Ski and Snowboard Australia (SSA) has today named a team of 16 for the FIS Junior Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World Championships 2018 that will take place in Wanaka, New Zealand from 24 August - 8 September 2018.

Australia has a proud record at the Junior World Championships and will be looking to bring home a swag of medals as they take on the top nations from around the globe.

The FIS Junior World Championships will form part of the Audi quattro Winter Games NZ which returns for its sixth edition in 2018.

Held at the impressive Cardrona Alpine Resort, the competition will feature freestyle ski and snowboard Big Air, Halfpipe and Slopestyle for both disciplines, Ski Cross, Snowboard Cross and Snowboard Parallel Slalom and Parallel Giant Slalom.

SSA Performance Pathway & Program Manager Benjamin Wordsworth said FIS Junior World Championships provides valuable experience for junior athletes to step up onto the international stage.

“I’m really happy with the team we’ve selected, across all the disciplines… I feel we have a strong side who’ll be able to match it with the best in the world.

“This is an important event in our performance pathway as it provides our young athletes the opportunity to compete on the world stage and gauge where they’re at against the top young athletes.

“Australia has experienced a lot of success at the Junior World Championships. Many of our top athletes like Scotty James, Alex Pullin and Jarryd Hughes, to name a few, all represented Australia at the Junior World Championships and have gone on to represent their country at the Olympic Games, senior World Championships and World Cups.

“We certainly believe the team we have assembled have the ability to achieve podium finishes when they line up Cardrona later this month,” said Wordsworth.

Congratulations to the following athletes selected in the Australian Team for the FIS Junior World Championships:

Snowboard Cross

• Emily Boyce
• Christina Taylor
• Finn Sadler
• Bryn Nicholas
• Carter Mills
• Alec Gordon

PGS

• Harvey Edmanson

Ski Cross

• Robbie Morrison
• Doug Crawford

Park & Pipe

• Howard Smith – Ski Slopestyle/Big Air
• Abi Harrigan – Ski Slopestyle/Big Air
• Mia Rennie – Ski Slopestyle/Big Air
• Tom Heffernan – Ski Slopestyle/Big Air
• Charles Beaton – Ski Slopestyle/Big Air
• Mable Mashburn – Ski Slopestyle/Big Air
• Eve Dowley – Snowboard Slopestyle/Big Air

Schedule
Freeski & Snowboard Big Air: 22 – 26 August 2018
Ski Cross & Snowboard Cross: 24 – 28 August 2018
Freeski & Snowboard Slopestyle: 27 August – 1 September 2018
Freeski & Snowboard Halfpipe: 31 August – 4 September 2018
Snowboard Parallel GS & Parallel SL: 4 – 7 September 2018

For tournament website visit: https://www.wintergamesnz.kiwi/the-games/

SNOWBOARD HALFPIPE: Triple Olympian Scotty James has won Winter Olympic bronze after laying down a best score of 92.00 in the men's Snowboard Halfpipe finals at Phoenix Snow Park. 

Donning his iconic red boxing gloves, the two-time World Champion went into his final run in third place behind American rival Shaun White on 94.25 and Japan's Ayumu Hirano who held the top spot with 95.25. 

While James couldn't improve on his score, White won gold in the last run with a whopping 97.75 to claim his third Winter Olympic gold medal ahead of Hirano.

"Us three, I guess we've kind of made ourselves unique from the rest of the field but especially at an Olympics like this, on any day it can be anyone's game," Scott said.

"We came out, all three of us, [and] delivered what we wanted to do."

"It was an amazing day and I came out expecting a really good fight and that's exactly what it was. I just wanted to come out and ride really well, I only get one time every four years to do so in front of my country and that's what I did so I'm really grateful for that.

"I've had a crazy couple of seasons standing on a lot of podiums but this one is very sentimental and I get to fly the Australian flag as high as I can."

The 23-year-old was 11th to drop into the pipe in the first final run and carried his best score with him through the event, scoring 81.75 and 40.25 in his final two runs. 

"I was working on something [in my final run] but I'm a big believer in fate and it wasn't meant to be today," he said.
The reingning world champion said that he and White thanked each other at the end of the event, adding that while he had hoped for gold he was "very happy with being on the podium."

"As much as there is this big rivalry and there will continue to be, we've actually brought the best out of each other in our riding and our personalities. It's just really cool to be a part of this and it was a good fight."

The bronze medal run saw James pull off a frontside double cork 1260 into a backside 1260. He then went into a frontside 1080 and a cab 540 before finishing off with a switch backside 1260.  

"I've never had a special talent," he continued.

"I just wanted to make a change in the way that I approach my sport, my life, everything but honestly it was just the will to come out. I was sick of finishing at the back of the field, I wanted to put in the work and just make it happen and I've done that with an amazing team around me.

"Myself, my coach and my team -- we all know exactly what I've got to do to solidify my spot at the top for the next decade in snowboarding."

With the US Open in March, James added that he's looking forward to heading home to Australia.

"I miss Australia. I've been working so hard over the past two years or four years -- however long I've been snowboarding now -- and I really miss being home," he said.

"I'm going to do what I need to do here and then I'm going to go home to Australia and see everyone that's been supporting me and celebrate with those people who said that I could [do it] from the start."

Fellow Aussie Kent Callister finished with a best score of 62.00 in 10th place. 

"[My runs] didn't go the way I had planned them to but I still had fun," he said.

