1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,027 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,827 --> 00:00:15,827 Speaker 2: And it's amazing who you bump into on afternoons like this. 4 00:00:16,307 --> 00:00:20,507 Speaker 2: Five time Paralympic medalist Adam Hall selected for a record 5 00:00:20,507 --> 00:00:24,947 Speaker 2: equilling sixth Paralympic Games. He's off to the Milano Cortina 6 00:00:24,987 --> 00:00:29,067 Speaker 2: twenty twenty six Paralympic Winter Games in March, set to 7 00:00:29,107 --> 00:00:32,867 Speaker 2: match the achievement of para athlete and swimmer Graham Condon 8 00:00:33,187 --> 00:00:37,907 Speaker 2: and parashooter Michael Johnson as a six time Paralympian, but 9 00:00:37,987 --> 00:00:40,387 Speaker 2: he'll be the first New Zealander to appear at six 10 00:00:40,467 --> 00:00:44,427 Speaker 2: Paralympic Winter Games. Gold and the men slalom standing in 11 00:00:44,507 --> 00:00:48,187 Speaker 2: Vancouver in twenty ten, again in Pyeongchang in twenty eighteen, 12 00:00:48,467 --> 00:00:51,227 Speaker 2: also a bronze that year and the men's Super Combined standing, 13 00:00:51,547 --> 00:00:54,587 Speaker 2: and at Beijing in twenty twenty two, bronze medals in 14 00:00:54,667 --> 00:00:59,467 Speaker 2: both the men's Super Combined Standing and men's slalom standing disciplines. 15 00:00:59,827 --> 00:01:02,227 Speaker 2: In twenty eleven, made a member of the New Zealand 16 00:01:02,387 --> 00:01:06,107 Speaker 2: Order of Merit in the Queen's Birthday Honors for services 17 00:01:06,427 --> 00:01:08,787 Speaker 2: to sport. Nice to see you, mate, how are you. 18 00:01:08,947 --> 00:01:11,987 Speaker 3: Yeah, good afternoon, Pioneer, And to your viewers, it's great 19 00:01:11,987 --> 00:01:12,627 Speaker 3: to be here. 20 00:01:12,547 --> 00:01:13,627 Speaker 2: Great to have you on the show. 21 00:01:13,667 --> 00:01:13,867 Speaker 4: Mate. 22 00:01:13,867 --> 00:01:17,667 Speaker 2: You made your debut Paralympic Winter Games appearance in Toarno 23 00:01:17,787 --> 00:01:20,347 Speaker 2: in two thousand and six. That seems an awfully long 24 00:01:20,387 --> 00:01:23,147 Speaker 2: time ago. Could you ever have imagined you'd go to 25 00:01:23,227 --> 00:01:23,947 Speaker 2: another five? 26 00:01:25,387 --> 00:01:29,067 Speaker 3: Absolutely not know when you look back, and to still 27 00:01:29,107 --> 00:01:31,187 Speaker 3: be here and to still be in the position that 28 00:01:31,267 --> 00:01:36,107 Speaker 3: I am in and obviously still being competitive, just finished 29 00:01:36,707 --> 00:01:39,507 Speaker 3: one of my most successful seasons in just over ten seasons. 30 00:01:39,547 --> 00:01:42,227 Speaker 3: So it's quite remarkable really, and I think it's a 31 00:01:42,307 --> 00:01:46,667 Speaker 3: huge acknowledgment not just to myself, but my family, friends 32 00:01:46,907 --> 00:01:51,267 Speaker 3: and supporters and everybody that's been able to be so supportive. 33 00:01:51,267 --> 00:01:53,707 Speaker 3: And it's not just been a sacrifice to myself, but 34 00:01:53,747 --> 00:01:56,347 Speaker 3: the sacrifice to the close team around me and the 35 00:01:56,387 --> 00:02:00,067 Speaker 3: community and friends and everybody that has been involved. It's 36 00:02:00,107 --> 00:02:06,507 Speaker 3: a true testament to everybody to have that innovative mindset, 37 00:02:06,267 --> 00:02:10,187 Speaker 3: that open mindset, growth mindset, to be able to continue 38 00:02:09,987 --> 00:02:13,427 Speaker 3: to really push the envelope and to still be really 39 00:02:13,467 --> 00:02:16,587 Speaker 3: competitive twenty years on, and you know, to be heading 40 00:02:16,587 --> 00:02:21,507 Speaker 3: towards my sixth campaign as a huge testament to all 41 00:02:21,547 --> 00:02:21,707 Speaker 3: of that. 42 00:02:21,907 --> 00:02:23,627 Speaker 2: Yeah, and to you as well made and as you 43 00:02:23,707 --> 00:02:26,027 Speaker 2: just said, you've just had one of your most successful seasons. 