Three World Champions – Australia Dominating at Snowboarding World Championships

January 21st, 2011

Nate Johonstone, Holly Crawford and Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin, Australia’s Snowboarding World Champions. Images:: Getty Images

Words | Tess Cook

Australia is three wins from three starts at the FIS Snowboarding World Championships in La Molina, Spain; Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin, Nate Johnstone and Holly Crawford, the three Australians who have so far competed, are all now World Champions.

Australia has, in the words of FIS Snowboard, “one of the smallest national teams competing” at Molina yet, of the seven events already decided, Australia has claimed three titles, Chumpy in the men’s snowboard cross (SBX) and Nate and Holly in the men’s and women’s halfpipe (HP). Finland, the USA, Russia and Austria have won one each of the other four events.

“Really incredible performance by Chumpy, Holly and Nate and the coaching staff, SBX – Ben Wordsworth, HP – Ben Alexander, the wax tech Victor and the physio Kerry,” said Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA) CEO Geoff Lipshut. “We are really proud of all of them, especially after the Olympics not working out at all for Chumpy and Nathan and Holly not riding in Australia and New Zealand this year due to injury.”

Nate suffered a broken leg just weeks before the Winter Olympic Games in February 2010 and Chumpy crashed out in the first round of Olympic finals, having qualified as the fastest rider. Holly was recovering from a shoulder injury during the Southern Hemisphere season.

The Aussie triple act is now news at home and abroad, a boost for snowboarding in Australia. “This amazing athlete success is unbelievable and great and helps on all counts,” said Lipshut.

“From an OWI point of view – Our organisation, through the Australian Olympic Committee and Australian Government, support a number of different winter sports and programs and everyone benefits by the success of each of the programs. Now the snowboard program is developing a great profile due the success at these events and also on the back of Torah’s fabulous gold medal win in Vancouver.”

“It’s events like the World Champs and the Olympics that relate to everyone back in Australia, a success which can be shared and understood by so many,” said Chumpy in an interview for Mountainwatch.

“For a rider, its great to land one of those events that stand alone. To be on it for that day and score a title that carries so much weight. It is exactly the same format as the Olympics and all the countries send there best to the Worlds. For me, it’s the win I was hoping for most for the next two years. Though the Olympics will always be the pinnacle, as it is in so many sports, the World Champs is just as competitive and to have one under my belt is a great feeling.”

Australia’s fourth team member, Robbie Walker, may possibly make Australia’s tally four from four when he competes on Saturday January 22 in the Slopestyle event.