Photo: PHOTOSPORT
It’s a historic day for Wanaka’s Luca Harrington, winning the FIS Freeski Big Air World Cup in Klagenfurt, Austria.
It is the first time any Kiwi freeskier has won a FIS Big Air World Cup. It was also Harrington’s first Big Air World Cup podium finish.
“I don’t have words right now,” Harrington said.
“I have been working really hard for the past few years, making finals has been huge. To put down these two tricks tonight and walk away with the win is just the most insane thing ever, the biggest dream come true, and I am just so grateful.”
The FIS Freeski Big Air format consists of three runs, in which two of the run scores are counted, contributing to a total combined score. The two scoring tricks must be performed in different directions. The third and lowest-scoring run is discounted.
After finishing fourth in the 2024 FIS Big Air World Cup in Beijing, Harrington put down a flawless switch right triple-corked 1620 with an esco grab for his first trick, impressing the judges, who rewarded him with a score of 94.80.
Harrington’s starting performance remained the top score of the competition, with only two other athletes posting a score in the 90s.
Dropping into run two, the 20-year-old Harrington stomped a right double-corked 900 bring back Japan grab, to solidify his lead with a total combined score of 186.60.
For the third and final run, the athletes started in reverse order, with Harrington as the final athlete to drop in.
He watched his nine competitors drop in before him all trying to top his performance, but his high-scoring tricks seemed untouchable.
Harrington dropped into his first-ever victory lap as he took the win, throwing down a crowd-pleasing double backflip for his final run.
Timothe Sivignon of France finished in second position, and local athlete Matěj Švancer of Austria rounded out the podium in third.
Harrington will compete in the Kreischberg Big Air World Cup next weekend.
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Harrington claimed the first World Cup podium of his career with a third-place finish at the FIS Slopestyle World Cup in Switzerland.
New Zealand snow sport athletes Ruby Star Andrews and Luca Harrington secured top 10 finishes at the Freeski World Cup held in Tignes, France.
It’s been an historic day for New Zealand at the Winter Youth Olympic Games with two Central Otago freeski athletes winning gold and silver in the halfpipe.
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