44 00:02:26,067 --> 00:02:29,347 Speaker 2: So is it the kind of sport where you do 45 00:02:29,467 --> 00:02:32,827 Speaker 2: improve with age, you know, is your best yet to come? 46 00:02:32,907 --> 00:02:33,387 Speaker 1: Perhaps? 47 00:02:33,907 --> 00:02:36,947 Speaker 3: Yeah, I guess that tends to happen more in endurance sport, perhaps, 48 00:02:37,307 --> 00:02:39,787 Speaker 3: is what they say, But I don't know. I think 49 00:02:39,827 --> 00:02:42,947 Speaker 3: the unique thing about Parisport in particular is it that 50 00:02:43,027 --> 00:02:49,587 Speaker 3: every athlete, whatever they have from a para perspective, disability 51 00:02:49,627 --> 00:02:52,547 Speaker 3: or not, is the ability to really push the envelope. 52 00:02:52,627 --> 00:02:56,827 Speaker 3: And we're all so unique and so individualize it. You know, 53 00:02:56,867 --> 00:02:59,027 Speaker 3: we're able to kind of figure out what works and 54 00:02:59,067 --> 00:03:01,827 Speaker 3: what doesn't work and really go into a few rabbit holes. 55 00:03:01,827 --> 00:03:02,707 Speaker 4: And it's kind of not. 56 00:03:03,147 --> 00:03:06,307 Speaker 3: A generic sport or environment where everything is kind of 57 00:03:06,507 --> 00:03:07,667 Speaker 3: relatively the same. 58 00:03:08,067 --> 00:03:09,667 Speaker 4: You know, we're still out there pushing for. 59 00:03:09,667 --> 00:03:12,147 Speaker 3: Tents and hundreds, and I think that's what keeps it 60 00:03:12,187 --> 00:03:14,747 Speaker 3: really exciting, not just for myself but also the team 61 00:03:14,747 --> 00:03:17,707 Speaker 3: around me when we're training both on the snow off 62 00:03:17,707 --> 00:03:20,307 Speaker 3: the snow and really trying to find chune things and 63 00:03:20,387 --> 00:03:24,587 Speaker 3: see what can work and what doesn't work. And yeah, 64 00:03:24,587 --> 00:03:27,787 Speaker 3: that's part of the journey to what keeps it really exciting. 65 00:03:27,787 --> 00:03:30,547 Speaker 3: We're always you know, finding those little golden nuggets under 66 00:03:30,547 --> 00:03:33,267 Speaker 3: the rocks every now and again, and sometimes they work 67 00:03:33,307 --> 00:03:34,267 Speaker 3: and sometimes they don't. 68 00:03:34,467 --> 00:03:37,947 Speaker 2: I love that. I love that your gold medals in 69 00:03:37,987 --> 00:03:42,867 Speaker 2: twenty ten and again in twenty eighteen. Special moments, of course, 70 00:03:43,467 --> 00:03:46,027 Speaker 2: what stands out most vividly about twenty ten for you? 71 00:03:47,107 --> 00:03:47,907 Speaker 4: Yeah, twenty ten. 72 00:03:47,987 --> 00:03:51,147 Speaker 3: Obviously, coming off my first campaign in two thousand and six, 73 00:03:51,227 --> 00:03:54,787 Speaker 3: I wanted to go there. And you know, after being 74 00:03:54,827 --> 00:03:58,587 Speaker 3: selected to my first campaign, you have this ambition that Okay, cool, 75 00:03:58,627 --> 00:04:00,587 Speaker 3: I've done that. Now I want to go and represent 76 00:04:00,667 --> 00:04:03,227 Speaker 3: our country to the best that I can and win 77 00:04:03,347 --> 00:04:06,227 Speaker 3: medals obviously, and you know, at that point in time, 78 00:04:06,427 --> 00:04:08,587 Speaker 3: I was pretty new on the scene. I'd only been 79 00:04:08,627 --> 00:04:10,627 Speaker 3: involved for about eighteen months, where a lot of my 80 00:04:10,707 --> 00:04:13,147 Speaker 3: competitors were at the point that I'm at now, they 81 00:04:13,187 --> 00:04:15,867 Speaker 3: had been to four or five or six games. So 82 00:04:15,907 --> 00:04:19,227 Speaker 3: for me, it was about taking that opportunity in that 83 00:04:19,267 --> 00:04:22,747 Speaker 3: campaign to really see what it was that I needed 84 00:04:22,747 --> 00:04:25,787 Speaker 3: to be the best and learn from that experience. And 85 00:04:26,307 --> 00:04:28,787 Speaker 3: you know, taking that experience four years later down the 86 00:04:28,827 --> 00:04:32,867 Speaker 3: track to Vancouver and just remember walking out of that 87 00:04:32,907 --> 00:04:35,147 Speaker 3: campaign in O six and saying that you know, in 88 00:04:35,147 --> 00:04:37,547 Speaker 3: four years time, that's going to be us on top 89 00:04:37,587 --> 00:04:41,867 Speaker 3: of the podium, national anthem being played, the flag being raised, 90 00:04:42,107 --> 00:04:44,907 Speaker 3: and that'll be us with the gold medal around our neck, 91 00:04:44,987 --> 00:04:47,947 Speaker 3: and you know, everything just seemed to kind of fall 92 00:04:47,947 --> 00:04:52,147 Speaker 3: into place, obviously, and things just kind of continued from 93 00:04:52,147 --> 00:04:58,707 Speaker 3: there really, which was yeah, hugely, yeah, hugely an amazing 94 00:04:58,787 --> 00:05:01,387 Speaker 3: experience and time will be something that I get to 95 00:05:02,227 --> 00:05:05,427 Speaker 3: reflect on. And obviously there was a period of time 96 00:05:05,467 --> 00:05:09,547 Speaker 3: there where know, soon after the Games there was the 97 00:05:09,627 --> 00:05:12,147 Speaker 3: accident of my number one supporter. That was my mother, 98 00:05:13,347 --> 00:05:16,667 Speaker 3: so my late moms, so we we you know, remember 99 00:05:16,707 --> 00:05:19,347 Speaker 3: her every single day and she has been a part 100 00:05:19,347 --> 00:05:23,627 Speaker 3: of my journey as well and continues to though not here, 101 00:05:23,827 --> 00:05:26,987 Speaker 3: is a part of a deeply, hugely part of my 102 00:05:27,067 --> 00:05:28,027 Speaker 3: journey today as well. 103 00:05:28,667 --> 00:05:31,787 Speaker 2: Amazing Was it as special in twenty eighteen. I don't 104 00:05:31,787 --> 00:05:33,227 Speaker 2: suppose gold medals ever get old? 105 00:05:33,467 --> 00:05:33,667 Speaker 4: Was it? 106 00:05:33,707 --> 00:05:35,067 Speaker 2: But what was it? A different feeling? 107 00:05:35,427 --> 00:05:38,387 Speaker 3: I think it's as we say, it's about cliche, I 108 00:05:38,387 --> 00:05:41,947 Speaker 3: guess is that it is about the journey. Like we 109 00:05:41,987 --> 00:05:45,187 Speaker 3: live in four year cycles where ultimately you're trying to 110 00:05:45,227 --> 00:05:49,427 Speaker 3: put your your bets on a Friday afternoon, whatever it 111 00:05:49,467 --> 00:05:52,307 Speaker 3: may be in four years time and hope that you 112 00:05:52,427 --> 00:05:54,907 Speaker 3: have done absolutely everything that you possibly can to be 113 00:05:54,987 --> 00:05:57,667 Speaker 3: the best prepared that you can to get the medals. 114 00:05:57,667 --> 00:06:00,627 Speaker 3: And there's no hiding from that that in high performance 115 00:06:00,667 --> 00:06:04,067 Speaker 3: sport we're there about, you know, trying to sustainably win 116 00:06:04,507 --> 00:06:07,987 Speaker 3: win medals, and to have an eight year gap between 117 00:06:08,427 --> 00:06:10,307 Speaker 3: you know, twenty ten and then back on top of 118 00:06:10,347 --> 00:06:13,187 Speaker 3: the podium in twenty eighteen, I think that was something 119 00:06:13,227 --> 00:06:16,067 Speaker 3: that was truly remarkable, and just having a team around 120 00:06:16,107 --> 00:06:20,067 Speaker 3: me that were hugely innovative and had a great vision 121 00:06:20,147 --> 00:06:22,187 Speaker 3: that we all believed in and knew what it would 122 00:06:22,307 --> 00:06:23,787 Speaker 3: take to get back. 123 00:06:23,707 --> 00:06:26,587 Speaker 4: Up there and be the best on that day. 124 00:06:26,627 --> 00:06:28,947 Speaker 3: And when I look back now even and reflect on 125 00:06:29,027 --> 00:06:32,587 Speaker 3: that performance, it's not you know, at that time, it 126 00:06:32,627 --> 00:06:34,907 Speaker 3: was an amazing performance and it was world class at 127 00:06:34,907 --> 00:06:37,827 Speaker 3: that time, but when we compare it to today's skiing again, 128 00:06:38,227 --> 00:06:39,227 Speaker 3: it's on another level. 