"It's a good contest, it was going off like a fish milkshake and I was just happy to be in it having a good time so I'm walking away happy, pleased, safe -- it's good.

"Just didn't have enough to pull it off. It happens sometimes, everyone has their days and unfortunately it wasn't mine. It's ok though, I'm looking on to the next one."

The dual Olympian made a comeback after his first throwaway run left him in 11th place on 20.00 points. 

He said that he was "super happy" with his second Olympic appearance at PyeongChang which had gone off "like a frog in a sock, two wombats in a hessian bag, it was all happening."

"There was serious tricks, serious amplitude and I was just happy to be a part of it," he said.

"I was just focusing on myself and just riding as best as I can, trying not to worry about anyone else and I'm happy with how I did.

"Maybe the next one I can keep up with these guys."

David Barden
olympics.com.au

SNOWBOARD: Moments after securing his Olympic bronze Scotty James was immediately thinking about how he could use his success to help the next generation of Aussie snowboarders.

James hopes that young athletes back home in Australia will now be motivated to put on a snowboard and fly just as high as he did in PyeongChang.

“I’m just a kid from Warrandyte that’s worked so, so hard to get to where I am,” the three-time Olympian said.

“I want to go home and see all the kids of Australia and share my story with them and let them know that it is possible.

“At the end of the day my biggest goal is that I want to put snowboard halfpipe on the map in Australia, there are so many things I want to achieve and this is just the start.

“I want to create avenues for kids of Australia to be able to do what I did in the pipe.

“I’m really excited to be able to do that.”

One way that James believes the next generation could be in a better position to excel would be to have halfpipe in Australia.

“That would be absolutely amazing.

“All the competitions that I am doing are all opportunities to make my dreams a reality which would be to have a halfpipe in Australia.

“That would be amazing so that I could be nearby to home and train instead of heading overseas to find pipes all year round.

“Not only for me though for the kids and for their future.

“I’m open to having them ride and train with me. I want to share my knowledge and ensure they get the same opportunity as any other kid around the world.”

James carried the Australian flag at the Opening Ceremony and has continued to prove a leader both on and off the snow in PyeongChang.

Matt Bartolo
olympics.com.au

Jess Rich has narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Snowboard Big Air women's finals after placing 13th in Monday's qualification runs.

While the 27-year-old has had a turbulent 18 months, enduring both a broken back, broken collar bone and a ruptured ACL, she said she got everything that she had hoped for in her Olympic debut - two clean runs.

"It was a surreal experience," she said.

"Definitely wasn't what I planned and so having to deal with a lot of things in the lead up definitely made it challenging.
"I didn't know if I was actually going to make it so the fact that I was able to just drop into the jump today is a huge thing for me.

"I had to play with the cards I was dealt and I had to choose the tricks that work for me and my injury and the fact that I put them down is the one thing I wanted.

"I did better than I thought. To be up against all those women that are riding their best, to come 13th ... I'm stoked."
With only 12 progressing through to Friday's finals, the 27-year-old missed out by just 2.00 points.

Rich sat in ninth position after her first run having scored 73.50 however higher scores by her competitors in the second run through meant the snowboarder had to score 76.25 to progress - she landed cleanly but it was only good enough for a score of 74.25

Austria's Anna Gasser finished first with a best score of 98.00 while Japan's Yuka Fujimori and Reira Iwabuchi were ranked second and third scoring 94.25 and 92.75 respectively. 

Having not recieved medical clearance to compete in the women's Snowboard Slopestyle, Rich has spent every day since arriving to PyeongChang in the gym to realise her Olympic dream.

"There was definitely a chance that I wasn't able to compete.

"They definitely could've said I wasn't strong enough but I had a really good support crew over here and trainers and physios that were working with me night and day and we got there. I think that they're just as stoked as I am to be here.

"Even in the Village, I've been joking that I'm on a fitness camp because everyone's been going off to do their events and I've been waking up and going to the gym at 6AM."

Not only was it Rich's Olympic debut but also Big Air's.

"I honestly don't think there could have been a better show. It was perfect weather for us and you really got to see how crazy these women actually are and what we do every day and I hope everyone can get behind it and see how cool it is."

The Olympian will now return home to Australia for surgery but said she has her sights set on Beijing 2022.
"A lot can happen in four years," she said.

David Barden
olympics.com.au

Emily Arthur has finished 11th in her Winter Olympic debut in the halfpipe at Phoenix Snow Park.

The 18-year-old gave it her all but just couldn't land her run as competition favourite Chloe Kim of the USA won gold ahead of China's Jiayu Liu and USA's Arielle Gold. 

Arthur had her best score in her opening run with a 48.25 before scoring 9.25 and 25.00 in her remaining two runs.

"It was amazing," said the Youth Olympic silver medallist.

"All of my family is here, it was so fun and I can't wait to do another one." 

On her final time down the pipe, Arthur laid it all on the line as she attempted a backside 540, a trick she had never completed before in competition, midway through her run.

The young gun was extremely close to pulling it off but went down, hitting her head before making her way down the middle of the pipe and receving medical attention at the end of the run. 

"I took a bit of a crash at the end of my third run but I'm so happy to be here.

"I pulled through and I'm still alive and I'm sure I'll be back on the snow in a couple of days.

"I'd never done that trick in comp before and I'm sure it would have paid if I'd landed it but I'm still happy."

