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Ben Tudhope has won Men’s Snowboard Cross SB-LL2 silver at the World Para Snow Sports Championships in Lillehammer, Norway.
It’s the 22-year-old’s second World Championships medal in as many weeks after winning bronze in the Dual Banked Slalom last weekend.
The result comes just 41 days out from the start of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics, where Ben is looking to compete at his third Games.
Tudhope was joined on the podium with his training partners, Finland’s Matti Suur-Hamari with the gold, and USA’s Evan Strong who won bronze.
After topping his quarterfinal and placing second in his semi-final, Tudhope had a really strong start in the Big Final, but wasn’t quite able to hold onto Surr-Hamari who took the gold 0.37 seconds ahead of Tudhope.
“It was an amazing day to finish on the podium and also to be the only person in our country to get a podium in both the banked slalom and boardercross at the World Championships,” Tudhope said.
“It was really all or nothing in that Big Final. I got a really good start, I was super proud of that start, but Matti just came through really hot and I was in second for the rest of the race.
“It was just an amazing race which is why I am so stoked and super proud of this result, pretty much more than any other result because it shows what we can do with para-snowboarding and where we have come from as well.”
The Australian Para-Alpine Skiing Team is also in Lillehammer, where Josh Hanlon has recorded two top-10 finishes at his debut World Championships with 8th in the Men’s Sitting Giant Slalom and Slalom.
Three-time Paralympian Mitch Gourley has also recorded strong results in Norway, placing 10th in the Men’s Standing Giant Slalom and 15th in the Slalom.
The Para-Alpine Team will compete in the Parallel event on Sunday to round out their World Championships competition.
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Ben Tudhope will now make his way to Sweden for the Almasa Para Snowboard World Cup as he continues preparations ahead of the Paralympic Games in March.
Tudhope made history as the youngest ever Paralympian when he made his debut at Sochi 2014 at the age of 14. He was once again the youngest on the Australian Paralympic Team at PyeongChang 2018, where he took top-10 finishes in both snowboard-cross and banked slalom.
The Sydneysider says he would be honored to represent Australia at his third Games this year.
“I’m fortunate to represent my country in doing the thing I love most, so it’ll be an absolute honour to put on the Paralympic uniform again in China and make Australia proud,” he said.
“I’m always enthusiastic about the Games because it’s the only time in the four-year cycle where our sport becomes the highlight of mainstream media for two weeks which gives the opportunity for us Para-athletes to create a platform to inspire many kids and people around Australia.
“I’m looking forward to getting to experience a Paralympic Games again for what they are and to use my prior knowledge of being at the Games to excel my performance.
“China will put on an amazing show. Para-snowboarding has come a long way from Sochi and even Korea, so I think people watching will truly be mesmerised about the performances of all athletes cause we will definitely put on a show!”
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By: Snow Australia
Posted: 22 January 2022
Image: International Paralympic Committee