129 00:06:39,307 --> 00:06:41,587 Speaker 4: So I think again, just reflecting. 130 00:06:41,027 --> 00:06:43,987 Speaker 3: On the team around me, the training, everything that we're 131 00:06:44,027 --> 00:06:46,787 Speaker 3: able to do in still trying and stay ahead of 132 00:06:46,787 --> 00:06:50,347 Speaker 3: the curve, and you know where it's not just me 133 00:06:50,427 --> 00:06:52,227 Speaker 3: that it's trying to be competitive and. 134 00:06:52,187 --> 00:06:53,107 Speaker 4: Get those medals. 135 00:06:53,187 --> 00:06:55,907 Speaker 3: Is a number of other athletes and nations out there 136 00:06:55,907 --> 00:06:58,067 Speaker 3: that are all trying to do the same thing. So 137 00:06:58,067 --> 00:06:59,587 Speaker 3: at the end of the day, it's all about who 138 00:07:00,027 --> 00:07:02,387 Speaker 3: who comes up and shows best prepared, who has the 139 00:07:02,387 --> 00:07:06,387 Speaker 3: best planning in place, the best support, and at the 140 00:07:06,467 --> 00:07:08,027 Speaker 3: end of the day, as we know and the high 141 00:07:08,027 --> 00:07:10,547 Speaker 3: performance sport, a lot of it comes to that top 142 00:07:10,587 --> 00:07:11,347 Speaker 3: couple of inches. 143 00:07:12,067 --> 00:07:14,947 Speaker 2: Super combined standing and slalom standing. Can you just explain 144 00:07:14,987 --> 00:07:15,667 Speaker 2: the two for us? 145 00:07:15,907 --> 00:07:18,467 Speaker 3: Yeah, So slalom has been my specialty event throughout my 146 00:07:18,547 --> 00:07:22,307 Speaker 3: whole career, which is it's the most technical event where 147 00:07:22,347 --> 00:07:25,747 Speaker 3: your gates that you are going around. The plastic gates 148 00:07:26,347 --> 00:07:29,827 Speaker 3: are quite short, so that when I say that I'm 149 00:07:29,867 --> 00:07:33,027 Speaker 3: in in distance, are there anywhere from say nine to 150 00:07:33,347 --> 00:07:35,747 Speaker 3: eleven or twelve meters apart down the. 151 00:07:35,707 --> 00:07:37,587 Speaker 4: Hill, So quite technical. 152 00:07:37,627 --> 00:07:41,147 Speaker 3: Whereas super g is the second fastest event, so the 153 00:07:41,187 --> 00:07:44,307 Speaker 3: gates are quite wide open and depending on the vertical drop, 154 00:07:44,347 --> 00:07:48,747 Speaker 3: there's a calculation that's out there that depends on how 155 00:07:48,827 --> 00:07:50,907 Speaker 3: far apart the gates are, so super g can be 156 00:07:51,307 --> 00:07:53,987 Speaker 3: you know, anywhere from say fifty to eighty meters apart 157 00:07:54,067 --> 00:07:55,507 Speaker 3: and you're going. 158 00:07:55,187 --> 00:07:58,227 Speaker 4: Anywhere up to one hundred kilometers an hour. 159 00:07:59,027 --> 00:08:02,307 Speaker 3: And so this is an event and supercombined where you 160 00:08:02,427 --> 00:08:05,107 Speaker 3: do that for your first run. So slalom is two 161 00:08:05,227 --> 00:08:08,227 Speaker 3: two slalom runs combined time supercombined. It is kind of 162 00:08:08,227 --> 00:08:10,147 Speaker 3: one extreme to the other. So you have your speed 163 00:08:10,187 --> 00:08:12,347 Speaker 3: event first and then your second runner is. 164 00:08:12,347 --> 00:08:13,307 Speaker 4: Back to your slalom. 