Arthur had progressed through yesterday's qualification with a score of 66.50.

She was one of five Australians to win a Youth Olympic medal in Lillehammer 2016 when she claimed silver behind now Olympic Champion Chloe Kim.

Matt Bartolo
olympics.com.au

World Champion Scotty James will be joined by compatriot Kent Callister in tomorrow's halfpipe final at Phoenix Snow Park. 

James put down a solid first run to score 89.00 before turning it on in the second and final run of today's qualifiers.
The 23-year-old looked strong as he scored 96.75 to finish behind only one competitor - the USA's Shaun White who scored a near-perfect 98.50. 
Callister was the final athlete through to the final having improved on his opener of 66.75 in his final run, scoring 77.00 to make it through to his second Olympic final. 
Australia's other competitor in the event Nate Johnstone scored 62.25 and 10.25 to finish 22nd overall and not progress to the final. 
Recent X-Games gold medallist Ayumu Hirano of Japan had the third highest score overall with a 95.25 on his second run. 
James and Callister will be joined by all four USA representatives (White, Ben Ferguson, Jake Pates & Chase Josey), three Japanese athletes (Hirano, Raibu Katayama & Yuto Totsuka) as well as Jan Scherrer of Switzerland and Peetu Piiroinen of Finland.

olympics.com.au

PyeongChang has produced the ‘best halfpipe ever built’ according to Australian riders.After today’s first training run at the Phoenix Snow Park, the Australian team of five were incredibly pumped with the pipe.


“This halfpipe is amazing, I think this is the best pipe ever built so the level of riding will go through the roof,” Kent Callister said.

“It should be the best contest to happen yet.”

The 22-year-old said it was great to get out on the snow after arriving in South Korea several days ago, and that the atmosphere among the Australian Team was relaxed, but excited.

“The Team’s great, the vibe’s great. Everyone’s just having fun messing around, cheering each other on.”

Team veteran Holly Crawford agreed that the pipe was fantastic.

“If anyone does complain, I’m not sure how they can make it better,” she said.

Crawford, who will make her fourth Winter Olympic appearance in PyeongChang, said she had a less conventional lead up to the 2018 Games than most athletes.

“I opted for a couple of weeks at home getting a tan instead of injuring myself as I have in the past so the tan’s keeping me nice and tight,” she said.

“It’s been a really good day of training and hopefully the next couple of days will be better and the sun will come out a bit more.”

For Australian flagbearer Scotty James, it was a welcome return to the South Korean snow.

After winning last year’s Olympic test event (the 2016/17 World Cup closer) in PyeongChang with a score of 96.00, the 23-year-old is eager to replicate the result.

“This is a pretty awesome halfpipe, straight as an arrow – the sides are really straight and good transitions.

“(The pipe) was everything and more that we all expected. Last year we had an awesome time here… I’ve always had a really good time here in Korea, I can’t wait to get back in the next days and get into competition.”

Women’s snowboard halfpipe qualifications will be held on Day 3 (February 12) and men’s qualifications are on Day 4 (February 13) along with women’s finals.

Candice Keller
olympics.com.au

The world’s eyes were on Korea on February 9 as the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games officially commenced with a spectacular display of Korean culture.

The PyeongChang Olympic Stadium played host to an estimated 50,000 people for the official Opening of the XXIII Winter Olympic Games.

As is Olympic tradition, the Parade of Athletes was led by Greece which was then followed by other delegations in alphabetical order according to the Korean alphabet.

Snowboard Halfpipe World Champion Scotty James led his fellow Australian athletes from seven different winter sports into the stadium during the ceremony to the tune of Korean pop songs.

The 23-year-old, who is set to compete in his third Olympic Games, was completely taken aback by the experience.
“It’s hard to put into words,” James said.

“What really stuck with me was the camaraderie between the Team before we walked out.

“We had the Aussie, Aussie, Aussie going before I got the flag and it was really exciting.

“After all that happened I’m now really excited to use that energy for the rest of the Games.”

With a lot of attention always being on the flagbearers’ technique, James handled the pressure of showcasing the Aussie flag to all those watching in the stands and at home.

“I did not practice but I did look up some past flagbearers and got some pointers from them.

“There was a natural breeze but I did really enjoy waving it myself as well.”

A flurry of colour, lights and dance helped warm up the athletes and those in the stands and despite the temperature still hitting below zero, the conditions were much more pleasant than the week leading in.

The Olympic Torch, which has travelled 2018 kilometres from Olympia and has been passed through the hands of 7,500 torchbearers, eventually was handed to dual figure skating Olympic medallist Yuna Kim who set the Olympic cauldron alight.

For 12 of the Aussies marching into their first Olympic Games, the Opening Ceremony was an experience they will never forget.

“It was insane, there were so many lights, you couldn’t even see anyone,” Snowboard Halfpipe Olympic debutant Emily Arthur said.

“Scotty did a very good job, we were struggling to keep up with him there for a bit but he led us very well and I was proud to have him in front of us.

“I’m excited to go out there in competition, put a run down and have fun. I just want to enjoy the whole experience, it’s big to be here but it’s just another event so it’s going to be really exciting.”

Over the next two weeks 51 Australian athletes will compete across 10 sports including: Alpine Skiing, Bobsleigh, Cross Country Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, Figure Skating, Luge, Snowboard, Short Track Skating, Skeleton and Speed Skating.
You can follow all the coverage from the PyeongChang 2018 Games, live and free on Channel 7.

