1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,907 Speaker 1: from Newstalks EDB. 3 00:00:12,907 --> 00:00:15,627 Speaker 2: Eleven minutes past two. A double dose of Kiwi gold 4 00:00:15,667 --> 00:00:17,707 Speaker 2: at the X Games and Aspen over the weekend, with 5 00:00:17,827 --> 00:00:21,987 Speaker 2: perhaps more to come. We heard yesterday from Zoe Sadowski Sinnett, 6 00:00:22,227 --> 00:00:25,827 Speaker 2: who won her eleventh X Games medal, her sixth gold 7 00:00:26,187 --> 00:00:29,667 Speaker 2: in the women's slope style, and fellow New Zealander Luca 8 00:00:29,787 --> 00:00:33,147 Speaker 2: Harrington pulled off a shock win in the men's slope 9 00:00:33,147 --> 00:00:37,427 Speaker 2: style after originally being named as just an alternate for 10 00:00:37,507 --> 00:00:37,947 Speaker 2: the event. 11 00:00:38,147 --> 00:00:39,147 Speaker 3: What's he gonna spin on this. 12 00:00:39,147 --> 00:00:43,067 Speaker 2: Final jump going Jake cats switch. 13 00:00:43,307 --> 00:00:48,107 Speaker 3: Triple cork sixteen twenty. The smile on his face says 14 00:00:48,147 --> 00:00:52,387 Speaker 3: it all. Welcome to Winter X Games, Luca Harrington. 15 00:00:52,027 --> 00:00:55,347 Speaker 2: You are here. Luca Harrington is here with us. Luca. 16 00:00:55,387 --> 00:00:58,187 Speaker 2: For those of us who don't follow snow sports closely, 17 00:00:58,227 --> 00:01:00,347 Speaker 2: this game as a bit of a shock to us 18 00:01:00,467 --> 00:01:04,227 Speaker 2: yesterday morning. Did it surprise you? 19 00:01:03,827 --> 00:01:03,947 Speaker 1: Uh? 20 00:01:04,227 --> 00:01:07,907 Speaker 3: You know, I was pretty surprised. It's been a it's 21 00:01:07,947 --> 00:01:11,027 Speaker 3: been a crazy journey to come here, to be a 22 00:01:11,027 --> 00:01:13,707 Speaker 3: part of the X Games. This week has been absolutely incredible, 23 00:01:14,227 --> 00:01:17,347 Speaker 3: and uh yeah, I was actually just an alternate coming 24 00:01:17,387 --> 00:01:21,147 Speaker 3: into the slope style event this week, so I wasn't 25 00:01:21,147 --> 00:01:23,147 Speaker 3: actually sure I was going to be able to to 26 00:01:23,467 --> 00:01:25,507 Speaker 3: to be on the start list and to compete until 27 00:01:25,547 --> 00:01:29,227 Speaker 3: the night before the comp So yeah, that was that 28 00:01:29,387 --> 00:01:33,307 Speaker 3: was a pretty huge shock in it in itself. And yeah, 29 00:01:33,387 --> 00:01:36,307 Speaker 3: that was my first flope style big float style win. 30 00:01:37,627 --> 00:01:40,747 Speaker 3: I'd recently gotten two big air wins in in the 31 00:01:40,747 --> 00:01:43,627 Speaker 3: World Cup stircit, but I uh, I've always been pushing 32 00:01:43,627 --> 00:01:45,707 Speaker 3: for the slope stell and then yeah, to get it 33 00:01:45,747 --> 00:01:48,227 Speaker 3: here at X Games has been absolutely incredible. And yeah, 34 00:01:48,267 --> 00:01:49,347 Speaker 3: I did not see it coming. 35 00:01:50,187 --> 00:01:53,347 Speaker 2: That's such a great story tell us about being an alternate. 