165 00:08:13,387 --> 00:08:17,747 Speaker 3: So's it's been quite a cool event to have and 166 00:08:17,867 --> 00:08:21,547 Speaker 3: quite a traditional event that has been around, and there 167 00:08:21,547 --> 00:08:23,867 Speaker 3: has been talked for the last couple of campaigns that 168 00:08:23,867 --> 00:08:28,787 Speaker 3: they would get Supercombined off the program, and it is 169 00:08:28,867 --> 00:08:31,067 Speaker 3: still in the end and in the future, I think 170 00:08:31,067 --> 00:08:34,387 Speaker 3: we'll start to see a new kind of team event 171 00:08:34,467 --> 00:08:37,947 Speaker 3: evolve in future campaigns where, for example, my teammate Corey, 172 00:08:37,987 --> 00:08:41,067 Speaker 3: who specializes in speed, he would do the speed portion 173 00:08:41,147 --> 00:08:43,427 Speaker 3: of it and then would I would be doing the 174 00:08:43,467 --> 00:08:46,187 Speaker 3: slalom portion of it. So I think that from a 175 00:08:46,267 --> 00:08:50,587 Speaker 3: viewership perspective and from an excitement perspective as will. 176 00:08:50,427 --> 00:08:52,267 Speaker 4: Be pretty cool. Moving forward to you, how did you 177 00:08:52,307 --> 00:08:52,827 Speaker 4: get into it? 178 00:08:53,947 --> 00:08:57,667 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it's could be a long story, but 179 00:08:57,787 --> 00:09:01,467 Speaker 3: short story. Basically, when I was about six years old 180 00:09:02,507 --> 00:09:07,147 Speaker 3: through CCS back on those days who had different programs, 181 00:09:07,947 --> 00:09:11,467 Speaker 3: I guess within our region, and so you get introduced 182 00:09:11,467 --> 00:09:14,387 Speaker 3: to all different kinds of sports. And I was introduced 183 00:09:14,427 --> 00:09:18,227 Speaker 3: to these ski trips away up to Central Otago, who 184 00:09:18,307 --> 00:09:21,107 Speaker 3: I was introduced through a friend of my mum's at 185 00:09:21,107 --> 00:09:23,427 Speaker 3: the time who had a son with the same disability 186 00:09:23,427 --> 00:09:26,107 Speaker 3: as me, and he had been skiing and doing these 187 00:09:26,147 --> 00:09:28,507 Speaker 3: trips and suggested that perhaps I gave it a go. 188 00:09:28,747 --> 00:09:31,147 Speaker 3: So for me, that's kind of where it began. And 189 00:09:31,187 --> 00:09:33,267 Speaker 3: it was kind of three years of torture or I 190 00:09:33,387 --> 00:09:36,547 Speaker 3: was obviously young, naturally pretty weak when you're young, anyway, 191 00:09:37,707 --> 00:09:40,547 Speaker 3: And after three years I was then introduced to snowboarding. 192 00:09:40,547 --> 00:09:43,027 Speaker 3: And during those early days, actually my dad spend a 193 00:09:43,067 --> 00:09:45,707 Speaker 3: lot of time up on the mountain with me, trying 194 00:09:45,707 --> 00:09:48,187 Speaker 3: to get me up onto the mountains, because we would 195 00:09:48,187 --> 00:09:51,507 Speaker 3: have volunteers come up to the mountains from the phyzed 196 00:09:51,587 --> 00:09:54,307 Speaker 3: schools as part of some of their study. They would 197 00:09:54,587 --> 00:09:56,787 Speaker 3: come up and volunteer and be a part of the program. 198 00:09:56,827 --> 00:09:58,747 Speaker 3: And a lot of the volunteers they would you know, 199 00:09:59,067 --> 00:10:01,067 Speaker 3: get their pass or whatever it would be to help out, 200 00:10:01,147 --> 00:10:03,667 Speaker 3: and often I would be that much of a struggle 201 00:10:03,667 --> 00:10:05,907 Speaker 3: they would leave me in the cafeteria. So they were 202 00:10:05,947 --> 00:10:08,147 Speaker 3: kind of just go out there and you know, enjoy 203 00:10:08,347 --> 00:10:11,387 Speaker 3: what they were doing getting with their pass and I 204 00:10:11,427 --> 00:10:13,667 Speaker 3: would kind of just cruise around. So yeah, Dad actually 205 00:10:13,707 --> 00:10:15,467 Speaker 3: spend a lot of time up on the mountains with 206 00:10:15,507 --> 00:10:17,507 Speaker 3: me in those early days. And then once I changed 207 00:10:17,547 --> 00:10:20,307 Speaker 3: to snowboarding, for me, that was where I really found, 208 00:10:20,427 --> 00:10:22,627 Speaker 3: I guess, the independence and the freedom that I had 209 00:10:22,667 --> 00:10:25,827 Speaker 3: been looking for. And probably the biggest thing that I 210 00:10:25,867 --> 00:10:28,227 Speaker 3: got out of that was instead of being on two 211 00:10:28,267 --> 00:10:30,867 Speaker 3: planks with my skis tied together and my outriggers that 