David Barden
olympics.com.au

Three-time Olympian Holly Crawford touched down in Korea on Tuesday for what is set to be her fourth Winter Games appearance at PyeongChang 2018.

The 33-year-old Snowboard Halfpipe rider, who already has one gold and two silver World Championship medals under her belt, recently finished seventh at the final pre-Games Halfpipe World Cup in Laax, Switzerland.

After competing under an injury cloud at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, Crawford joked upon arrival that heading into PyeongChang she was “thankfully uninjured for the first time in a few years”.

“[I’m] obviously hoping to make the finals but it is what it is and you never know what the outcome is going to be,” she said.

“The pipe actually up there was really good, we were really pleased with that they put up for the test event. They managed it quite well so hopefully they put it on again.”

A seasoned snowboarder, Crawford said that she’s not feeling the nerves heading into the upcoming Games.
“It is what it is,” she said.

“We all compete all year round against the same people.”

Arriving shortly after was fellow teammate and Sochi Olympian Nate Johnstone who also finished within the top ten at the Laax World Cup.

“I’ve been in Japan doing some training and hanging out with my dad for the last week so it’s been really nice and I’m looking forward to it. I’m stoked to be here,” the 27-year-old said.

“I’ve got pretty much the whole family coming this time around so it’s going to be exciting to see them all there.

“Now I’ve got new family because me and my wife have married so her dad, mum and brother are all coming over so it’s going to be the full clan over here for this one – it’s going to be fun!”

Snowboard halfpipe will be held at the Bokwang Snow Park with women's qualifications on Day 3 (February 12) and finals the folowing day. The men’s qualifications runs are on Day 4 (February 13) and the finals on Day 5 (February 14). Find out more about snowboarding at PyeongChang HERE.

David Barden
olympics.com.au

With a run that would have secured him Olympic gold at Sochi 2014, Scotty James has won X-Games silver with a massive score of 98.00

It took an almost perfect score of 99.00 from Sochi silver medallist, Japan’s Ayumu Hirano, to clinch the X Games title in Aspen today.

Dual Olympian James was out to defend his 2017 title at his seventh X-Games appearance, and with his famous red boxing gloves on it was all business for the 23-year-old from the first run.

The 2017 World Champion opened with a perfect frontside and backside 1200 to take an early lead with a score of 96.00. However with three athletes from the small 10-man invitational field scoring above 90 in the opening round, it was still anyone’s game.

19-year-old Hirano went into the lead after the second run with a 96.66 before a massive third and final run saw the two-time X Games medallist put down a virtually untouchable score of 99.00 in what commentators said “was the greatest halfpipe run ever done” in X Games.

If anyone was to top Hirano’s run, it was Aussie James. But even with a perfect run just weeks out from his third Olympic Games at PyeongChang, James’ impressive 98.00 fell one point short of the top spot of the podium and American Ben Ferguson claimed bronze also with an impressive run which scored 95.00 points.

With commentators saying today was the “greatest pipe final they’ve ever seen”, the men’s snowboard halfpipe competition in PyeongChang is set to be one of the most highly anticipated events of the Winter Games next month.

Ashleigh Knight/GeorgiaThompson
olympics.com.au

PYEONGCHANG 2018: Tess Coady and Jessica Rich will make their Olympic debuts at PyeongChang 2018 in the snowboard disciplines of slopestyle and big air.

With quota places for snowboard slopestyle and big air being calculated as one event, the duo have the option to compete in both or one discipline.

17-year-old Coady won back-to-back Junior World Championship titles in both slopestyle and big air at the 2017 event in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic and with a current world ranking of 5th in slopestyle and 22nd in big air, will aim to compete in both events in South Korea.

“It feels pretty crazy to think soon I will be able to say that I am an Olympian,” Coady said.

“It has been a dream of mine since a young age to go to the Olympics but I never knew what sport I would go for. If someone told me when I was eight years-old that I would be going to the Olympics at 17 for snowboard slopestyle I would have laughed.”

The rider from St Kilda, Victoria, will make her Games debut fresh off Australia’s first ever slopestyle World Cup medal; bronze from the Snowmass event in January.

Coady is the youngest member of the 2018 Australian Olympic Winter Team and says she looks to the more experienced athletes for guidance.

“Chumpy Pullin has always been someone I have looked up to from a really young age. His mental game is so strong and it shows in his riding, I think he is really hungry for this Olympics,” she said.

“Scotty James is always super fun to watch especially these past two seasons he has been on a roll and his attitude towards competing is really inspiring.

“The Team that is going is a super cool group of people and I think there will be really good vibes and lots of support for everyone competing and I can’t wait.”

27-year-old Rich has been selected in the 2018 Team subject to medical clearance. Rich is bouncing back from a knee injury but is still determined to wear the green and gold on the slopes of Bokwang Phoenix Park, having chosen to focus solely on the slopestyle event.

The Manly-local burst onto the international scene two years ago when she placed eighth at the Olympic Test Event in PyeongChang in February 2016.

After signing her first professional contract with the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia in 2016 she has recorded four top-10 World Cup performances.

The women’s snowboard slopestyle event will be held at Bokwang Phoenix Park with qualification on Day 2 (February 11) and finals on Day 3 (February 13). The big air events will be held at the Alpensia Ski Jumping Centre with qualifications on Day 10 (February 19) and finals Day 14 (February 23).

