th overall.

Defending Olympic champion, Torah Bright, trained in New Zealand but elected not to compete.

The women’s final was won by America’s Kelly Clark, followed by China’s Xuetong Cai in second place and American Gretchen Bleiler was in the bronze medal position.

Japanese riders Ayumu Hirano and Taku Hiraoka were first and second in the men's draw while Switzerland’s Christian Haller placed third.

AIS snowboard halfpipe coach Ben Alexander said that although the squad would have preferred higher finishes, they will return to Australia with a number of positive outcomes and a clear indication that progress has been made towards a strong showing in Russia next year.

“We’re looking at the big picture,” Alexander said.

“We’re now getting back into competition mode. I wouldn’t say the results are outstanding but they were solid and they show that we are definitely moving in the right direction.

“The guys are in good shape and we are now looking to a great training camp in late September.”

The snowboard halfpipe squad will journey back to New Zealand for four weeks from September 23 and return to the World Cup stage in December.

Crawford’s podium finish at Olympic test event

15/2/2013

Snowboard halfpipe athlete Holly Crawford delivered Australia’s first podium finish at the site of next year’s Winter Olympic Games in Sochi tonight (Russian time).

Crawford, the silver medallist at last month’s World Championships, finished second in tonight’s fourth round of this season’s World Cup tour, which was also a test event for next year’s Winter Olympic Games, but aggravated a long standing injury.

The Australian Institute of Sport / NSW Institute of Sport rider’s condition was being assessed by medical personnel tonight, however, it is believed that the injury relates to rib cage cartilage damage.

She has been dealing with the condition since the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

Crawford, who is known for her courage and resilience on the tour, could not attend tonight’s medal ceremony, which would have been her 17th podium appearance in a stellar career.

The event started brilliantly for the Australian, with Crawford earning automatic inclusion in the final, bypassing the need to compete in the semi-finals, by finishing her qualification heat yesterday in third place.

Crawford arrived at tonight’s halfpipe, which is part of a $50 billion-plus greenfield development for the 2014 Sochi Games, in discomfort after the rib injury recurred in the qualification session.

Her first run down the halfpipe in tonight’s final saw the Perisher based rider deliver a solid performance, attracting 78 points from the judges, enough to earn her second place at the halfway mark of proceedings.

Approaching her second run for the night with more determination to press for the lead, Crawford fell early, in what appeared to be a minor mishap.

However, the slight fall immediately ended her hopes of improving her run one score.

Crawford finished second to America’s two-time Olympic medallist Kelly Clark, with Frenchwoman Sophie Rodriguez in third.

Current Olympic champion Torah Bright showed glimpses of her talent but had to settle for seventh, resulting from a mistake on both runs, while other Aussie results saw Stephanie Magiros in 23rd, Hannah Trigger in 27th and Alexandra Fitch in 31st position.

AIS / NSWIS rider, Nathan Johnstone, was eighth in the men’s final after replicating Crawford’s performance of gaining automatic inclusion into tonight’s final with the third best score in his qualification heat.

Johnstone, who went into the event with severe jetlag and a virus, was unable to complete a clean run tonight, but was encouraging with his level of difficulty and amplitude.

Japan’s Taku Hiraoka won, with Switzerland’s Iouri Podladtchikov second and American Scott Lago third.
Australians Scott James was 13th while AIS / NSWIS athlete Kent Callister was 58th.

Crawford’s World Championship silver medal

21/1/2013

Snowboard halfpipe rider Holly Crawford won a World Championship silver medal in Stoneham, Canada, today, becoming one of only three Australians to finish on the podium of the biennial event on three occasions.

Crawford added the second place to her gold medal from 2011 and another silver from 2009, which equals the World Championship record of retired Australian aerial skier Jacqui Cooper and 2006 Olympic Mogul Skiiing champion Dale Begg-Smith.

Despite going into these Championships with just two events to her name in that last 12 months due to injury, the Australian Institute of Sport / NSW Institute of Sport rider went close to defending her title from Spain two years ago.

Crawford was edged off the podium top spot by American Arielle Gold, while Frenchwoman Sophie Rodriguez took the bronze.

Crawford had to fight back from a warm up session just before the final, which saw her unable to complete a full run without a mistake, due to heavy snow and the pipe’s slow conditions.