36 00:01:53,427 --> 00:01:56,427 Speaker 2: What is that like? Do you tune up wide around 37 00:01:56,427 --> 00:01:58,547 Speaker 2: for a bit train and then, like you said, the 38 00:01:58,627 --> 00:02:01,507 Speaker 2: night before you find it all I'm actually competing. Is 39 00:02:01,507 --> 00:02:02,147 Speaker 2: is it a bit like that? 40 00:02:04,147 --> 00:02:08,507 Speaker 3: Yeah, it could be. Unfortunately, one of the competitors broke 41 00:02:08,587 --> 00:02:11,987 Speaker 3: his arm in the in the competition the night before, 42 00:02:12,707 --> 00:02:15,027 Speaker 3: so which meant he unfortunately had to pull out a 43 00:02:15,067 --> 00:02:18,107 Speaker 3: float style the next day. So luckily I got a 44 00:02:18,147 --> 00:02:20,387 Speaker 3: little bit of warning and advanced. I got the night 45 00:02:20,507 --> 00:02:23,947 Speaker 3: to prepare, but it could have come down to seconds 46 00:02:23,987 --> 00:02:28,667 Speaker 3: before the competition started, before I before I knew, but yeah, 47 00:02:28,747 --> 00:02:30,627 Speaker 3: luckily this time around, I had a bit of time. 48 00:02:31,867 --> 00:02:34,067 Speaker 2: It's good to hear what you in some ways, Luca 49 00:02:34,507 --> 00:02:37,307 Speaker 2: and the lace pressure as an ultimate coming in because really, 50 00:02:37,347 --> 00:02:39,947 Speaker 2: I guess there's no expectation on you. 51 00:02:41,307 --> 00:02:43,627 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think so, you know, I think my goals 52 00:02:44,067 --> 00:02:46,467 Speaker 3: were to really just put down a run. I was 53 00:02:46,467 --> 00:02:50,547 Speaker 3: really happy with push, push myself, push the sport, and 54 00:02:50,867 --> 00:02:53,547 Speaker 3: you know see where I ended up. It was it 55 00:02:53,587 --> 00:02:55,067 Speaker 3: was a goal of mine to make it through to 56 00:02:55,107 --> 00:02:58,267 Speaker 3: the second round, which I did, and I was I 57 00:02:58,347 --> 00:03:03,027 Speaker 3: was pre dawn stoked after that in itself, and then yeah, 58 00:03:03,187 --> 00:03:05,667 Speaker 3: it was pretty crazy to end up walking away with 59 00:03:05,747 --> 00:03:06,067 Speaker 3: the gold. 60 00:03:06,547 --> 00:03:08,907 Speaker 2: You've been training, as you say, even as an alternate, 61 00:03:08,987 --> 00:03:11,347 Speaker 2: did you feel confident once you were in the field 62 00:03:11,387 --> 00:03:13,467 Speaker 2: that you could put down a good run in the slipestyle? 63 00:03:15,267 --> 00:03:18,147 Speaker 3: You know, it was it was tough. It was great 64 00:03:18,187 --> 00:03:20,787 Speaker 3: to be able to train all week with everyone, but 65 00:03:21,027 --> 00:03:24,267 Speaker 3: you know, these are the best of the best, and 66 00:03:24,467 --> 00:03:27,867 Speaker 3: watching watching them ski all week, you know, I was like, wow, 67 00:03:27,947 --> 00:03:31,787 Speaker 3: this is this is going to be tough. So it was, 68 00:03:32,147 --> 00:03:34,427 Speaker 3: but I definitely, you know, I felt confident in my 69 00:03:34,507 --> 00:03:36,747 Speaker 3: skiing and I was really happy with how I trained 70 00:03:36,787 --> 00:03:40,747 Speaker 3: and my performance leading into the competition, So yeah, I 71 00:03:40,747 --> 00:03:43,107 Speaker 3: definitely had a fair bit of confidence in myself coming 72 00:03:43,147 --> 00:03:47,067 Speaker 3: into the camp, and yeah it was super super pleased 73 00:03:47,107 --> 00:03:50,427 Speaker 3: with how uh how my confidence levels were dropping in 74 00:03:50,467 --> 00:03:52,267 Speaker 3: and I think that helped my performance lot. 75 00:03:52,827 --> 00:03:56,347 Speaker 2: You mentioned earlier the consecutive World Cup Biggie wins that 76 00:03:56,467 --> 00:03:58,587 Speaker 2: you've had. They're quite different events from what I can 77 00:03:58,627 --> 00:04:01,307 Speaker 2: tell though, one big jump as opposed to a series 78 00:04:01,347 --> 00:04:05,107 Speaker 2: of tricks. But did those wins in the Biggie give 79 00:04:05,147 --> 00:04:07,947 Speaker 2: you confidence in the slopestyle and does that confidence train 80 00:04:08,027 --> 00:04:10,107 Speaker 2: slight across events. 