The FIS Snowboard World Championships concluded in La Molina, Spain on Sunday 23rd January with Australia finishing as the leading nation with three gold medals, after the record breaking success of AIS scholarship athletes Alex Pullin, Holly Crawford and Nathan Johnstone each winning a World Championship. Pullin, Crawford and Johnstone join a select group of Australian winter sport athletes who have won World Championships, consisting of Kirstie Marshall (Aerials), Jacqui Cooper (Aerials), Alisa Camplin (Aerials), Dale Begg-Smith (Moguls), Zali Steggall (Alpine) and Men’s 5000m relay team (Speed Skating).
The FIS Snowboard World Championships concluded in La Molina, Spain on Sunday 23rd January with Australia finishing as the leading nation with three gold medals, after the record breaking success of AIS scholarship athletes Alex Pullin, Holly Crawford and Nathan Johnstone each winning a World Championship.
Pullin, Crawford and Johnstone join a select group of Australian winter sport athletes who have won World Championships, consisting of Kirstie Marshall (Aerials), Jacqui Cooper (Aerials), Alisa Camplin (Aerials), Dale Begg-Smith (Moguls), Zali Steggall (Alpine) and Men’s 5000m relay team (Speed Skating).
Snowboard Cross
Alex “Chumpy” Pullin altered the record books in La Molina, Spain, by capturing Australia’s first snowboarding World Championship gold medal. The 23-year-old AIS scholarship holder from Mansfield/Mt Buller, stood on top of the world after a resounding win in the snowboard cross final, downing two Americans, dual Olympic gold medalist Seth Wescott and six time X-Games winner Nate Holland.
An elated Pullin said that he was motivated to do well at these championships by the huge disappointment he suffered at last year’s Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, where he set the fastest time in qualifying only to finish in 17th due to a racing mishap.
“I was gutted after the Olympics because I went there ready to win.
“I now know that you learn more when you don’t win and things don’t go well.
“A fire was lit inside of me when the Olympics ended and at that time I identified these championships as the target to go after,” the number two in the world recalled.
“From that moment I focused all my energy and thinking on the World Championships and for it to all come together is surreal.
“As I crossed the line today my mind exploded with a bunch of emotions. Initially, when I realised I had won the World Championship, it was excitement. Then there was some relief because until winning today everything is up in the air. And then I experienced happiness like I’ve never felt before.”
Under the direction of AIS head snowboard coach, Ben Wordsworth, Pullin underwent a punishing training block specifically designed by Winter Sports physiologist, John Marsden, in readiness for this year’s northern hemisphere’s season, which has already provided two podium finishes and a current World Cup ranking of two.
Half Pipe
The snowboard halfpipe team capped off an unbelievable 48 hours for Australia at the World Championships in La Molina, Spain, by winning another two World Championship titles.
Victories by Australian Institute of Sport/NSW Institute of Sport scholarship holders Holly Crawford and Nathan Johnstone in the men’s and women’s halfpipe finals follow Alex “Chumpy” Pullin’s historic gold in the snowboard cross earlier in the week and left Australia on top of the medal tally at the FIS Snowboard World Championships. For 26-year-old Crawford and 20-year-old Johnstone, both from NSW’s Perisher resort, the World titles are their career-best achievements.
“I am overjoyed and extremely happy,” Crawford said.
“The important thing today was staying calm. A number of the other girls looked like they were pushing it a little too hard. I remained relaxed and did the basics as well as possible, which is what we have been focusing on in practice.”
Johnstone said that he used the prospect of winning the World Championships as a goal to spur himself on during his eight-month recovery period after breaking his ankle and missing the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.
“Winning today means a lot,” Johnstone said. “I’ve been training really hard this season and targeted this event to do well. I’m stoked.”
Johnstone is not going to rest on his laurels and has set himself the goal of winning the 2010/2011World Cup tour.
NSWIS Halfpipe head coach Ben Alexander said that the cornerstone of Crawford’s and Johnstone’s titles are linked to keeping the “fun” element in training.
“Obviously hard work is important but we have been concentrating on making sure they continue to enjoy their snowboarding,” Alexander said.
“It’s important to keep it simple and keep going big. Today they had good amplitude and great execution.”
Crawford and Johnstone did not have long to savour their wins – they travelled the following day to Aspen, Colorado, in the United States, to compete in the X-Games later this week.
Slopestyle
Robbie Walker represented Australia in the first ever Slopestyle World Championship competition. 26 year old Walker, from Victoria unfortunately did not make the final round and finished 23rd in the qualification competition after a best score of 17.7 points in his second run.
Pullin, Crawford and Johnstone join a select group of Australian winter sport athletes who have won World Championships, consisting of Kirstie Marshall (Aerials), Jacqui Cooper (Aerials), Alisa Camplin (Aerials), Dale Begg-Smith (Moguls), Zali Steggall (Alpine) and Men’s 5000m relay team (Speed Skating).
Snowboard Cross
Alex “Chumpy” Pullin altered the record books in La Molina, Spain, by capturing Australia’s first snowboarding World Championship gold medal. The 23-year-old AIS scholarship holder from Mansfield/Mt Buller, stood on top of the world after a resounding win in the snowboard cross final, downing two Americans, dual Olympic gold medalist Seth Wescott and six time X-Games winner Nate Holland.
An elated Pullin said that he was motivated to do well at these championships by the huge disappointment he suffered at last year’s Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, where he set the fastest time in qualifying only to finish in 17th due to a racing mishap.
“I was gutted after the Olympics because I went there ready to win.
“I now know that you learn more when you don’t win and things don’t go well.
“A fire was lit inside of me when the Olympics ended and at that time I identified these championships as the target to go after,” the number two in the world recalled.
“From that moment I focused all my energy and thinking on the World Championships and for it to all come together is surreal.
“As I crossed the line today my mind exploded with a bunch of emotions. Initially, when I realised I had won the World Championship, it was excitement. Then there was some relief because until winning today everything is up in the air. And then I experienced happiness like I’ve never felt before.”
Under the direction of AIS head snowboard coach, Ben Wordsworth, Pullin underwent a punishing training block specifically designed by Winter Sports physiologist, John Marsden, in readiness for this year’s northern hemisphere’s season, which has already provided two podium finishes and a current World Cup ranking of two.
Half Pipe
The snowboard halfpipe team capped off an unbelievable 48 hours for Australia at the World Championships in La Molina, Spain, by winning another two World Championship titles.
Victories by Australian Institute of Sport/NSW Institute of Sport scholarship holders Holly Crawford and Nathan Johnstone in the men’s and women’s halfpipe finals follow Alex “Chumpy” Pullin’s historic gold in the snowboard cross earlier in the week and left Australia on top of the medal tally at the FIS Snowboard World Championships. For 26-year-old Crawford and 20-year-old Johnstone, both from NSW’s Perisher resort, the World titles are their career-best achievements.
“I am overjoyed and extremely happy,” Crawford said.
“The important thing today was staying calm. A number of the other girls looked like they were pushing it a little too hard. I remained relaxed and did the basics as well as possible, which is what we have been focusing on in practice.”
Johnstone said that he used the prospect of winning the World Championships as a goal to spur himself on during his eight-month recovery period after breaking his ankle and missing the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.
“Winning today means a lot,” Johnstone said. “I’ve been training really hard this season and targeted this event to do well. I’m stoked.”
Johnstone is not going to rest on his laurels and has set himself the goal of winning the 2010/2011World Cup tour.
NSWIS Halfpipe head coach Ben Alexander said that the cornerstone of Crawford’s and Johnstone’s titles are linked to keeping the “fun” element in training.
“Obviously hard work is important but we have been concentrating on making sure they continue to enjoy their snowboarding,” Alexander said.
“It’s important to keep it simple and keep going big. Today they had good amplitude and great execution.”
Crawford and Johnstone did not have long to savour their wins – they travelled the following day to Aspen, Colorado, in the United States, to compete in the X-Games later this week.
Slopestyle
Robbie Walker represented Australia in the first ever Slopestyle World Championship competition. 26 year old Walker, from Victoria unfortunately did not make the final round and finished 23rd in the qualification competition after a best score of 17.7 points in his second run.
