Courageous Tudhope Wins Sensational Snowboard Silver

Ben Tudhope’s day at the snowboard cross ended in triumph, but nearly began with disaster.  

The four-time Paralympian won the silver medal in the SB-LL2, charging to second place behind Italy’s Emanual Perathoner in a thrilling Big Final at Cortina Para Snowboard Park on Sunday. 

However, he revealed after the race, his campaign came perilously close to being upended by a shoulder injury sustained as he catapulted from the gate in his first race of the day.  

“It was really hard, my shoulder actually popped out in that first heat pulling out of the start gate,” Tudhope said.  “It was just kind of a click. I don’t really know what happened. It was just a click out and in and then ‘boom’.  

“The medical team up top (of the course) handled me so well. We decided I can keep on going after that injury.  

“It doesn’t hurt, but to actually go through that, to go through the process of going, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got this injury’, but then being able to go through the rounds and get this medal is insane.  

“From that, I was in focus mode the whole time. I’m normally pretty friendly, pretty happy, but up top, I was not ‘in my head’, but I was focused. I wasn’t smiley Ben, but now I am.” 

The medal was Australia’s first of the Milano Cortina campaign and Tudhope’s second Paralympic medal in a career that has earned the Australian snowboard star great respect and friendship from his peers domestically and around the world.  

Tudhope rode smoothly and efficiently to win both his quarter final and semi final. Of the Big Final, he said: “I thought I could tail and draft the Italian guy who ended up winning, but I made a mistake in turn four into five. I let him slip, he got ahead and, on this course, if you make one mistake, you’re pretty much out of it.  

“So, I kind of knew it would be really hard to get him, but the guys behind me, I was like, ‘Oh, no, they’re coming up fast’, so I just stuck to my guns, stuck to my game plan, and let it ride on. To actually get this medal is insane.  

“To be able to get it done and keep Australian Paralympic Winter sport’s legacy going – I think we’ve medalled at every single Games since ’92 – I’m proud to be an Aussie.” 

Tudhope was gracious towards Perathoner, the reigning World Champion in snowboard cross and banked slalom, and only the second athlete to compete at both the Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games. In 2021, Perathoner was involved in a severe crash that caused multiple leg fractures and he was later classified for Paralympic sport.  

“He’s kind of ‘the man’,” Tudhope said. “He’s been on tour for four years and he’s got a rich history in snowboarding before this. 

“He’s progressing the sport. Everyone has looked at how he rides and everyone is more competitive for him being here. He’s good for the sport.” 

Tudhope started his Paralympic career as a 14-year-old at the Sochi 2014 Games, where he was the youngest athlete from any country. His bronze medal in snowboard cross at the Beijing 2022 Paralympics was Australia’s only medal of the Games. The following year, he won gold at the World Championships in Spain.  

“I just go into every race the exact same,” he said.   

“When it came to the Paralympics, a big event, it wasn’t like I was anticipating it, I wasn’t ‘waiting’, I just followed the exact same routine up there, listen to my music, be in my zone and, to come away and get it done is absolutely incredible.  

“Snowboarding is my love. I love snowboarding so much. I’m just grateful. That’s the only word I can find to describe being out here.  

“The Paralympic snowboarding has been on a journey. From 2014 to now, it’s got so much more professional, so much more competitive, and to be part of that change, to see it evolve and grow, it feels awesome.  

“Seeing this crowd here, it’s insane. In 2014, we filled less than half the stadium, Beijing we had nothing because of Covid. To see everyone here, not even just from Australia, not even my friends and family, but everyone – it’s electric.” 

Tudhope and the rest of the Para snowboard squad will compete in the banked slalom event next Saturday, March 14.  

David Sygall