81 00:04:11,427 --> 00:04:15,947 Speaker 3: Yeah? Absolutely. I mean the big air and floatso are 82 00:04:16,107 --> 00:04:20,427 Speaker 3: quite separate these days. It's a lot harder to combine, 83 00:04:20,947 --> 00:04:25,347 Speaker 3: you know, three different jumps and three different rails all 84 00:04:25,507 --> 00:04:28,547 Speaker 3: connected into one run and to perfect all of them 85 00:04:28,587 --> 00:04:31,987 Speaker 3: going down versus just standing at the top and you know, 86 00:04:32,107 --> 00:04:34,867 Speaker 3: being getting ready to just do one trick, one run, 87 00:04:34,987 --> 00:04:38,307 Speaker 3: one jump. So yeah, flopso is definitely a lot harder, 88 00:04:38,347 --> 00:04:40,867 Speaker 3: but you know, it's all connected and it all helps. 89 00:04:41,427 --> 00:04:43,827 Speaker 2: So as it turned out, you won gold on your 90 00:04:43,867 --> 00:04:47,907 Speaker 2: first run in the slopestyle, which was flawless. Tell us 91 00:04:47,907 --> 00:04:49,707 Speaker 2: about that and what was going through you on during 92 00:04:49,707 --> 00:04:50,107 Speaker 2: that run. 93 00:04:51,387 --> 00:04:54,347 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I did my first run in the 94 00:04:54,387 --> 00:04:57,387 Speaker 3: first round. So there were two rounds in this competition, 95 00:04:57,427 --> 00:04:59,347 Speaker 3: which was a bit of a new format for us, 96 00:04:59,507 --> 00:05:03,987 Speaker 3: but I had really nailed my first run, and I 97 00:05:04,027 --> 00:05:06,747 Speaker 3: was super proud of myself. I definite we had a 98 00:05:06,747 --> 00:05:09,347 Speaker 3: couple of things I could step up too, which was exciting. 99 00:05:10,627 --> 00:05:12,947 Speaker 3: So yeah, I had a decent score in the first round, 100 00:05:13,627 --> 00:05:15,987 Speaker 3: but on my second run in the first round, I 101 00:05:16,787 --> 00:05:19,747 Speaker 3: landed it even better, and I gotta I bumped up 102 00:05:19,747 --> 00:05:21,547 Speaker 3: my run a little bit, and I was expecting my 103 00:05:21,787 --> 00:05:24,627 Speaker 3: score to go up just just a couple of points, 104 00:05:24,867 --> 00:05:26,947 Speaker 3: and then uh, and then I moved up into first 105 00:05:26,947 --> 00:05:29,707 Speaker 3: place going into the final round, which meant I got 106 00:05:29,707 --> 00:05:33,827 Speaker 3: to drop lest which was pretty incredible. And uh, you know, 107 00:05:33,907 --> 00:05:36,387 Speaker 3: I was scared. I was scared for that first round 108 00:05:36,387 --> 00:05:40,267 Speaker 3: of the finals. I had so much adrenaline pumping and 109 00:05:40,307 --> 00:05:42,907 Speaker 3: I was I was scared I was gonna mess something up, 110 00:05:42,907 --> 00:05:45,307 Speaker 3: but it was it was uh yeah, it was pretty 111 00:05:45,387 --> 00:05:49,547 Speaker 3: nice to get through the top section clean on the rails, 112 00:05:49,867 --> 00:05:52,547 Speaker 3: because that's kind of what I struggle with a little 113 00:05:52,587 --> 00:05:54,307 Speaker 3: bit more. And then once they got to the jump, 114 00:05:55,187 --> 00:05:57,627 Speaker 3: you know, my confidence really kicked in and I Uh, 115 00:05:57,907 --> 00:06:00,387 Speaker 3: I just wanted to put on a good show for everyone, 116 00:06:00,427 --> 00:06:02,627 Speaker 3: and then to get to the bottom and get them 117 00:06:02,707 --> 00:06:05,067 Speaker 3: an amazing high score was just incredible. 