FREESTYLE SKIING: After days of uncertainty if Abi Harrigan would make it to the start line, the 19-year-old has made a brave Olympic debut in the freeski slopestyle.
Skiing with a broken fibula, Abi was touch and go as to whether she would be able to compete. The determined skier worked tirelessly with the medical team and her coach to have every possible chance to play out her Olympic dream.
She withdrew from the big air last week to allow for maximum recovery time for the slopestyle. The Jindabyne local caught a break when the slopestyle was postponed 24 hours to Monday due to bad weather.
Speaking after her competition, in which she didn’t deliver the runs she hoped, Abi was pleased to be able to get her start and get a result on the board.
“I definitely would have liked to have performed a bit better, but the injury was holding me back. I was just happy to be out here and have some fun,” Abi said.
“My Olympic experience has been an interesting one but I’m stoked to be here.”
It was at a training session in January that a previous stress fracture to her fibula flared up and created complications for her Beijing 2022 preparation.
“I was devastated when I got the injury and thought that was it.”
“I was going to go home and then I found I could come, but then first training didn’t go great so it was mixed emotions.
“I’m on a fair few painkillers… the medical team has been amazing… doing everything they can to get me out here.”
Abi finished with scores of 16.10 and 26.31 from her two qualifying runs, which weren’t enough to secure a place in tomorrow’s finals.
She will make a decision in the coming days as to whether she will compete in the women’s freeski halfpipe on Thursday 17 February.
Lauren Ryan
#HaveAGo
Freestyle Skiing
CAN YOU SKI IN AUSTRALIA?
Yes! There are 10 Ski Resorts in Australia that are easy to access.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Skiing is very affordable to #HaveAGo. You can rent all the equipment you need which is a low-cost way to try snowsports.
WHAT KIT DO I NEED?
All you need to get going is skis, poles, ski boots, a helmet, snow jacket, gloves and pants. All these items can be rented from ski shops to help get you started without having to buy everything for your first time.
