Harrigan claims special silver in France

Freeskier and New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athlete Abi Harrigan has broken through to claim the first World Cup podium of her career, finishing second in the slopestyle event overnight in Tignes, France.

The 2022 Olympian qualified for finals in sixth place with a best score of 64.66.

Also advancing to the 10-woman final was teammate and NSWIS athlete Daisy Thomas in seventh on 62.58.

In the best of two run final high up in the French Alps, Harrigan put two down clean runs, scoring 67.85 for her first run, and then improved in the final run with a score of 75.41 to put her in second place.

Harrigan secured Australia’s first World Cup ski slopestyle podium since Russ Henshaw in 2017, and is the second Australian female to do so, joining former X-Games and World Champion Anna Segal.

Her silver medal run included a right spinning 540 with grab on the first jump, switch 720 with grab on the second jump, smooth rail sections and left spinning cork 720 with grab on the final jump.

Joining Harrigan on the podium in first place was Kirsty Muir of Great Britain on 77.98. Third place went to Ruby Star Andrews of New Zealand on 72.75

17-year-old Thomas finished in eighth place, with her best score of 59.83 coming in the second run.

“Feeling pretty surreal to get my first podium here at Tignes,” said the 22-year-old Harrigan from Jindabyne in the NSW Snowy Mountains.

“I had a large training block after the Laax open, got a lot of stuff done, but also just had a blast skiing.”

“Loving the sport so much right now has given me a new mindset towards competing.”

“This is the best thing leading into World Champs. It’s definitely going to give me a big confidence boost.”

“I’m just stoked to ski a new course and see what we can get done.”

The podium performance improved Harrigan’s final World Cup slopestyle ranking to 11^th, with Thomas in 17^th.

In the big air discipline, Thomas finished the season ranked 14^th with Harrigan 21^st.

The freeski season will now conclude with the prestigious FIS World Championships in St Moritz, Switzerland.

Slopestyle qualifications are on March 19, finals on March 20, then big air qualifications on March 27 and finals March 29.

Story: Olympic Winter Institute of Australia

Photos: Mateo Sgambato/Agence Zoom