Russ Henshaw – Sitting On Top Of The World

April 16th, 2010

Harro/wheresharro.com

Russ Henshaw confirmed his status as part of freeskiing’s international elite when he made the finals in the big air and slopestyle at this year’s Winter X Games in Aspen. He followed that up with solid results in Europe, including a win at the Frostgun Invitational in Val Thorens, France, which saw him move to number one on the Association of Freeski professionals (AFP) big air world rankings and after a solid second at the Jon Olsson Invitational he should take the 2010 AFP Big Air World Title.

Reggae Elliss caught up with Russ as he was preparing in Sweden for the Jon Olsson Super Sessions.


You’ve been on the road for a long time now. Are you still having a good time?

Yeah, I am still having an awesome time. I get to ski a lot and chill with all my mates. Couldn’t be happier.

You had solid results in the X Games in January. What was the highlight for you?

The X Games were super stressful this year. I was competing in both slopestyle and big air and it was back to back. However, despite the stress I would say the highlight was making two decent results in both big air and slope.

The injury you copped in the big air looked pretty gnarly. How long did it take to recover?

It was pretty annoying actually, because after the big air I skied in the slopestyle the next day. I took a bunch of painkillers and had it numbed so I could ski. I’m pretty sure because I did this I made the injury worse. So, it took me about one month or so to fully recover and get back to doing what I do.

Having a late spring jump like offered Russ perfect preparation for the northern hemisphere winter.(Fawcett)

The standard at the X Games was amazing. Has it been progressing through the European comps?

Unfortunately not so much, just because the weather at most of the comps in Europe this year hasn’t been cooperating. But there is for sure a huge amount of talent over here.

Who is setting the benchmark now? Bobby Brown, TJ Schiller and Kevin Rolland in the pipe – they are all pushing it.

I would say Bobby Brown for slope and big air and Kevin Rolland for pipe. Both these guys are killing it with different tricks and both are super stylish.

I read on your blog that you’ve been working on your double 12. Have you made the grab yet?

Yeah I got it a few times but I still need to work on it some more. Hopefully at JOSS (Jon Olsson Super Sessions) I will have it down.

Making the two finals at the X Games was a great result for Russ and he had the crowd pumped with this switch double 1080 during the big air final. (Vandervalk)

You and Jossi Wells are putting “Down Under” skiing on the map and you’re the team for the Jon Olsson Super Sessions – the comp is about teams making a 5 minute video edit over two weeks. Have you worked out a plan?

Well, we are also taking Dhanu Sherpa from Jindabyne for our ”rookie” portion of the team. Our plan is just to have fun and enjoy it because they are for sure going to be the best features we ever ride. We have Jase Hancox and Jake Largess for filmers and both of those guys are coming up with ideas and time lines for the edit. Hopefully it will all work out.

How long are you in Europe for and what are your plans after that?

I actually leave here tomorrow for Sweden and then I am there for two weeks for the Super Sessions and then I head back to the States for filming for another month. Then I guess I will come home mid to late May. Pretty long and exhausting season.

Obviously you’ve made your mark as a freestyler/freeskier but I have a sick shot of you from last year’s Heli Challenge dropping into a sketchy couloir. Do you still have much time to get out on the mountain when you’re not in comp mode?

Not much time at all actually. The only times I was in the backcountry this season was for filming with Matchstick. But even then I didn’t ski so much because I have to get the shots.

When Thredbo built the biggest jump in Oz last year, Russ was straight into it. Double 1080. (Fawcett)

What are your plans for this Australian winter?

I want to spend as much time as I can in Jindy riding Thredbo because I have travelled so much this season. I guess I will also head over to NZ for the NZ freeski Open, maybe a few other comps.

Cool, well have fun in Sweden and we’ll catch up in winter.

Thanks, see you in Thredbo.

He may be concentrating on the big air and slopestyle comps, but Russ can also ski the whole mountain. Taking a big mountain line in NZ during last year’s World Heli Challenge. (Harro/wheresharro.com)

Russ, competing in last year’s Super Sessions where he was judged best overall performer and won the big air. (Harro/wheresharro.com)