SKI SLOPESTYLE: Aussie freeskier Russ Henshaw has grabbed a podium finish, coming third in the Dew Tour ski slopestyle event in Breckenridge, Colorado.

The event was full of challenges, with a tough course and windy conditions, which saw the first four skiers unable to finish and Henshaw spectacularly lose a ski, landing on one leg.

Henshaw who was the 2012 Dew Tour Champion, put it all on the line in his second run, impressing with a switch double cork 900 and a right double cork 1260 on his final two hits to score 90.00 and secure his spot on the podium.

“The Dew Tour is the first major event on the calendar so to podium here is a huge confidence boost going into the rest of the season,” Henshaw said.

“The Dew Tour is one of the biggest events in free skiing. It’s so tough to podium at this event and to actually get on the podium again is a dream come true.

“Coming into the first event of the season you get a feel for how everyone is riding and what tricks they are doing and to know you are right up there with them is an awesome feeling."

With the favoured US skiers all vying for an Olympic spot in the event that was a national selection event, the competition was fierce.

Topping the qualifying runs, it was American Nick Goepper who came out to really impress. Not bothered by the head-winds, Goepper came out with a first run full of big tricks that pulled a huge 93.00 from the judges. The last man to drop into the second run, it was a victory lap for Goepper with no one able to top his score leaving him in the top spot. Making his win all the more impressive was the fact that the 19-year-old did it with a brace on his hand and without ski poles.

Canadian skier Alex Beaulieu-Marchland made it a multicultural podium, with a powerful second run that saw him pull 91.20 and grab second place.