Australia’s Para snowboarders will be hunting medals on Day 2 of Milano Cortina 2026, led by their talisman Ben Tudhope who impressed in the seeding rounds on Saturday. 

All four Australian riders were in action on Day 1, joining competitors across all classifications in two qualifying runs at the Cortina Para Snowboard Park bathed in glorious Italian sunshine. 

Tudhope, who was announced as Australia’s flag bearer but did not march in the Opening Ceremony to focus on his racing, relished the conditions to post the second fastest time in both runs in the men’s LL2 event. 

The 26-year-old won a bronze medal in the same event in Beijing 2022 and said he was feeling confident about being a major medal contender once again. 

“I’m pretty happy with how that went,” Tudhope said. “It’s been a big build up and it was good to get the race juices out and it’s all about tomorrow now. 

“I think the course was good, it’s smooth and it’s fast. They made some changes [after official training earlier this week] to make it safer for everyone. So, it definitely has played it down a tiny bit but tomorrow is going to be epic. 

“I’m sitting in second which is a pretty good position, and anything can happen tomorrow.” 

To win gold, Tudhope will need to dethrone home-town favourite and reigning world champion Emanuel Perathoner who convincingly posted the fastest times in both runs. 

The 39-year-old is competing at his first Paralympic Winter Games after competing at the 2014 and 2018 Olympic Winter Games before a serious knee injury in 2021 changed the trajectory of this career. 

“Given the time I have (posted) and the difference between my time and my opponent’s time, there’s no doubt about the fact that I’m ready for tomorrow,” Perathoner said. 

“I’m very happy. I made a few mistakes, so there’s still room for improvement. Tomorrow there will be heats where we’ll be competing against each other, and I’m confident. 

“It’s all about tomorrow. Tomorrow there will be more people, more cheering, more cheering for Italy and for me, which is great. There’s also more pressure, but let’s say you can manage it somehow.” 

While Tudhope was the most impressive performer on Day 1, his teammates also showed encouraging signs before sudden death racing begins on Sunday. 

After Aaron McCarthy (SB-LL1) crashed in his first run and Amanda Reid (SB-LL2) posted the slowest time in her debut outing, both athletes delivered excellent times in their second runs to climb into better seeding positions. 

Reid, the 2023 World Champion, will begin as the eighth seed, while McCarthy will make his medal charge as the 14th seed. 

Rounding out Australia’s chances will the captain of the 2026 Paralympic Winter Team Sean Pollard, who will be using all his guile and experience as he tries to progress through the big final with his 13th seeding. 

With medals up for grabs on Sunday, racers will contest 1/8 finals, quarter-finals, semi-finals and then the medal rounds. With four athletes contesting each race, the top two progress through to next round until the top four compete for three podium places in the Paralympic final. 

Tim Mannion, Paralympics Australia

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