![Men’s Freeski Slopestyle World Cup podium in Stoneham. [L-R] Luca Harrington (NZL) 2nd, Matej Svancer (AUT) 1st, Ben Barclay (NZL) 3rd. PHOTO: FIS PARK & PIPE](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a9e9c_d095748febf34e399ae4c6f3d102838a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_551,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2a9e9c_d095748febf34e399ae4c6f3d102838a~mv2.jpg)
Wanaka skiers Luca Harrinton and Ben Barclay have made history becoming the first New Zealanders to make the podium together in the FIS Freeski Slopestyle World Cup.
The two freeskiers finished in second and third place respectively at the FIS Freeski Slopestyle World Cup in Stoneham, Quebec., the first time two New Zealand athletes have shared a Park & Pipe World Cup podium.
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Harrington was thrilled to share the podium with Barclay “It was extremely special, we have put so much work in together - we train together every day, we travel together, so it was amazing to stand together on the podium.”
Barclay was equally stoked with the result and sharing the podium with his kiwi mate
“If there is one person I’m not to fussed bumping me down [from second into third] it is Luca. Luca has been on a tear this season, so to join him on the podium is a dream come true, it was amazing.”
The course in Stoneham encouraged the athletes to get creative. With two jumps at the top of the course and then three rail pads providing numerous line options, it was a competition that showed the diversity of the rider’s skillsets.
Barclay opted for a technical run to show off his skills, including back-to-back double corked 1620’s on the jumps and a bio 810 out of the first rail feature. Dropping at the start of the field, Barclay was initially positioned in first place, before Matej Svancer of Austria and teammate Harrington leapfrogged him with their final runs.
Harrington, a big air specialist, made the most of the jumps putting down a switch right double corked 1800 Japan grab into a switch left double 1620 safety grab. He then laced together a technical rail section that included a 450 gap between two rail features.
Svancer remained in the lead to take the win, with Harrington in second and Barclay in third, just 0.54 points separating the two. It is their second Slopestyle World Cup podium
Men’s Freeski Slopestyle World Cup podium in Stoneham. [L-R] Luca Harrington (NZL) 2nd, Matej Svancer (AUT) 1st, Ben Barclay (NZL) 3rd. Credit FIS Park & Pipe.