However, Crawford’s experience and determination enabled her to adjust from the slow start to the day, with the second of her two runs scoring 77.25 points, just 1.75 points away from Gold’s winning performance.

In the men’s event Australia’s other defending halfpipe champion and AIS / NSWIS rider Nathan Johnstone finished in seventh, after advancing to the final with the second best qualification score.

Two Australian teenagers, 18-year-old NSWIS athlete Scott James and AIS / NSWIS rider Kent Callister, 17, were both impressive in the qualification session, posting fifth and sixth best scores.

The pair finished their first World Championships in sixth and fifteenth, showing their potential for the future.

Swiss rider Iouri “i-pod” Podladtchikov was crowned World Champion, ahead of Japan’s Taku Hiraoka and Fin Markus Marlin in third place.

Crawford said that while she had hoped for another world title, she was extremely pleased to finish in the silver medal position.

“I’m really happy with the result,” Crawford said.

“It was really tough in there today. There was a lot of snow and the pipe was very slow and bumpy, which brings the field much closer together.

“It could have been anybody’s day today.

“It was really a case of who could get their run down basically.

“The conditions were as tough as I have experienced in some time.

Crawford said that competing in only two events in the last 12 months and limited time with on-snow training was not an ideal way to defend her title.

“I was fairly confident that if I landed my run that I would be on the podium,” she said.

“There was definitely more that I would have liked to have done. I suffered a bit of a setback with my injury but you take the good with the bad.”

AIS halfpipe program coach Ben Alexander said that the conditions were unsuited to Johnstone’s riding style.

“Nathan likes to do his tricks really big out of the halfpipe and today with the pipe being really slow, it made it difficult for Nathan to perform at his best,” Alexander said.

“It was a tough day for Nate.

“When you perform your tricks going extremely high out of the halfpipe, that sets you apart from somebody who can’t go that big.

“The conditions were the same for everybody but the guys who don’t go high out of the halfpipe have an advantage in these conditions.”

Johnstone and Bright both win at Copper Mountain

13/1/2013

Australian Institute of Sport / NSW Institute of Sport snowboard halfpipe athlete Nathan Johnstone should go into next week’s World Championships at Stoneham, Canada, with great confidence and Torah Bright is recapturing the form that earned her a Winter Olympic Games gold medal after both recorded strong victories today.

Johnstone, the reigning World Champion, and Bright completed his-and-hers World Cup wins at Copper Mountain, USA, which has elevated Johnstone to the number one ranking while Bright has jumped to second place on the standings.
Their performances prompted AIS halfpipe coach Ben Alexander to describe the results as “outstanding”, given the level of talent in the event and the standard the Australians set today.

Johnstone was in great form finishing ahead of second and third placed Americans Luke Mitrani and Louie Vito while Bright was victorious over the 2002 Winter Olympic Games gold medallist Kelly Clark, from the United States, and Spanish rider Queralt Castellet who finished third.

“Both Nate and Torah were outstanding today,” Alexander said.

“With the number of young talented riders entering the sport now and the fact that the last Olympics were three years ago and everybody is now so much better, today’s wins were outstanding,” Alexander said.

Johnstone wowed the judges and spectators, as well as surprising everybody except himself and other Australians, with a technical run consisting of a backside air to a frontside double cork 1080, a cab 1080 taipan, a frontside 900 mute and a backside 900 melon.
Bright was awarded the day’s highest score, 85.75, in her first of two runs with a backside air to air to air fakie, a cab 720 indy, frontside air, backside 540 mute and a backside alley oop rodeo 540.

Johnstone and Bright headlined a record breaking day for Aussie World Cup skiers and snowboarders, a day that consisted of an unprecedented two wins and a further three podium finishes in just one day.

Seventeen-year-old Kent Callister also provided his share of dazzle to the day by finishing ninth in the field of 83 men in just his second World Cup event.

Since making his World Cup debut in New Zealand last August as a 16-year-old, the young gun has impressed, establishing himself as a potential high achiever in years to come.

Another Australian teenager, 2010 Olympian Scott James, finished in 28th while in the women’s draw reigning World Champion and AIS / NSWIS athlete Holly Crawford experienced mistakes in the qualifying round and had to be content with 35th place.

