SNOWBOARD HALFPIPE: As Australia’s first men’s Halfpipe World Champion in 2011 and multiple World Cup medallist, snowboarder Nate Johnstone knows a good pipe when he sees it.
His assessment of the halfpipe at Phoenix, PyeongChang for the Olympic Test Event and World Cup earlier this year was that it was, “better than expected,” and “one of the best pipes I rode all season.
“There were challenges at the test event. The pipe was quite short with the athletes only getting four hits, where normally we get five or six. I think they’ll have to make it longer to allow an extra hit.”
Johnstone said that the test event was well organised, ran well and that he is looking forward to returning for the 2018 Olympic Games.
“Ideally, my expectation (for next February) is to land a really good run. Yes – there is the top five, but more so it’s about walking away with a run I’m happy with and that I wanted to do at the Games,” he said.
The 27-year-old, who is now a parent to son Louis with his partner Emma, has made many adjustments to his life since his first Olympic Games in Sochi where he finished in 13th.
“The longest I’ve spent away from Louis is just over two weeks. One of the best things about last season was when Emma and Louis came with me from January until the World Championships in Spain. It was really good having them there.”
In late August Johnstone heads to New Zealand for the first World Cup of the 2017/18 season.