Find out more about snowboarding at PyeongChang 2018 HERE.
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Georgia Thompson
olympics.com.au

SNOWBOARD HALFPIPE: With seven previous Olympic Games and 22 World Cup and World Championship medals between them, the five athletes selected to represent Australia in snowboard halfpipe at PyeongChang 2018 know what it takes to be the best.

Triple Olympian Holly Crawford will compete at her fourth Games, looking to improve upon her best Olympic result of eighth at Vancouver 2010.

The 33-year-old has one gold and two silver World Championship medals under her belt and recently finished 10th at the 2017 World Championships in Sierra Nevada.

"After a long and bumpy road I am mostly relieved to have officially made the 2018 Olympic Team," Crawford said.

"It is less the Olympic Games itself and more the journey to get there that shapes an athlete. By the time you’re at the Olympics most of the hard work is already done and you just have to let yourself do what you’ve trained to do.

"I am very proud to have been able to represent Australia at the previous three Olympics and every four years I am prouder than the last!"

She will be joined by two-time World Champion and Crystal Globe winner Scotty James.

With two 21st place halfpipe finishes from Vancouver and Sochi, plus a 16th place in snowboard slopestyle from 2010, James said his previous Olympic experiences have made him better prepared for his third Games.

“Having been to two Games and with the benefit of many more international competitions under my belt, I now understand what I have to do to achieve my goals,” the 23-year-old said.

“For me, representing my country in the Olympic Winter Team is the greatest honour that I have ever achieved. I really feed off the support that we give each other as Aussie Team members and the support that we receive from all over Australia.”

Sochi Olympians Kent Callister (22) and Nathan Johnstone (27) will return to the Team for their second Olympic experience.

Callister was the surprise packed of Sochi 2014, finishing ninth as the top ranked Australian in a star-studded field. Johnstone wasn’t too far behind, missing the final by one place to finish 13th on debut.

“I’m very excited to be heading to my second Olympic Games,” Callister said.

“I had a blast riding in Sochi so I’m looking forward to the whole Olympic experience at PyeongChang. I feel very grateful to be going to the Olympics again so I’m going to soak it all in.”

The only debutant in the halfpipe team, Emily Arthur, has also had her fair share of international experience.

The 18-year-old won halfpipe silver at the Lillehammer 2016 Youth Olympic Winter Games and placed 15th in snowboard slopestyle.

She recorded a career-best result at the 2017 Secret Garden World Cup in December, qualifying for her first final and finishing in sixth place. She heads into her debut Games with a world ranking of 13th.

“Being selected is the most insane moment of my life!” Arthur said.

“I've wanted to go to the Olympics for as long as I can remember, it's always been in the back of my mind growing up that maybe one day I could go, and I can't believe it’s now a reality.”

Arthur said it will be a dream come true to make her Olympic debut alongside athletes she has admired for years.

“I look up to the older girls on the Australian Team so much, they have really taken me in and been so amazing to me! They are the girls I looked up to when I was young and still do, I know they are going to look after me and definitely make the experience so fun.”

Crawford's advice to all the rookies on the Team is to "be proud and confident in the work they've put in."

"Trust in your ability, we all train and compete all year round and your body knows what it is doing so just let it. Most of all enjoy the ride and take it all in, you’ve earned it!"

Snowboard halfpipe will be held at the Bokwang Snow Park with qualifications on Day 4 (February13). The men’s final is on Day 5 (February 14) and the women’s final is on Day 11 (February 20). Find out more about snowboarding at PyeongChang HERE.

The team of Mitchell Allen, Andrew Burton, Ben Mates, Torah Bright and Holly Crawford made Australia’s snowboard halfpipe Olympic debut at Torino 2006. Bright has won Australia’s two snowboard halfpipe Olympic medals, with gold at Vancouver 2010 and silver at Sochi 2014. Find out more about Australia’s Olympic snowboard history HERE.
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Georgia Thompson
olympics.com.au

SKI SLOPESTYLE: Russ Henshaw has been selected for his second Australian Winter Olympic Team in ski slopestyle, subject to medical clearance.

The 27-year-old injured his knee after recording his best result this season, with 16th at the Mammoth World Cup last weekend, but is selected on the 2018 Team with the aim he is given the ‘all clear’ from doctors prior to the Games.

Henshaw was Australia's only male competitor in ski slopestyle when the sport made its Olympic debut at the Sochi 2014 Games.

The then 23-year-old entered the Games under an injury cloud but easily qualified for the final. In his first run of the finals, Henshaw fell off the top rail and drifted offline on the second last jump. Despite the mix up, the run was clean, giving him his top score of 80.40, which saw him finish in eighth place.

Since his Olympic debut the Sydney-sider has won silver at the 2015 World Championships and bronze at the 2017 Seiser Alm World Cup.

He placed in the top 20 in all events during the 2016/17 World Cup season, ending with an impressive eighth place finish at the 2017 World Championships in Sierra Nevada, Spain.

He had a slow start to the 2017/18 World Cup season, battling injury and illness, but returned to full health at the start of the year to record a 34th place at Snowmass before qualifying for his first final of the season at Mammoth Mountain, where he finished 16th.