212 00:10:31,467 --> 00:10:34,067 Speaker 3: some viewers may have seen with the little ski tips 213 00:10:34,067 --> 00:10:36,147 Speaker 3: on the bottom, I didn't have to worry about the 214 00:10:36,227 --> 00:10:38,307 Speaker 3: yard sales as much. I was just on one plank 215 00:10:38,347 --> 00:10:40,187 Speaker 3: with my outriggers and I was able to go up 216 00:10:40,227 --> 00:10:44,067 Speaker 3: there and essentially pass all those volunteers that were up 217 00:10:44,107 --> 00:10:45,627 Speaker 3: there that were leaving in the CAF. 218 00:10:45,707 --> 00:10:47,227 Speaker 4: So that was that was quite cool. 219 00:10:47,267 --> 00:10:49,147 Speaker 3: And yeah, for me, that was when I really first 220 00:10:49,307 --> 00:10:51,827 Speaker 3: kind of thought that, you know, I could go far 221 00:10:51,947 --> 00:10:54,747 Speaker 3: in this and one day represent New Zealand at the 222 00:10:54,827 --> 00:10:57,907 Speaker 3: highest level possible. And at that point, and only until 223 00:10:57,947 --> 00:11:00,587 Speaker 3: recently in the last ten years, snowboarding has been introduced 224 00:11:00,587 --> 00:11:03,507 Speaker 3: to the Paralympic Games. So yeah, for me to be 225 00:11:03,547 --> 00:11:05,307 Speaker 3: able to go to to Reno and O six, so 226 00:11:05,347 --> 00:11:07,987 Speaker 3: I had to, yeah, change back to skiing if that 227 00:11:08,147 --> 00:11:10,627 Speaker 3: was the pathway that I wanted. 228 00:11:10,427 --> 00:11:10,907 Speaker 4: To go down. 229 00:11:11,147 --> 00:11:12,427 Speaker 2: Is it too late for you to get back on 230 00:11:12,467 --> 00:11:15,427 Speaker 2: a snowboard and go to a Paralympic Winter Games? Is 231 00:11:15,467 --> 00:11:17,067 Speaker 2: that kind of Is that ship sailed? 232 00:11:17,107 --> 00:11:19,227 Speaker 3: It's always been in the back of the line for sure, 233 00:11:19,667 --> 00:11:21,507 Speaker 3: I say to a lot of people out there, a 234 00:11:21,587 --> 00:11:23,827 Speaker 3: snowboarder at heart, and I do get the snowboard out 235 00:11:23,827 --> 00:11:26,547 Speaker 3: there from time to time up on the mountains, which 236 00:11:26,547 --> 00:11:29,987 Speaker 3: which is pretty cool to have that opportunity and depending 237 00:11:29,987 --> 00:11:33,227 Speaker 3: on the Paralympic program as well. But the way that 238 00:11:33,307 --> 00:11:36,027 Speaker 3: I snowboard with my aut riggers at the moment, it's 239 00:11:36,427 --> 00:11:40,347 Speaker 3: it's it's not legal because of my at riggers can 240 00:11:40,427 --> 00:11:43,507 Speaker 3: be seen as as a bit of a danger, I 241 00:11:43,507 --> 00:11:46,347 Speaker 3: guess when it comes to collisions and the disciplines that 242 00:11:46,387 --> 00:11:49,507 Speaker 3: they have in snowboard around border cross and and slalom. 243 00:11:49,547 --> 00:11:52,467 Speaker 4: But yeah, that boat has probably passed. 244 00:11:52,507 --> 00:11:53,987 Speaker 3: But yeah, still good to get out there on a 245 00:11:54,027 --> 00:11:57,107 Speaker 3: snowboard every now and again. And remember where you know, 246 00:11:57,187 --> 00:11:58,267 Speaker 3: all this passion. 247 00:11:57,947 --> 00:12:00,947 Speaker 2: Started absolutely well, that wanted to get too carried away 248 00:12:00,987 --> 00:12:04,027 Speaker 2: so number six next year. You're still pretty young man, 249 00:12:04,307 --> 00:12:06,547 Speaker 2: are you? You know, is it going to be? Was 250 00:12:06,587 --> 00:12:07,747 Speaker 2: Cory's older than you? Isn't he? 251 00:12:08,027 --> 00:12:11,347 Speaker 4: Cory is older than me? Yeah, And I guess, you know. 252 00:12:12,427 --> 00:12:17,027 Speaker 3: Generally across the board, when athletes do start to retire, 253 00:12:17,587 --> 00:12:21,227 Speaker 3: you know, your late thirties, it may seem like you're 254 00:12:21,267 --> 00:12:23,667 Speaker 3: still young, but when you start really young, like in 255 00:12:23,707 --> 00:12:27,747 Speaker 3: your fifteen sixteen year old, it's yeah, you've been. 256 00:12:27,667 --> 00:12:29,067 Speaker 4: Around definitely a long time. 257 00:12:29,227 --> 00:12:34,707 Speaker 3: So yeah, I mean it's been an amazing journey so far, 258 00:12:34,867 --> 00:12:37,747 Speaker 3: and yeah, it's just been really incredible, and I yeah, 259 00:12:37,747 --> 00:12:39,467 Speaker 3: I wouldn't say I'm that young anymore. 