Andrews ‘stoked’ to claim title on home mountain
JUNIOR world champion Ruby Andrews celebrated another big title yesterday.
Andrew won the Winter Games freeski slopestyle which, like the halfpipe, was unable to hold finals so had to hand out the medals based on qualifying.
After the high morning winds at Cardrona, visibility was so poor the athletes could not see far enough down the slopestyle course to compete safely.
At the end of the first run of qualifications, Queenstown skier Andrews was in second place and knew she had to do something special to secure the top spot.
“My first run of qualification, I put it down, and then one of my competitors went above me so I ended up putting down a switch misty 900 down which I have never done in competition before.
“I am stoked, over the moon — this is my home mountain and coming away with a result like today, I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Andrews was joined on the podium by Yuna Koga (Japan) and rising local Madeleine Disbrowe.
Wanaka teenager Luca Hamilton won the men’s freeski slopestyle.
His first run was exceptional, containing an inchperfect right double cork 1260 tail grab and big amplitude on a switch right double cork 1260 on his final jump.
“It definitely was challenging with the weather,’’ Harrington said.
‘‘Qualification day was the best day we had so I just tried to put something down that was clean and turned out that it worked out in my favour, so I am pretty happy.”
Jesse Parkinson (Australia) claimed gold in the men’s snowboard slopestyle. He was the only boarder to lay down a tricky backside triple 1440.
Japanese riders Hiroaki Kunitake and Taiga Hasegawa both put down strong performances in the rail section but had to settle for second and third respectively.
Mari Fukada (Japan) held top spot on the women’s snowboard slopestyle podium.
She was the only woman throwing down backtoback 720s with good execution on the large jumps.
Wanaka athletes Lucia Georgalli and Ava Beer rounded out the podium.