Ski slopestyle will be held at Bokwang Snow Park on Day 9 of the Games (February 18). Find out more about freestyle skiing at the Games HERE.
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Georgia Thompson
olympics.com.au

Sochi Olympian Russ Henshaw had his first finals hit out for the season at the Mammoth Mountain World Cup over the weekend.
 
In a huge event with 63 competitors, the 27-year-old qualified fourth in his qualification heat with a top score of 84.66 to have a run in the top-16 final.
 
He unfortunately couldn’t complete his full run in the final, finishing in 16th place, which is a season’s best for Australia’s top slopestyle skier.
 
Canada’s Teal Harle won gold with a best run of 94.20, ahead of Swiss skier Andri Ragettli and fellow Canadian Evan McEachran.
 
Having overcome injury and illness that impacted his opening two World Cups, Henshaw went into the event feeling more confident than he had all season after he put down a solid run at last weekend’s Snowmass World Cup, where he finished 34th with a top score of 79.33.
 
The Sydney-sider made his Olympic debut at Sochi 2014 when the sport of Ski Slopestyle appeared in the Olympic program for the first time. He will be looking to improve on his 8th place finish from Sochi if he is selected in his second Winter Olympic Games Team for PyeongChang 2018.
 
His fellow Australian teammates Nic Stevens finished 41st at Mammoth with a top qualification score of 50.33.

Georgia Thompson
AOC
 

Australia's Holly Crawford and Nate Johnstone have finished seventh and tenth in the final Halfpipe World Cup prior to PyeongChang 2018.

Competing in Laax, Switzerland, Crawford put down a best score of 46.50 on her second of two runs in the 8-woman final.
 
Crawford's teammate and fellow three-time Olympian Torah Bright progressed through to the final earlier in the week but did not start leaving her in eighth place overall. 

China dominated the competition with Jiayu Lu claiming top spot with a score of 96.25, beating compatriot Xuetong Cai and Spaniard Queralt Castellet.

In the men's event Johnstone put down a best run of 46.00 to end the event in tenth as he builds towards competing at his second Olympic Games in PyeongChang. 

Sochi 2014 gold medallist Iouri Podladtchikov impressed on home soil taking out the victory with a score 90.50 ahead of Yuto Totsuka of Japan and China's Yiwei Zhang.

The event did not feature a number of highly ranked athletes from the USA who had their final selection event at Mammoth Moutain in Colorado. 

Matt Bartolo
olympics.com.au

Some of Australia’s top snowboarders will drop into the halfpipe in Laax, Switzerland in this year’s second World Cup and final PyeongChang qualifier.
 
Among those competing at the Swiss resort include Holly Crawford, Torah Bright and Sochi Olympian Nate Johnstone, who is hoping for “redemption” after Snowmass “didn’t go to plan for me at all”.
 
Johnstone finished in 36th place with a best score of 19.00 last week, missing out on Saturday’s 10-man final after he “couldn’t manage to put one [run] down in either of my competition runs”.
 
“I just want to put down a solid run and build on that through the event,” he said.
 
“Training has been good, we had a great first day of training but the snow has rolled in hard and put a handbrake on the event for the time being.”
 
Crawford, Bright and Emily Arthur finished within the top 15 of last week’s Halfpipe World Cup but were unable to secure spots in the eight-woman finals.
 
Crawford, a three-time Olympian, finished in 14th place with a best score of 56.75 while Torah Bright wasn’t far behind, placing 15th with a best score of 55.75.
 
Bright, who like Crawford is hoping to compete in her fourth Winter Olympics, recently stepped up to the podium twice during the North-American Cup circuit in December after making a stunning return to the Snowboard Halfpipe competition.
 
Arthur, who competed in Snowmass after securing her best ever World Cup result at China’s Secret Garden in December, finished in 12th place with a best score of 60.25.
 
With PyeongChang looming, the 18-year-old has elected to remain at her “home mountain” of Mammoth, California while she tests some new tricks on airbags.
 
“It really helps with fear, because you literally have nothing to lose when you try a trick, so it definitely helps me get tricks much quicker,” she said.
 
“My coach and I thought it would be good to compete here and get some extra training in and not worry about travelling so close to the Olympics.”
 
Fellow Halfpipe riders Kent Callister and Scotty James will also remain in the U.S. and compete alongside Arthur at the Mammoth Grand Prix in California.
 
In last week’s World Cup final, described by commentators as the “most impressive event in the history of snowboarding”, James claimed silver with a best score of 96.25.
 
“Australia, more now than ever in my career, I can really feel the energy and the camaraderie coming from them and I really appreciate it,” the 23-year-old said following the event.
 
With snow showers and low visibility on the forecast for Laax, Wednesday’s qualification runs were put on hold with event organisers hoping that a window will open on Thursday for combined qualifiers and semi-finals.
 
“But with more snow on the forecast, we’ll see what tomorrow brings,” Johnstone said.
 
“Otherwise, everything is good and it’s great being back in Laax!”
 
For live updates from Laax click HERE or follow OWIA on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.
 
David Barden
OWIA

Slopestyle skier Russ Henshaw has received “a real confidence boost” after competing in Snowmass ahead of this week’s World Cup in Mammoth, California.
 
While Henshaw missed last weekend’s 16-man World Cup final after placing 34th in the qualification runs, he said that he was “stoked” to have finished the day with a best score of 79.33 after mixing things up in his second run.
 