260 00:12:39,587 --> 00:12:41,467 Speaker 2: All Right, Well, let's let's get twenty twenty six out 261 00:12:41,467 --> 00:12:43,387 Speaker 2: of the way before we start talking about twenty thirty. 262 00:12:44,267 --> 00:12:45,347 Speaker 2: Where do you keep your medals? 263 00:12:47,467 --> 00:12:51,587 Speaker 3: So the one from Vancouver is here on the tarry 264 00:12:52,467 --> 00:12:55,427 Speaker 3: and a gun cabinet and a safe, and the rest 265 00:12:55,427 --> 00:12:56,707 Speaker 3: are with me in Wanica. 266 00:12:56,787 --> 00:12:59,547 Speaker 4: So I do like to, you know, carry them around 267 00:12:59,547 --> 00:13:00,267 Speaker 4: with me, take. 268 00:13:00,147 --> 00:13:03,587 Speaker 3: Them to places if I'm doing any kind of functions 269 00:13:03,667 --> 00:13:05,467 Speaker 3: or talks or anything like that. I do like to, 270 00:13:06,027 --> 00:13:08,347 Speaker 3: you know, have them available so you know, they can 271 00:13:08,667 --> 00:13:10,747 Speaker 3: come out and be shared. 272 00:13:10,787 --> 00:13:13,787 Speaker 4: Really because at the end of the day, I really 273 00:13:13,867 --> 00:13:14,547 Speaker 4: value that. 274 00:13:14,707 --> 00:13:17,507 Speaker 3: You know, as an athlete, we're often put up on 275 00:13:17,547 --> 00:13:19,827 Speaker 3: the pedestal as the athlete that are, you know, won 276 00:13:19,867 --> 00:13:23,267 Speaker 3: of the medals, but really it is every single hard 277 00:13:23,307 --> 00:13:26,067 Speaker 3: working New Zealander out there that is part of the journey, 278 00:13:26,107 --> 00:13:28,467 Speaker 3: part of the medals because at the end of the day, 279 00:13:28,987 --> 00:13:32,507 Speaker 3: the majority of our funding and what enables us to 280 00:13:32,547 --> 00:13:36,187 Speaker 3: do what we do as athletes come from everybody. So 281 00:13:36,267 --> 00:13:38,227 Speaker 3: everybody isn't part of that. So I think I have 282 00:13:38,787 --> 00:13:43,667 Speaker 3: a responsibility to to showcase and to show the journey 283 00:13:44,267 --> 00:13:46,627 Speaker 3: and the behind the scenes a little bit of you know, 284 00:13:46,667 --> 00:13:49,147 Speaker 3: what it's like. And you know, people enjoy being able 285 00:13:49,187 --> 00:13:51,347 Speaker 3: to get their hands on it where whatever, you know, 286 00:13:51,387 --> 00:13:54,067 Speaker 3: and I really enjoy that and the opportunity to do that. 287 00:13:54,187 --> 00:13:54,587 Speaker 4: I love that. 288 00:13:54,667 --> 00:13:56,347 Speaker 2: Yeah, I can't remember who it was. You told me 289 00:13:56,387 --> 00:13:59,627 Speaker 2: the same thing that their medals aren't quite as pristine 290 00:13:59,667 --> 00:14:02,267 Speaker 2: as they were when they were first presented because hundreds 291 00:14:02,307 --> 00:14:04,387 Speaker 2: of hands have been on them. But they preferred it 292 00:14:04,427 --> 00:14:08,107 Speaker 2: that way because you know, you maybe sometimes somebody has 293 00:14:08,107 --> 00:14:10,987 Speaker 2: to see it to be it. You must enjoy inspiring 294 00:14:11,427 --> 00:14:12,307 Speaker 2: others as well. 295 00:14:12,827 --> 00:14:15,667 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that's one of the major things I 296 00:14:15,667 --> 00:14:19,867 Speaker 3: think is especially within winter and within the winter environment, 297 00:14:20,227 --> 00:14:23,387 Speaker 3: we've had such a huge legacy and a very successful 298 00:14:23,427 --> 