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 --> 00:00:12,547 Speaker 1: from newstalksb. 3 00:00:12,787 --> 00:00:15,907 Speaker 2: Snow Sports New Zealand Annual Awards Night in Wonica on 4 00:00:15,987 --> 00:00:20,267 Speaker 2: Friday Night, Free Skial, free Ski, Slope Style and Big 5 00:00:20,347 --> 00:00:24,307 Speaker 2: Air athlete Luca Harrington was named snow Sports New Zealand 6 00:00:24,387 --> 00:00:28,067 Speaker 2: Athlete of the Year. Luca Harrington had an exceptional twenty 7 00:00:28,107 --> 00:00:30,707 Speaker 2: twenty four to twenty five season, winning on some of 8 00:00:30,747 --> 00:00:34,747 Speaker 2: the biggest stages in free skiing. In January, he claimed 9 00:00:34,787 --> 00:00:38,507 Speaker 2: gold in slope Style and silver in big Air at 10 00:00:38,547 --> 00:00:41,987 Speaker 2: his first appearance at the Winter X Games. In March, 11 00:00:42,067 --> 00:00:44,227 Speaker 2: he became the first key We to claim the Crystal 12 00:00:44,307 --> 00:00:48,027 Speaker 2: Globe as overall champion for the FIS Big Air World 13 00:00:48,067 --> 00:00:50,387 Speaker 2: Cup Tour, and two weeks later the first key We 14 00:00:50,467 --> 00:00:54,187 Speaker 2: to win the FIS Free Ski Big Air World Championship. 15 00:00:55,267 --> 00:00:59,227 Speaker 3: Your World Champion twenty twenty five. Here an angered in 16 00:00:59,547 --> 00:01:06,307 Speaker 3: Luca Harrington. What a legend Jane five are you heading Luca? 17 00:01:06,467 --> 00:01:09,267 Speaker 3: Let's go World Champs twenty twenty five. 18 00:01:09,827 --> 00:01:13,267 Speaker 2: Luca Harrington is with us. Congratulations on the award, Luca, 19 00:01:13,347 --> 00:01:17,147 Speaker 2: and on an absolutely exceptional year. If you and I 20 00:01:17,187 --> 00:01:20,147 Speaker 2: were talking a year ago, could you have imagined the 21 00:01:20,187 --> 00:01:23,547 Speaker 2: success that you have had in the last twelve months. 22 00:01:25,187 --> 00:01:28,907 Speaker 3: Thank you very much, first of all, but no, absolutely not. 23 00:01:29,187 --> 00:01:32,387 Speaker 3: This is those results were not what I was seeing 24 00:01:32,387 --> 00:01:35,027 Speaker 3: in my future going into last season. But I'm very 25 00:01:35,027 --> 00:01:40,107 Speaker 3: grateful for every moment and that and for everything that happened. 26 00:01:40,507 --> 00:01:43,787 Speaker 2: Let's talk about the X Games and Aspen in January, 27 00:01:43,827 --> 00:01:46,907 Speaker 2: gold and silver there. Now, initially, weren't you just an 28 00:01:46,987 --> 00:01:49,267 Speaker 2: alternate for those games? 29 00:01:50,147 --> 00:01:53,187 Speaker 3: Yeah, exactly, So I was fortunate enough to get two 30 00:01:53,307 --> 00:01:56,947 Speaker 3: alternate spots. I went for SubSol one for Big Air, 31 00:01:57,347 --> 00:02:01,507 Speaker 3: and that originally meant that I'm a backup in case 32 00:02:01,547 --> 00:02:03,627 Speaker 3: somebody does get hurt, but it means that I get 33 00:02:03,667 --> 00:02:05,987 Speaker 3: to train and ski and be a part of the 34 00:02:06,027 --> 00:02:08,987 Speaker 3: whole event right up until the actual competition. 35 00:02:10,027 --> 00:02:12,147 Speaker 2: And so when did you find out that not only 36 00:02:12,187 --> 00:02:14,307 Speaker 2: could you do all those things, but you actually were 37 00:02:14,787 --> 00:02:16,187 Speaker 2: in the field for the two events. 38 00:02:17,427 --> 00:02:20,787 Speaker 3: Yeah. So, actually about a week before the X Games 39 00:02:20,827 --> 00:02:24,307 Speaker 3: I got the official invite into the Big Air. But 40 00:02:24,387 --> 00:02:28,227 Speaker 3: then coming down to Slope Style, it was you know, 41 00:02:28,267 --> 00:02:30,387 Speaker 3: I trained all week. I was kind of assuming I 42 00:02:30,467 --> 00:02:32,867 Speaker 3: wasn't going to be in in the event, but uh, 43 00:02:33,347 --> 00:02:35,067 Speaker 3: the night before the slop cell event, we had a 44 00:02:35,067 --> 00:02:38,827 Speaker 3: big air training at night under the lights, which is awesome. 