“I landed everything and yeah, I don’t know, I took a bit of a chance with the rails at the top trying to be creative and I don’t think the judges really liked that but I was happy with it,” he said.
 
The Sochi Olympian said that ahead of the last qualifier for PyeongChang he is “feeling good”, especially after having what can only be described as a bumpy start to the season.
 
A back injury sustained at the season opener in Cardrona, New Zealand impeded the 2017 Slopestyle Skiing World Cup bronze medallist’s qualification round and saw him finish in 34th place.
 
Meanwhile in Font Romeu, France, a combination of poor conditions during training and a head cold then saw the 27-year-old finish in 55th place.
 
“Last two events I’ve had a bit of trouble – New Zealand I put out my back, unfortunately, which kind of sucked,” he said.
 
“And in Font Romeu I had a bit of a cold and I really didn’t like the course there.
 
“To put a run down [today], it’s good momentum going into Mammoth and fingers crossed for good weather there, because the last four years have been a little touch and go!”
 
Henshaw will be joined in Mammoth by fellow Aussies Nic Stevens and Ryley Lucas.
 
Stevens finished in 46th place in Snowmass after a best score of 69.00, while Lucas finished 58th on 43.66.
 
The next Slopestyle World Cup will take place at Mammoth Mountain, California from the 19-20 of January. For live results click HERE or follow OWIA on Twitter HERE or Facebook HERE.
 
David Barden
OWIA
​

​Less than a week since claiming Australia’s first Snowboard Slopestyle World Cup medal, PyeongChang hopeful Tess Coady will compete in the season’s last Olympic qualifier at Laax, Switzerland.
 
The Junior Snowboard World Champion started 2018 “with a bang” after taking bronze in Snowmass, Colorado on Friday -- a moment that she said was indescribable.
 
Finishing the day with a best score of 75.43, a mere 01.63 points separated the 17-year-old Victorian high school student and the event’s gold medallist, Kiwi Christy Prior.
 
Current world number one Reira Iwabuchi from Japan finished the day in second with a score of 76.48.
 
Coady, who is now ranked fifth in the discipline, said that she was “feeling pretty good” heading to the Swiss ski resort this week and hoped to replicate another high scoring run.
 
“The last time I was there the course was pretty sweet,” she said.
 
“[It’s] a pretty long course too kind of like this one but yeah, that should be good fun too so just [going to] go and try and get something down there too.”

​The young gun rose to prominence in 2017 after she claimed both the Big Air and Slopestyle Junior World Championships within the space of two days in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic.
 
Fellow Aussie Matthew Cox, who finished in 34th place at Snowmass with a best score of 20.25, won’t be joining Coady in Switzerland.
 
Instead, the 19-year-old will remain in the U.S. and compete at the Mammoth Snowboard Grand Prix in California with qualifications to be held on 18th January.
 
The final Snowboard Slopestyle World Cup before PyeongChang kicks off on Wednesday 17 January, with finals held on Friday. For live results click HERE or follow OWIA on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.
 
David Barden
OWIA

Scotty James has claimed silver at the Halfpipe World Cup finals in Snowmass, Colorado following what was described by commentators as the “most impressive event in the history of Snowboarding”.
 
After spending much of the day at the bottom of the leader board with American gold medallist Shaun White, the 2017 World Champion dropped into the pipe for an exceptional final run which would see him receive a best score of 96.25.
 
Japan’s Yuto Totsuka finished the day in third place with 94.50 while a perfect score from White saw James finish second.
 
“It was a long day, a lot of nerves,” the 23-year-old said.
 
“The switchback twelve is something I’ve been working on and something that’s never been done before so it definitely got me mentally the past couple of competitions, but I was very stoked and over the moon to put it down.
 
“I was just happy to come away and land a run pretty much.”
 
In typical James style, he donned his quintessential red boxing gloves for the final run.
 
“My red gloves are just a bit of a tradition of mine, just my boxing gloves – boxing kangaroo,” he said.
 
“I wear them all the time, every finals I have them on – that’s it, it’s my mojo.”

Referred to in 2017 as ‘the most popular Australian sports star in America’, James described how he felt it was “quite hard to beat these Americans at these US qualifying events”.
 
Across a variety of different sports and events Australia’s winter athletes are proving that they’re a group capable of medal results against the very best.
 
“Australia, more now than ever in my career, I can really feel the energy and the camaraderie coming from them and I really appreciate it,” James said.
 
It’s been a great weekend in Snowmass for Australia, with 17-year-old Tess Coady claiming the country’s first ever medal in a Snowboard Slopestyle World Cup.
 
Referring to Coady’s achievement, James added that he can’t wait to watch the young gun’s career.
 
“It was so cool watching Tess Coady get third yesterday, I’m so happy for her and I know what that feels like when you get your first podium on a big competition,” he said.
 
“I’m really happy for her and I’m really excited to watch her career, I’m just excited and it’s only the beginning.”

David Barden
OWIA​​

Junior Snowboard World Champion Tess Coady has started the year “with a bang” after taking bronze in the Slopestyle World Cup final in Snowmass, Colorado on Friday.
 
The 17-year-old is the first Australian snowboarder to win a Slopestyle World Cup medal, with Torah Bright previously being the only Aussie medallist in the discipline after taking bronze in the 2013 World Championships.
 
Cody was “so hyped” to finish the day in third place and to step up onto her first World Cup podium.
 
“I can’t even describe it,” she said.
 