00:14:27,227 Speaker 3: team all the way from the early pioneers, if you like, 299 00:14:27,267 --> 00:14:29,827 Speaker 3: in the original Winter Paralympic team in New Zealand, where 300 00:14:29,867 --> 00:14:32,187 Speaker 3: we have won medals at every single games except for 301 00:14:32,227 --> 00:14:35,667 Speaker 3: my first campaign and six. So that's something that's been 302 00:14:36,147 --> 00:14:38,547 Speaker 3: you know, very special for us and for Corey and 303 00:14:38,587 --> 00:14:41,027 Speaker 3: I and that everyone else that's gone before us. Is 304 00:14:41,067 --> 00:14:44,907 Speaker 3: to continue that legacy and to keep striving to not 305 00:14:45,067 --> 00:14:48,027 Speaker 3: just go and participate, but to really go and perform 306 00:14:48,147 --> 00:14:50,747 Speaker 3: and do the best that we can and bring back 307 00:14:50,787 --> 00:14:52,747 Speaker 3: as many medals as we possibly can. And I think 308 00:14:52,787 --> 00:14:55,707 Speaker 3: we're starting to see now that when athletes do go 309 00:14:55,787 --> 00:14:59,667 Speaker 3: to their you know, even just their first campaigns, it's 310 00:14:59,667 --> 00:15:03,187 Speaker 3: not anymore just about experience. It's about you know, that 311 00:15:03,387 --> 00:15:06,467 Speaker 3: they are being successful straight off the bat, which is real. 312 00:15:06,507 --> 00:15:07,027 Speaker 4: Really cool. 313 00:15:07,067 --> 00:15:10,907 Speaker 3: And having a platform to be able to inspire others 314 00:15:10,947 --> 00:15:13,987 Speaker 3: to get out there and you know, be ambitious and 315 00:15:14,027 --> 00:15:17,787 Speaker 3: not be afraid of, you know, saying what your dreams 316 00:15:17,827 --> 00:15:20,067 Speaker 3: are and what your goals are, because I think it's key. 317 00:15:20,107 --> 00:15:22,067 Speaker 3: We sometimes we are a little bit quiet in that 318 00:15:22,147 --> 00:15:25,107 Speaker 3: area and we're a bit too afraid to kind of 319 00:15:25,147 --> 00:15:27,147 Speaker 3: get out there and really say what it is that 320 00:15:27,187 --> 00:15:30,067 Speaker 3: we want to do. And I think, you know, there's 321 00:15:30,107 --> 00:15:32,507 Speaker 3: about one one of four, one on five of New 322 00:15:32,627 --> 00:15:36,907 Speaker 3: Zealanders that have a disability of some kind and I 323 00:15:36,907 --> 00:15:41,267 Speaker 3: think we're probably the biggest minority in the world really, 324 00:15:41,347 --> 00:15:44,027 Speaker 3: So if we can inspire others disability or not to 325 00:15:44,907 --> 00:15:48,467 Speaker 3: get out there and yeah, just really strive to do 326 00:15:48,547 --> 00:15:52,507 Speaker 3: something that can that can change your own life or 327 00:15:52,587 --> 00:15:56,547 Speaker 3: change others is really cool because you can surprise yourself 328 00:15:56,587 --> 00:15:59,707 Speaker 3: and you never never know what could have been. 329 00:16:00,467 --> 00:16:03,707 Speaker 2: Love it, mate, love it. Congratulations on what you've done 330 00:16:03,747 --> 00:16:05,907 Speaker 2: so far. I know there's much more to come starting 331 00:16:05,947 --> 00:16:08,507 Speaker 2: and twenty twenty six next year. Really appreciate you stopping 332 00:16:08,587 --> 00:16:09,227 Speaker 2: for a chat. Adam. 333 00:16:09,307 --> 00:16:10,147 Speaker 4: Thanks finding chairs. 334 00:16:10,187 --> 00:16:13,027 Speaker 2: Take it easy, mate. That's Adam Hall, five time Paralympic 335 00:16:13,107 --> 00:16:16,987 Speaker 2: medalist and about to head to his sixth Paralympic Winter Games. 336 00:16:17,067 --> 00:16:20,387 Speaker 2: No New Zealander has ever been to that many 337 00:16:21,227 --> 00:16:24,387 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 338 00:16:24,507 --> 00:16:27,787 Speaker 1: to News Talk Set B weekends from midday, or follow 339 00:16:27,827 --> 00:16:29,427 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.