118 00:06:05,427 --> 00:06:08,147 Speaker 2: I saw God early on in the competition that you 119 00:06:08,187 --> 00:06:11,267 Speaker 2: weren't expecting to compete in, and you see your name 120 00:06:11,347 --> 00:06:14,107 Speaker 2: at the top with a huge score. What did that 121 00:06:14,267 --> 00:06:16,587 Speaker 2: do to your nerves? And maybe you're adrenaline for the 122 00:06:16,587 --> 00:06:17,427 Speaker 2: rest of the competition. 123 00:06:18,587 --> 00:06:20,947 Speaker 3: You know, I think the adrenaline was going the whole time. 124 00:06:21,307 --> 00:06:23,307 Speaker 3: I mean just being out here at X Games and 125 00:06:23,387 --> 00:06:26,547 Speaker 3: you know, having a huge crowd at the bottom has 126 00:06:26,667 --> 00:06:29,707 Speaker 3: just been absolutely insane. This whole week has been incredible. 127 00:06:29,747 --> 00:06:32,427 Speaker 3: I've had, you know, so much energy and just been 128 00:06:32,507 --> 00:06:35,947 Speaker 3: so happy. So, you know, the adrenaline was definitely going, 129 00:06:35,987 --> 00:06:40,107 Speaker 3: but it definitely went into overdrive after that first run, 130 00:06:40,227 --> 00:06:40,587 Speaker 3: for sure. 131 00:06:40,787 --> 00:06:43,067 Speaker 2: And did you feel like this performance was coming on 132 00:06:43,187 --> 00:06:44,147 Speaker 2: recent form? 133 00:06:44,467 --> 00:06:48,787 Speaker 3: You know, I wasn't sure. It's never something that I'm 134 00:06:48,867 --> 00:06:52,227 Speaker 3: focusing on. I'm not focusing on winning the gold. I'm 135 00:06:52,267 --> 00:06:55,667 Speaker 3: more focusing on, you know, myself, my skiing and doing 136 00:06:55,707 --> 00:06:58,307 Speaker 3: the best that I can do, pushing myself to my limit, 137 00:06:58,987 --> 00:07:01,307 Speaker 3: and you know, I think that probably helps me a 138 00:07:01,347 --> 00:07:05,427 Speaker 3: lot coming into these competitions and yeah, so. 139 00:07:05,387 --> 00:07:07,627 Speaker 2: We're going to see you again this afternoon in the 140 00:07:07,667 --> 00:07:12,227 Speaker 2: Big Air your preferred event. Have your ambitions changed now, Luka, 141 00:07:12,627 --> 00:07:15,947 Speaker 2: Now you've got the gold and the slopestyll cipher typed. 142 00:07:15,747 --> 00:07:20,147 Speaker 3: Away, definitely not. I mean, it's been absolutely incredible winning 143 00:07:20,227 --> 00:07:22,507 Speaker 3: this gold and it's a you know, it made me 144 00:07:22,547 --> 00:07:25,027 Speaker 3: feel a lot, a lot of a lot of joy 145 00:07:25,067 --> 00:07:28,387 Speaker 3: and uh happiness. But you know, I'm trying to focus 146 00:07:28,427 --> 00:07:31,707 Speaker 3: in for tonight again. I'd love to, I'd love to 147 00:07:31,747 --> 00:07:34,067 Speaker 3: walk away with another medal tonight, but it's gonna be 148 00:07:34,307 --> 00:07:35,987 Speaker 3: It's gonna be hard. There's gonna be a lot of 149 00:07:35,987 --> 00:07:39,147 Speaker 3: big tricks, a few worlds first being put down tonight 150 00:07:40,547 --> 00:07:43,907 Speaker 3: and X Games. You know, X Games is wherever run 151 00:07:44,467 --> 00:07:47,947 Speaker 3: pulls out, pulls out everything, you know, So it's definitely 152 00:07:47,947 --> 00:07:50,427 Speaker 3: going to be a challenge tonight. But I'm super excited 153 00:07:50,467 --> 00:07:52,547 Speaker 3: to go and put down my tricks and see what 154 00:07:52,587 --> 00:07:53,467 Speaker 3: the judges think of it. 155 00:07:53,667 --> 00:07:56,707 Speaker 2: And if we look slightly further ahead Winter Olympics next 156 00:07:56,787 --> 00:07:59,307 Speaker 