45 00:02:39,947 --> 00:02:42,547 Speaker 3: And then I got back down into the athlete zone, 46 00:02:42,707 --> 00:02:45,507 Speaker 3: pulled out my phone and it's you know, nine o'clock 47 00:02:45,547 --> 00:02:47,467 Speaker 3: at night, and we got the we got the slope 48 00:02:47,507 --> 00:02:50,067 Speaker 3: cell the next day and I get an email saying, hey, 49 00:02:50,067 --> 00:02:53,027 Speaker 3: you're in. So that was a pretty crazy moment. 50 00:02:53,267 --> 00:02:56,547 Speaker 2: Absolutely, So in some ways, did that take any pressure 51 00:02:56,587 --> 00:02:59,307 Speaker 2: that you might have been feeling off that, you know, hey, 52 00:02:59,347 --> 00:03:01,467 Speaker 2: this is almost a bit of a free hit, a 53 00:03:01,467 --> 00:03:02,147 Speaker 2: bit of a bonus. 54 00:03:03,387 --> 00:03:07,147 Speaker 3: Yeah, absolutely, I think I think that's exactly what happened. 55 00:03:07,187 --> 00:03:09,587 Speaker 3: I was, you know, I felt so relaxed up there 56 00:03:09,787 --> 00:03:13,067 Speaker 3: during that comp. I wasn't you know, I wasn't expecting 57 00:03:13,107 --> 00:03:15,747 Speaker 3: anything of myself. I was just trying to embrace the 58 00:03:15,987 --> 00:03:18,627 Speaker 3: embrace the moment and enjoy being there with some my 59 00:03:18,987 --> 00:03:21,507 Speaker 3: you know, some of my idols and some my really 60 00:03:21,507 --> 00:03:24,947 Speaker 3: good peers. So yeah, I definitely think that that whole 61 00:03:24,987 --> 00:03:29,627 Speaker 3: confidence thing was very My confidence was very high up 62 00:03:29,627 --> 00:03:32,267 Speaker 3: in there, just because I wasn't having to feel that pressure. 63 00:03:32,787 --> 00:03:34,387 Speaker 2: So look at just for the benefit of some of 64 00:03:34,427 --> 00:03:37,907 Speaker 2: our listeners who aren't as familiar with snowsports as others, 65 00:03:37,947 --> 00:03:40,987 Speaker 2: can you just explain the difference between slope Style and 66 00:03:41,067 --> 00:03:42,667 Speaker 2: Big Air for us. 67 00:03:43,187 --> 00:03:46,547 Speaker 3: Yeah, absolutely so. Slope Style is an event where there 68 00:03:46,547 --> 00:03:50,667 Speaker 3: are multiple features throughout the run. Usually it consists of 69 00:03:51,667 --> 00:03:55,467 Speaker 3: consists of about three different rails, which are you know, 70 00:03:55,547 --> 00:03:58,507 Speaker 3: the big big metal rails that we slide on, and 71 00:03:58,547 --> 00:04:02,107 Speaker 3: then usually three different jumps as well. With a Big 72 00:04:02,147 --> 00:04:07,187 Speaker 3: Air event is just one big jump, and yeah, you 73 00:04:07,307 --> 00:04:09,307 Speaker 3: just got to do two different directions. We're in the 74 00:04:09,307 --> 00:04:11,947 Speaker 3: slop Sell run. You have to really put a lot 75 00:04:12,027 --> 00:04:14,747 Speaker 3: more effort in and create a bunch of different tricks 76 00:04:14,747 --> 00:04:15,627 Speaker 3: and link them together. 