NSWIS athlete Stephanie Magiros was 27th while Alex Fitch placed 34th.

Aussies make their mark in Breckenridge

16/12/2012

Australian snowboard athletes have recorded impressive results today in one of the world’s most prestigious halfpipe events, the Dew Tour, in Breckenridge, USA.

Reigning Olympic gold medallist Torah Bright showed her rivals that her comeback is progressing strongly with an impressive fourth place while defending World Champion and AIS/NSWIS rider, Nate Johnstone finished the final in sixth.

Given the quality of the field and the athletes who finished in the first five places of the men’s final – Shaun White, Louie Vito, Taku Hiraoka, Christian Haller and Ayumu Hirano – Johnstone’s sixth place is a great early season result.

Australian Institute of Sport halfpipe program coach Ben Alexander labeled Johnstone’s performance as “particularly positive” with the World Championships in Stoneham, Canada, just four weeks away.

“Anybody who is a big name in halfpipe was there so Nate was very pleased to be invited to compete,” Alexander said.

“It would have been nicer to finish higher in the results but sixth in that list is still very impressive.”

In other results, Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder, 17-year-old Kent Callister, showed why big things are expected of him in the future when he finished 18th in the semi-final.

AIS/NSWIS scholarship holder and 2011 World Champion Holly Crawford, who missed most of last season with an injury, took another step in her comeback when she finished 9th in the semis.

American Kaitlyn Farrington picked up the winner’s prize, followed by Spain’s Querait Castellet, American Maddy Schaffrick, Torah Bright from Australia and American Kelly Clark in fifth place.

Australia's good signs on the horizon

26/8/2012

Australia’s snowboard halfpipe squad has shown clear signs that the coming northern hemisphere winter, which includes the World Championships as its centrepiece, will be another successful year for our athletes.

Competing in the opening event of the 2012 / 2013 World Cup season in Cardrona, New Zealand, today, Australian Institute of Sport / NSW Institute of Sport rider and reigning World Champion, Holly Crawford, finished fifth, after advancing to the final as the winner and highest score in her semi-final.

The final was won by United States’ 2002 Olympic gold medalist Kelly Clark, followed by France’s Sophie Rodriguez and Spain’s Queralt Castellet in third.

Crawford’s performance prompted praise from AIS halfpipe program coach Ben Alexander, who said he was more than pleased with the Cardrona result and he believes she is on track to challenge for another World Championship in Canada in January.

“I’m very happy with her progress at this point in the season,” Alexander said.

“She has been riding well, training well and she is in good shape.

“We are definitely focused on the World Championships. That is a key event for us. We are going to make a big push with the World Championships.”

Alexander said now that her first hit out for the season was finished, Crawford and other squad members will continue with fitness preparation before going back to New Zealand for a training camp in five weeks.

The squad will then resume competition in the second round of the World Cup in the United States in November.

Crawford’s assault on the World Cup season and the World Championships will be strengthened by the introduction of two new and more difficult tricks, which are expected to be added to her competition repertoire from November.

“She is already doing the new tricks in training but now it’s just a matter of getting to a stage where she does these new tricks consistently. When that occurs she will start using them in competition,” Alexander said.

Australia’s current Olympic Champion Torah Bright competed in her first World Cup event since November 2009 and also left Cardona with an encouraging result.

Except for a handful of invitation exhibitions, Bright has effectively not competed since she struck gold at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games in February 2010.

With her eyes fixed on qualifying for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, Bright is now reigniting her career and will be pleased with a third place in her heat in Cardrona.

The men’s halfpipe saw 2010 Olympian and VIS scholarship holder Scott James qualify for the final in a strong performance but fell, which put him down in 11th place at the end of the day.

Sixteen-year-old Kent Callister, made an impressive World Cup debut in an event that was won convincingly by Japan’s Ryo Aono, Shuhei Sata also from the Japan in second, while third place went to China’s Yiwei Zhang.

The teenage AIS athlete, narrowly missed advancing to the final after a creditable performance in the semi, to finish 13th overall.

Reigning World Champion Nate Johnstone finished 15th, delivering a gutsy performance given that the AIS / NSWIS rider was competing with bruised ribs from a training mishap.

The bruising prevented Johnstone from attempting many of his usual higher scoring tricks.

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