2: year and itally, how much of a goal are they 157 00:07:59,427 --> 00:07:59,747 Speaker 2: for you? 158 00:08:00,747 --> 00:08:04,707 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's definitely bouncing towards the idea of the Olympics 159 00:08:05,907 --> 00:08:08,587 Speaker 3: for sure, But you know, I'm still just trying to 160 00:08:08,587 --> 00:08:13,267 Speaker 3: focus on this season to stay healthy, to keep getting 161 00:08:13,267 --> 00:08:16,587 Speaker 3: some strong results, and then we can look at getting 162 00:08:16,587 --> 00:08:18,827 Speaker 3: closer to the Olympics next year and just. 163 00:08:18,787 --> 00:08:21,667 Speaker 2: To finish with us win. I suppose now you're in 164 00:08:21,707 --> 00:08:24,587 Speaker 2: the position where you've got too preferred events, the big 165 00:08:24,587 --> 00:08:27,347 Speaker 2: air end the slopestyle. So will this add to your 166 00:08:27,387 --> 00:08:28,427 Speaker 2: schedule moving forward? 167 00:08:29,107 --> 00:08:33,147 Speaker 3: Not really, I mean I try to specialize in both 168 00:08:33,187 --> 00:08:36,587 Speaker 3: of them. Honestly, I was lucky enough this year to 169 00:08:36,907 --> 00:08:39,347 Speaker 3: excel a little bit more earlier this season in the 170 00:08:39,387 --> 00:08:42,147 Speaker 3: big airs. But you know, slop style is still also 171 00:08:42,667 --> 00:08:45,147 Speaker 3: my favorite event to do as well, just as equal 172 00:08:45,187 --> 00:08:48,667 Speaker 3: as Big Air, if not more. So you know, the 173 00:08:48,987 --> 00:08:51,707 Speaker 3: schedule hasn't changed. We're still going to be doing all 174 00:08:51,747 --> 00:08:53,627 Speaker 3: of the slope styles and all of the big airs 175 00:08:53,987 --> 00:08:55,347 Speaker 3: and seeing where we can get with that. 176 00:08:56,067 --> 00:08:59,747 Speaker 2: Well. Look, congratulations on the lightest gold medal. It was 177 00:09:00,187 --> 00:09:04,027 Speaker 2: something that gave us a very very pleasant surprise yesterday 178 00:09:04,067 --> 00:09:06,467 Speaker 2: when we learned that u end Zolwy sauld ask he 179 00:09:06,507 --> 00:09:08,867 Speaker 2: senator both one gold at the X Games. You made 180 00:09:08,867 --> 00:09:11,227 Speaker 2: a lot of new fans over here. We'll look forward 181 00:09:11,227 --> 00:09:13,307 Speaker 2: to seeing how you go tonight and further down the track. 182 00:09:13,347 --> 00:09:14,747 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for joining us for a chat. 183 00:09:15,107 --> 00:09:17,787 Speaker 3: Well, thank you so much. I appreciate all the support 184 00:09:17,867 --> 00:09:20,467 Speaker 3: coming out of New zeal And. It's been incredible the 185 00:09:20,507 --> 00:09:22,947 Speaker 3: amount of messages I've been receiving, so thank you all 186 00:09:23,027 --> 00:09:23,467 Speaker 3: so much. 187 00:09:23,587 --> 00:09:26,827 Speaker 2: Good Man Looker, thanks indeed, Lukah Harrington. There aspen X 188 00:09:26,867 --> 00:09:29,227 Speaker 2: Games gold medalist and the men Slope Style about to 189 00:09:29,267 --> 00:09:31,427 Speaker 2: go in the Big Air in about two or three hours, 190 00:09:31,747 --> 00:09:35,027 Speaker 2: so who knows, he may add to his collection of 191 00:09:35,387 --> 00:09:36,507 Speaker 2: X Games medals. 192 00:09:37,227 --> 00:09:40,427 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 193 00:09:40,507 --> 00:09:43,827 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow 194 00:09:43,827 --> 00:09:45,467 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio