Snowboarding: Juniors keen to put best to the test

It might be a tall story after a long day on the mountain but the theory down south is that Shaun White's Olympic gold medal-winning "Tomahawk" move was inspired here in New Zealand.

Half-pipe snowboarder Ben Stewart, who just missed out on the Olympics, is touted as the man to have first pulled off the signature move that the American watched at the 2009 Winter Games and imitated on his way to winning Olympic Gold.

The 18-year-old Stewart and Olympian snowboarder Rebecca Sinclair will spearhead a strong New Zealand team as Wanaka hosts the FIS snowboard and freestyle junior world championship for the first time from August 20 to 31.

Stewart claimed he pioneered the "Tomahawk" move, which is also known as a "Double McTwist 1260", but is not willing to take any of the shine off the ginger-haired one's golden run at the Olympics.

"Yeah I did but I called it the 'Soggy Wolf"' said Stewart.

"But my trick is on the other side of the wall making it ally-oop so it is a lot harder.

"Shaun White is the man though and to pull it off under that pressure, well that is amazing. I am proud to have played a part in that."

Stewart is rearing to go and JWC event organiser Arthur Klap explained the championship is groundbreaking in more ways than one.

It is the first time that an FIS world championship has been held in New Zealand, the first time that snow-boarding and freestyle will be staged together at the same championship and the first time that slopestyle, freestyle half-pipe and snowboard slopestyle have been combined in a world championship.

"It is a great opportunity for our up-and-comers to make a name for themselves on the world stage," said Klap, explaining that junior is up to 20 years of age.

Stewart is focused on doing exactly that. He wants to bounce back from the disappointment of missing the winter showpiece.

"I was pretty bummed [to miss the Olympics] but I am ready for a good result at home where I know the conditions well - I am pretty excited."

In contrasting mood is Wanaka's world No 1 freeskier Jossi Wells.

He has been ruled out after breaking his ankle skateboarding.

"I am gutted because I would have loved to put on a show at my home event," said Wells. "But it's part of the sport, you can't expect to do what we do and not get injured. We live off the adrenaline and high risk ... you have to take it as it comes."

The freeskier has been on fire in 2010 when he won the overall world championship and is a loss as one of New Zealand's best medal chances.

Wells, 20, will assume the role of fan as his younger brothers Byron, 18, (slopestyle and half-pipe) and Beau James, 14 (half-pipe), line up for their first JWC.

"This is a big opportunity and I am looking forward to killing it at Cardrona," said Byron.

"We have a special family and a healthy rivalry," added Jossi.

"It is going to be an awesome buzz to see my brothers represent New Zealand."

American Kiwi Michael Bell is the head coach of the snowboarding section of the New Zealand team and is excited about their potential.

"Kiwis love to box above their weight," said Bell.

"We have some world-class athletes [Stewart and Sinclair] and if they meet their personal goals then we expect them to be successful."

But they will be up against it as many of the international athletes rank in the overall top 50 in the world. Switzerland's Patrick Burgener, 16, is ranked sixth in the world for snowboard half-pipe and Norway's Helene Olafsen, 19, is ranked No 2 in the world for Snowboard Cross.

Slovenian snowboarder Cilka Sadar, 19, is a well-rounded athlete; she is ranked 28th in half-pipe, 15th in Big Air and 10th in Slopestyle.

The US has entered a strong freeski team, featuring five competitors who are ranked in the top 10 in FIS points standings.

Hannah Haupt, 17, Brita Sigourney, 20, Blake Peterson, 18, Tucker Perkins, 19, and Walter Wood, 18, are all in the top 10 for freestyle halfpipe, Canada has a strong line-up with Megan Gunning, 18, ranked third in the world for freeski half-pipe, Victoria Marshall, 19, is the top-ranked snowboard slopestyle rider at 11th in the world, followed by teammate Samm Denena, 15, at 14th.

Switzerland and Canada have six and eight of their squads respectively ranked within the top 50 in the world.

"It's going to be an amazing show," said Bell, who believes up to five Olympians will be at the JWC.

"It is rebuilding time for the next Olympics - everyone wants to see what their next level is capable of and the athletes know what's at stake."

Canada's Darren Gardner, who will compete in the Parallel Giant Slalom snowboarding, knows what is at stake. He came third at the 2010 Canada Snowboard Nationals, behind World and Olympic Champion Jasey-Jay Anderson and World Cup winner Matthew Morison.

Gardner admits there is some pressure arriving in Wanaka with the tag of favourites.

"With Canada's gold medal victory in my discipline, I definitely feel some pressure, but more importantly motivation to do well to meet the high expectations of my country," said the 20-year-old from Calgary. "But I like pressure."

There are over 26 countries booked to compete, with the largest squads coming from Canada, USA and New Zealand.

Klap knows that like last year's Winter Games the eyes of the winter sports world will be on New Zealand.

"It furthers New Zealand's reputation as a world-class snow sports destination," said Klap.

"It drives us to better infrastructure - for example we now have two 22ft half-pipes [Cardrona and Snow Park NZ] which are the same as what were used in the Olympics in Vancouver.

"That is bringing the best in the world to New Zealand to train."

The Kiwis want to prove that New Zealand is not only a great training ground for international talent but, more importantly, that they can match it performance-wise with the world's best.

Young and the reckless

* The FIS Junior World Championship is on from August 21-30.
* It is the first time it has been held in New Zealand, the first time that snow boarding and freestyle will be staged together at the same FIS World Championship and the first time that Slopestyle, Freestyle half-pipe and Snowboard Slopestyle have been held in an FIS World Championship.
* Over 400 athletes aged between 13 and 20 years will take part.
* Up to five athletes from the Vancouver Olympics will compete, including New Zealand Olympian snowboarder Rebecca Sinclair.
* Snowboard disciplines include halfpipe, snowboard-cross, parallel giant slalom, parallel slalom, big air and slopestyle.
* Freestyle skiing disciplines include halfpipe, slopestyle and ski cross.

For more information go to: http://www.fis-ski.com/

peter.thornton@sportsinc.co.nz