“Practice was rough, everyone was knuckling so much so it was really sketchy and then I made a decision to pull out the bottom jump which was pretty good.”
 
After a “pretty mellow” first run, Coady spent most of Friday’s finals in second place before her third run briefly bumped her into the top spot with a best score of 75.43
 
“My second run had some problems with speed because of the wind,” she said.
 
“In my third run I did a trick I haven’t done all season which I was pretty nervous about, I just haven’t had a good chance to do any this year because sometimes my first run’s a bit sketchy but I was STOKED!”
 
Kiwi Christy Prior ultimately ended the day in first place with a score of 77.06, while 16-year-old and current world number one Reira Iwabuchi from Japan finished second with 76.48.
 
Coady, who is still in high-school, only started competing internationally in 2017 and rose to prominence after claiming both the Big Air and Slopestyle Junior World Championships within the space of two days in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic.
 
The young gun, who is now ranked fifth overall in Snowboard Slopestyle, has previously said that a combination of nerves, self-belief and big crowds is the key to getting her “amped up” whenever she competes.
 
With the PyeongChang Winter Olympics just 27-days away Coady now turns her attention to the next World Cup in Laax, Switzerland which will be held from 17 – 19 January.
 
“I’m feeling pretty good,” she said.
 
“The last time I was there the course was pretty sweet, pretty long course too kind of like this one but yeah, that should be good fun too so just [going to] go and try and get something down there too.”

David Barden
​OWIA

Australia’s top female snowboarders have finished within the top 15 of the Halfpipe World Cup following Thursday’s qualification runs at Snowmass, Colorado.
 
However, with only the top eight making it through to finals, Emily Arthur, Torah Bright and Holly Crawford will not be competing on Saturday and will instead turn their focus to the next competition.
 
Arthur, who came to Colorado after securing her best ever World Cup result at China’s Secret Garden in December, finished 12th today with a best score of 60.25.
 
“I was very happy [with] how I performed considering how awful my practice was,” the 18-year-old said.
 
“I was able to somewhat pull something out when it counted and I’m very happy about that! The pipe and the atmosphere was really fun, I was back with all my American friends which definitely upped the vibes.”
 
Fellow Aussie and three-time Olympian Holly Crawford finished in 14th place with a best score of 56.75 while Torah Bright wasn’t far behind, placing 15th with a best score of 55.75.
 
Bright, who like Crawford is hoping to compete in her fourth Winter Olympics, recently stepped up to the podium twice during the North-American Cup circuit in December after making a stunning return to the Snowboard Halfpipe competition.
 
The last chance for Australia’s Halfpipe riders to secure crucial qualification spots for the PyeongChang Games will be at the next World Cup in Laax, Switzerland from the 17 – 20 January.
 
Arthur, however, will not be competing in Switzerland, instead opting to stay at her “home mountain” in Mammoth, California to compete in the Mammoth Grand Prix and spend time testing out new tricks prior to the Winter Games.

“My coach and I thought it would be good to compete there and get some extra training in and not worry about travelling so close to the Olympics,” she said.
 
As for the men, 2017 World Champion Scotty James qualified for the 10-man Halfpipe final on Saturday after placing second in his qualification heat with a score of 88.75.
 
Unfortunately James’ fellow Aussies Kent Callister and Nate Johnstone did not qualify for the finals, with Callister placing 19th following a best run score of 59.25 and Johnstone 36th with 19.00.
 
The halfpipe finals will be broadcast live on Eurosport from 7am AEDT on Sunday morning. For live results click HERE or follow OWIA on Twitter HERE or Facebook HERE.
 
David Barden
OWIA

Slopestyle skier Russ Henshaw has missed out on this weekend’s 16-man World Cup final at Snowmass, Colorado after placing 34th in Thursday’s qualification runs.
 
Nevertheless, the Sochi Olympian remains positive as he now prepares for the next World Cup at Mammoth Mountain, California saying that Snowmass has given him “a real confidence boost”.
 
The 27-year-old said that he was “stoked” to have finished the day with a best score of 79.33 following his second run.
 
“I landed everything and yeah, I don’t know, I took a bit of a chance with the rails at the top trying to be creative and I don’t think the judges really liked that bit I was happy with it,” he said.
 
“I put together a run in training that I was super stoked on and then had a little bobble on the first run, the speed kind of changed coming into the second bump and I went smaller than I thought I was going to, so [I] missed my grab and the score reflected that.”
 
The 2017 Slopestyle Skiing World Cup bronze medallist hasn’t had an ideal start to the season after sustaining a back injury at the first World Cup in Cardrona, New Zealand which impeded his qualification round.
 
In Font Romeu, France, a combination of poor conditions during training and a head cold then saw Henshaw finish in 55th place.
 
“[I’m] feeling good, this was a real confidence boost,” he said.
 
“Last two events I’ve had a bit of trouble – New Zealand I put out my back, unfortunately, which kind of sucked and in Font Romeu I had a bit of a cold and I really didn’t like the course there.”
 
Fellow Aussies Nic Stevens and Ryley Lucas were also on the Slopestyle course on Thursday with Stevens finishing the day in 46th place and Lucas 58th.
 
The next Slopestyle World Cup will take place at Mammoth Mountain, California from the 19-20 of January.
 
For live results click HERE or follow OWIA on Twitter HERE or Facebook HERE.
 
David Barden
OWIA
​