77 00:04:16,147 --> 00:04:17,867 Speaker 2: Do you have a favorite of the two? 78 00:04:19,867 --> 00:04:22,347 Speaker 3: Not really. I think I was definitely a little bit 79 00:04:22,347 --> 00:04:24,947 Speaker 3: more successful and Big Air this year, but I really 80 00:04:24,987 --> 00:04:26,347 Speaker 3: love the challenge to slope Sell. 81 00:04:27,187 --> 00:04:29,027 Speaker 2: So in the big Ee, as you say, it's just 82 00:04:29,067 --> 00:04:30,827 Speaker 2: the one jump, I know you get three runs. But 83 00:04:30,867 --> 00:04:33,067 Speaker 2: as you're standing at the top there, how do you 84 00:04:33,107 --> 00:04:36,627 Speaker 2: prepare yourself for some of the to us anyway death 85 00:04:36,707 --> 00:04:38,467 Speaker 2: defying tricks that you're pulling out. 86 00:04:40,947 --> 00:04:44,627 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's it's definitely scary. It's never easy standing at 87 00:04:44,627 --> 00:04:48,147 Speaker 3: the top of a massive jump, putting your putting your 88 00:04:48,187 --> 00:04:51,387 Speaker 3: body on the line. But I guess you know, we 89 00:04:52,067 --> 00:04:54,707 Speaker 3: spend so much time doing this stuff, and we work 90 00:04:54,787 --> 00:04:58,347 Speaker 3: really hard to perfect these tricks and to do them safely. 91 00:04:58,467 --> 00:05:02,307 Speaker 3: So it's really just trusting and putting belief in your stuff. 92 00:05:02,867 --> 00:05:04,387 Speaker 3: When you're standing at the top there. 93 00:05:04,627 --> 00:05:08,867 Speaker 2: And as you're performing these tricks in mid air, look goodness, 94 00:05:08,867 --> 00:05:11,627 Speaker 2: may most of us can't even put ourselves into that situation. 95 00:05:12,147 --> 00:05:16,067 Speaker 2: Are you aware of what you're doing in those seconds 96 00:05:16,067 --> 00:05:17,867 Speaker 2: when you're in the air or is it only till 97 00:05:17,907 --> 00:05:20,747 Speaker 2: afterwards that you realize, hey, I've actually nailed that. 98 00:05:22,467 --> 00:05:25,987 Speaker 3: Yeah? Absolutely, I mean that's a huge part of perfecting 99 00:05:25,987 --> 00:05:29,387 Speaker 3: a trick is to be to be very aware in 100 00:05:29,467 --> 00:05:32,107 Speaker 3: the air of what you are and that's a huge 101 00:05:32,107 --> 00:05:34,227 Speaker 3: part of our sport when we're doing these when we're 102 00:05:34,267 --> 00:05:37,827 Speaker 3: doing these double and triple court tricks, is to know 103 00:05:37,947 --> 00:05:40,107 Speaker 3: and where you are and be spotting the landing and 104 00:05:40,147 --> 00:05:42,667 Speaker 3: always be aware of your surroundings so that you know 105 00:05:42,747 --> 00:05:45,787 Speaker 3: you're not ending up falling or landing where you don't 106 00:05:45,787 --> 00:05:46,467 Speaker 3: want to be landing. 107 00:05:47,067 --> 00:05:50,187 Speaker 2: So X Games success there, then you went on to 108 00:05:50,227 --> 00:05:53,067 Speaker 2: win the Crystal Globe as overall champion for the Big 109 00:05:53,067 --> 00:05:55,067 Speaker 2: Air World Cup two, the first keyp WE to win that. 110 00:05:55,267 --> 00:05:56,987 Speaker 2: A couple of weeks later, the first keyp We to 111 00:05:57,027 --> 00:06:00,227 Speaker 2: win the Free Sky Big Air World Championship. How special 112 00:06:00,307 --> 00:06:02,027 Speaker 2: was the World Championship win for you? 113 00:06:03,587 --> 00:06:07,547 Speaker 3: Yeah, that was pretty incredible. You know that happened from 114 00:06:07,867 --> 00:06:12,547 Speaker 3: Zoe in the past, and you know it's the World 115 00:06:12,627 --> 00:06:14,907 Speaker 3: Chance that comes around every two years. It's a very 116 00:06:14,907 --> 00:06:19,507 Speaker 3: special moment. Only a few people get to selected to 117 00:06:19,547 --> 00:06:22,747 Speaker 3: go as part of the New Zealand team. So yeah, 118 00:06:22,787 --> 00:06:25,507 Speaker 3: the World Chance is definitely a very special moment for me. 119 00:06:25,987 --> 00:06:29,627 Speaker 2: Whenever I watch snowsports, it always looks as though the 120 00:06:29,707 --> 00:06:33,667 Speaker 2: competitors are just as happy for one another when they 121 00:06:33,667 --> 00:06:36,827 Speaker 2: pull off great performances as they are in their own performances. 122 00:06:36,987 --> 00:06:39,547 Speaker 2: What is the camaraderie really like in your sport? 123 00:06:40,867 --> 00:06:43,707 Speaker 3: Yeah? Absolutely, I mean it is an individual sport, and 124 00:06:43,747 --> 00:06:45,947 Speaker 3: of course we're always wanting to beat each other and 125 00:06:46,547 --> 00:06:49,027 Speaker 3: you know, be at the top of the on the 126 00:06:49,067 --> 00:06:52,987 Speaker 3: top of the steps. But in the end, our culture 127 00:06:53,147 --> 00:06:56,147 Speaker 3: and our community in the freestyle scene is just just 128 00:06:56,307 --> 00:06:58,947 Speaker 3: one giant family. You know we are. We're all there 129 00:06:58,987 --> 00:07:01,267 Speaker 3: doing it for the same reasons. We're all there to 130 00:07:01,307 --> 00:07:04,107 Speaker 3: push each other and to help each other, and of 131 00:07:04,147 --> 00:07:06,187 Speaker 3: course we're going to celebrate each other along the way. 132 00:07:06,347 --> 00:07:07,307 Speaker 2: All right, let's look ahead. 133 00:07:07,307 --> 00:07:07,467 Speaker 3: Now. 134 00:07:07,467 --> 00:07:10,227 Speaker 2: Week osawago, you were confirmed as one of the first 135 00:07:10,267 --> 00:07:12,307 Speaker 2: group of New Zealand athletes to earn selection for the 136 00:07:12,387 --> 00:07:16,027 Speaker 2: Winter Olympics coming up in Melana, Courtina in February. So 137 00:07:16,387 --> 00:07:19,947 Speaker 2: between now and then, what will your build up involve? 138 00:07:21,907 --> 00:07:26,467 Speaker 3: Yeah, so of course that's the big one. We have 139 00:07:26,507 --> 00:07:28,947 Speaker 3: a couple of months in between where we will be 140 00:07:29,547 --> 00:07:31,427 Speaker 3: We're heading off to Austria at the end of this 141 00:07:31,467 --> 00:07:33,587 Speaker 3: month actually to get in some training, to go to 142 00:07:33,627 --> 00:07:37,307 Speaker 3: a training camp in the Stubai Valley just outside Ennsbruck. 143 00:07:37,947 --> 00:07:43,147 Speaker 3: But then before the Olympics, I'll be doing around I 144 00:07:43,147 --> 00:07:46,747 Speaker 3: think five or six competitions going in so a few 145 00:07:46,787 --> 00:07:50,547 Speaker 3: of these will be the World Cup Tour, so the 146 00:07:50,547 --> 00:07:52,627 Speaker 3: Big Air and Slipstar World Cup Tour, and then I've 147 00:07:52,667 --> 00:07:55,307 Speaker 3: also been lucky enough to get an invite back to 148 00:07:55,347 --> 00:07:57,907 Speaker 3: the X Games again this year, so I'll be competing 149 00:07:57,907 --> 00:08:00,707 Speaker 3: in that in January, before the Olympics. 150 00:08:00,987 --> 00:08:03,347 Speaker 2: Where does the Winter Games sit, Luca? You know you 151 00:08:03,427 --> 00:08:07,307 Speaker 2: talk about Big Air and how special sorry X Games 152 00:08:07,307 --> 00:08:10,187 Speaker 2: and how big, how special that is. Does the Winter 153 00:08:10,227 --> 00:08:12,987 Speaker 2: Olympics compare? Are you able to compare the two? 154 00:08:14,347 --> 00:08:18,027 Speaker 3: I mean absolutely yeah. The Olympics. Of course, it's it's 155 00:08:18,027 --> 00:08:20,747 Speaker 3: the big one. It's comes around every four years, where 156 00:08:20,867 --> 00:08:25,147 Speaker 3: X Games is every year. But honestly, to some people 157 00:08:25,147 --> 00:08:28,907 Speaker 3: in the freestyle community, the X Games is almost more 158 00:08:28,947 --> 00:08:32,787 Speaker 3: important because even less even less people get to go 159 00:08:32,827 --> 00:08:34,827 Speaker 3: to that one. And if you're so if you're one 160 00:08:34,867 --> 00:08:38,787 Speaker 3: of those few people selected to be skiing during the 161 00:08:38,947 --> 00:08:40,947 Speaker 3: X Games, it's a It's a pretty incredible thing. 162 00:08:41,267 --> 00:08:43,187 Speaker 2: And your brother Bean went to the twenty twenty two 163 00:08:43,227 --> 00:08:45,907 Speaker 2: Winter Games in the half pipe. I know he's gunning 164 00:08:45,947 --> 00:08:48,987 Speaker 2: for selection for twenty twenty six as well. How special 165 00:08:49,027 --> 00:08:52,387 Speaker 2: would it be to go to a Winter Olympic Games 166 00:08:52,427 --> 00:08:53,787 Speaker 2: together as brothers? 167 00:08:54,267 --> 00:08:57,987 Speaker 3: Yeah, it would be incredible. That's been a huge golf 168 00:08:58,067 --> 00:09:00,627 Speaker 3: for me and my family, and you know, it's been 169 00:09:01,027 --> 00:09:03,187 Speaker 3: our dream for so long to have us both there. 170 00:09:04,627 --> 00:09:06,187 Speaker 3: You know, it's a hard one not to be there 171 00:09:06,187 --> 00:09:09,947 Speaker 3: with him at the twenty twenty two Games. But I 172 00:09:09,947 --> 00:09:13,227 Speaker 3: think things are looking pretty break this year and gonna 173 00:09:13,267 --> 00:09:17,107 Speaker 3: be very honored to be skiing with him in Italy 174 00:09:17,187 --> 00:09:17,547 Speaker 3: this year. 175 00:09:17,707 --> 00:09:19,747 Speaker 2: What is it about that town of yours man Wonnica. 176 00:09:19,787 --> 00:09:23,627 Speaker 2: It's probably just so many world class snowsport athletes and 177 00:09:23,667 --> 00:09:27,147 Speaker 2: so many families as well with multiple siblings who are 178 00:09:27,187 --> 00:09:28,187 Speaker 2: all just amazing. 179 00:09:29,867 --> 00:09:33,227 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's pretty crazy. Definitely something in the water down here, 180 00:09:33,307 --> 00:09:35,347 Speaker 3: but I'm not going to tell you what that might. 181 00:09:35,187 --> 00:09:38,307 Speaker 2: Be, fair enough. How nice has it been there to 182 00:09:38,307 --> 00:09:39,987 Speaker 2: be home for a b because you spend the you know, 183 00:09:40,107 --> 00:09:42,307 Speaker 2: spend the year or most of it sort of offshore. 184 00:09:42,587 --> 00:09:43,787 Speaker 2: How nice has it been to have a bit of 185 00:09:43,787 --> 00:09:44,347 Speaker 2: time back home? 186 00:09:45,547 --> 00:09:48,427 Speaker 3: Oh, it's always so good. I mean it's a bit tough. 187 00:09:48,507 --> 00:09:50,547 Speaker 3: Our winters are nowhere near as long as the Northern 188 00:09:50,547 --> 00:09:53,347 Speaker 3: Hemisphere winters, so you know, I feel like I am 189 00:09:53,387 --> 00:09:55,187 Speaker 3: not spending more time away from home than I do 190 00:09:55,387 --> 00:09:58,027 Speaker 3: at home, but you know, it makes it that much 191 00:09:58,027 --> 00:10:00,227 Speaker 3: more special, and I am back. 192 00:10:01,307 --> 00:10:04,707 Speaker 2: Look, congrats on a terrific year, mate, and on your 193 00:10:04,707 --> 00:10:08,187 Speaker 2: award on Friday night, which which I know was well 194 00:10:08,227 --> 00:10:11,067 Speaker 2: accepted and thoroughly deserved. All the best for what lies 195 00:10:11,187 --> 00:10:13,347 Speaker 2: he had made a very exciting time as we draw 196 00:10:13,347 --> 00:10:15,987 Speaker 2: closer to the Winter Olympics. I really appreciate you taking 197 00:10:16,027 --> 00:10:16,827 Speaker 2: the time for a chat. 198 00:10:17,187 --> 00:10:20,987 Speaker 3: Absolutely, thank you for the chat, and yeah, appreciate the support. 199 00:10:21,067 --> 00:10:23,867 Speaker 2: Thank you guys, No, thank you Looca. Luca Harrington snow 200 00:10:23,907 --> 00:10:25,987 Speaker 2: sports New Zealand athlete of the year. 201 00:10:26,547 --> 00:10:29,747 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 202 00:10:29,827 --> 00:10:33,107 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow 203 00:10:33,147 --> 00:10:34,787 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.