Henshaw eighth in men's slopestyle final

Russ Henshaw saved his best run for last to finish eighth overall in the men’s Ski Slopestyle at the 2017 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships last night.
 
Competitors in the 16-man final had three chances to post a good performance with their best score to count towards the ultimate ranking.
 
Henshaw’s first two runs didn’t go to plan, scoring 32 points and 47 points respectively. He aborted both runs after running into trouble on course.
 
“The trick I’m trying is a nose-butter dub 10, I was doing it yesterday but there wasn’t a lip there yesterday and it was easier for me,” Henshaw said. “Today there was a lip and I was struggling with it.”
 
“In the second run, my upper body was going at 12 and my lower body at 10 so I just couldn’t slow the rotation down.”
 
The Sochi Olympian needed something special for his final attempt and he delivered, scoring 81.80 points to finish eighth overall.
 
“It’s been a tough day, I landed a run, it wasn’t the run I was planning on but I’m happy I landed,” he said.
 
Henshaw is already looking to the year ahead after experiencing an up-and-down season due to injury.
 
“I’m really happy that I’ve made it through this (event) uninjured just because this course hasn’t been the best.
 
“I’ll ski as much as I can over the next 12 months, do a training camp in Switzerland at end of April and then the Australian season in preparation for next winter.
 
“Staying healthy is my main goal,” he said.
 
Earlier in the day, Australia’s Ryley Lucas was given an opportunity to put down a second run after a decision was made by organisers to hold a semi final for competitors who finished qualifying ranked 13-52.

Lucas scored 25.60 points which have him a ranking of 26 of semi final competitors.  
 
The Ski Slopestyle final brings the 2017 World Championships to a close with Australia taking home five medals to equal its best ever medal haul from a Ski and Snowboard World Championships.
 
Australian medallists from the 2017 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships:
 
Britt Cox - gold - women's Moguls
Scotty James - gold - men's Halfpipe
Danielle Scott - silver - women's Aerial Skiing
Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin - bronze - men's Snowboard Cross
David Morris- bronze - men's Aerial Skiing