Tudhope wins bronze at Para Snow Sports World Championships

Dual Paralympian Ben Tudhope has won bronze in the Men’s Dual Banked Slalom SB-LL2 at the Para Snow Sports World Championships in Lillehammer, Norway overnight.

The bronze medal will be a good confidence booster for Tudhope, who has his sights firmly set on the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games in just under 50 days time.

The 22-year-old placed 7th in the event at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Paralympics, but this week marked the first time the Dual Banked Slalom was included in the World Championships programme.

Tudhope said he was stoked to podium in the event, after just getting the advantage over Great Britain's Ollie Hill for a spot on the podium by +1.08 seconds in the Small Final.

“I think to get on the podium at the World Championships is an amazing achievement and I am honored to be able to represent my country and the team and everyone here,” Tudhope said.

After ranking first in Friday’s qualifications, Tudhope said he was feeling great heading into Saturday’s racing, but the conditions provided a challenge for all riders.

“I was feeling really good about the race in the morning, but it was definitely difficult racing today, conditions were not in favour of any of the riders and the course was absolute concrete,” he said.

“I stuck to my great game plan going in, I took three training laps and really got to know the course and how to ride it for the rest of the day.

“I just had a little mistake in my semi-final and that cost me that race, but that’s what happens in racing and there’s nothing you can do, so I just went straight back to my game plan and what was up next and that was the third place race - the small final.

“I kept my routine and knew that if I stayed on my feet and rode cleanly I could pick up that bronze medal and that’s what I did at the end of the day, so I’m really happy and now ready for Boardercross next week, which is super exciting.”

USA’s Zach Miller took home the gold in the event ahead of Alex Massie from Canada in the Big Final.

Tudhope will now turn his attention to the Men’s Snowboard Cross, kicking off on Thursday 20 January.

Also representign Australia overnight was para-alpine skiers Patrick Jensen and Jonty O’Callaghan competing in the Men's Downhill.

Jensen, with guide Amelia Hodgson, placed 7th in the Men’s Downhill, Vision Impaired, and O’Callaghan placed 26th in the Men's Standing. The Team will all compete in the Super G on Saturday evening (Aus time).
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