SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2014 Australian snowboarder takes on The Flying Tomato BRISBANE: Four years after a broken left ankle caused him to miss the Vancouver Olympics, Australian half- pipe snowboarder Nathan Johnstone goes into February’s Sochi Games as one of the podium favorites along with “The Flying Tomato” - American Shaun White, who has won the last two gold medals. So how did Johnstone help improve his medal chances in the mountains of Sochi? In a more abstract case of sleeping with the enemy, the 2011 halfpipe world champion took a training session with White’s coach, Bud Keene. “It wasn’t so much helping me out in particular,” Johnstone told The Associated Press in an interview, putting the emphasis on the “me” part of his comment. Keene “ran a progression camp at Mammoth Mountain in California with a bunch of other athletes, a range of different skiers including halfpipe and skicrossers,” Johnstone said. “It was a great chance to break up my normal training routine and train alongside some really strong competitors like Japanese Olympian Ryo Aono.” Still, Johnstone tried to extract as much as he could from the sessions. “There was no private train- ing involved, but it was great to have worked with him,” he said. “He’s one of the greatest coaches in this sport. I tried to pick his brain, to hear what he had to say. I’m still on a learning curve.” LA MOLINA: Australia’s Nathan Johnstone performs a trick in the men’s Snowboard Halfpipe final at the FIS Snowboard World That curve was derailed just four Championships in La Molina, Spain. —AP weeks before the Vancouver Olympics when Johnstone broke his ankle in an event at the Rosa Khutor Extreme tion from two Australian surfers - Mick Colorado for next week’s freestyle world,” Keene said. air bag training session. “It was a big Park’s halfpipe. “I learned that the Fanning and Joel Parkinson - who World Cup at Breckenridge, where he In December, White announced disappointment for me back then, but weather can be very unpredictable,” recovered from serious injuries to expects to confirm his spot on the he’s working on a new trick - a “front- I learned a lot from it and it gave me a Johnstone said. “They had minimal become world champions. “He is Australian Olympic team - to be side double-cork 1440” which adds lot of motivation and drive for the fol- snow when I was there and it was incredibly strong, yet smooth and announced later this month. half a twist to The Tomahawk. “Shaun lowing season,” he said. “It really put super warm, which made trying to stylish,” he added, “which is unique.” He knows he’ll have to be at the White is such a strong competitor and me in a good place.” Just 12 months hold speed in the pipe - as well as Johnstone - who will turn 24 on top of his game to take the Olympic is very consistent with his runs,” later, Johnstone won the 2011 FIS spinning the tricks around quickly - Feb. 9 in Sochi - had a minor injury gold medal from White, the 27-year- Johnstone said. “That is something World Cup Crystal Globe for leading quite a challenge.” scare that prevented him from com- old red-headed American who has that I definitely try to emulate.” The the halfpipe season standings and the Johnstone’s coach, Ben Alexander, peting in December’s freestyle Dew dominated the sport. At Vancouver in pair have a cordial relationship, but overall freestyle Crystal Globe. White says his athlete - quite the surfer, as Tour in Colorado. It’s a common one 2010, White scored 46.8 points on his aren’t particularly close. “I wouldn’t did not compete in the finals that well - has been working hard ahead of affecting snowboarders - bruised first run, which was all he needed to say I know him a great deal,” year. the Olympics in Sochi, where another heels from landing so hard on the win gold. He did a second run and Johnstone says. “We say g’day at the “I had a great 2011 season and I’m Australian, Torah Bright, will be back of their feet. “It was only minor, thrilled the spectators on the hill with events. He kind of has his own stuff still continuing that roll,” Johnstone defending her gold medal in the but it set me back a bit,” Johnstone his Double McTwist, which he later going on.” And Johnstone hopes he’ll said. “Hopefully I’ll stay fit and healthy women’s halfpipe. “He was very deter- said. “On the positive side, I was able named The Tomahawk. The trick is have some pretty special stuff of his for Russia and get a good result mined to make up for his missed to get a lot of good training in.” 540 degrees of sideways spin own going in Sochi. “I’m happy with there.” Johnstone was in Sochi last opportunity in 2010,” said Alexander, Rested and recovered after the holi- crammed into two upright flips - “the where my riding is at right now,” he February and finished eighth in a test adding that Johnstone took inspira- days, Johnstone will travel back to most technically advanced trick in the said. “It’s nearly perfect.” —AP New kid Diethart set to shine at Four Hills US speedskaters INNSBRUCK: Ski jumping’s prestigious Four Diethart had only two World Cup starts under ing on his first podium between Ammann and looking strong Hills tournament goes into its final rounds this his belt, back in 2011, before he travelled to idol Morgenstern as a “childhood dream”. If he weekend with a new Austrian wonder boy the Swiss resort of Engelberg on December maintains his present form, Diethart can for Sochi Olympics threatening to eclipse his veteran rivals. 21. But he immediately placed fourth and has extend the Austrians’ five-year winning streak Thomas Diethart, 21, taking part in only his not finished out of the top 10 since. at the 62nd Four Hills edition. Record World KEARNS: Led by Shani Davis, Heather Richardson and Brittany sixth World Cup outing, caused a sensation on In the first Four Hills leg in Oberstdorf on Cup winner Schlierenzauer, currently seventh Bowe, the United States is fielding its strongest long-track speed- New Year’s Day as he shot to the top of the Sunday, the fresh-faced ski jumper with the in the standings, almost 50 points behind his skating team since the 2002 Winter Olympics. That’s when the Four Hills standings, beating Olympic champi- mop of blond hair and distinctive earrings younger colleague, has admitted lacking the Americans won three golds and eight medals overall at the Utah ons Thomas Morgenstern of Austria and took his first World Cup podium, finishing little extra to win his third straight tournament. Olympic Oval, where the trials to select the team for the Sochi Simon Ammann of Switzerland. A virtual third-and scoring the best result among the But Morgenstern, whose season almost Games conclude on Wednesday. Davis, Richardson and Bowe unknown until two weeks ago, he now looks strong Austrian contingent. He then left his seemed at an end after a horrific crash in have already qualified in multiple events where they will be lead- the favourite to win the tournament, which colleagues shaking their heads in bewilder- Titisee-Neustadt in December, has made a ing medal contenders at the Olympics in February. Brian Hansen after two legs in Germany moves on to ment with jumps of 141 and 140.5 meters in strong comeback to secure second place in also has the potential to reach the podium. “My expectations are Austria, first to Innsbruck today, then Garmisch-Partenkirchen on Wednesday, hav- the standings halfway through the competi- a little bit higher,” Richardson said Tuesday after winning the Bischofshofen on Monday. ing already dominated the training and quali- tion. The strongest challenge to the 1,500 meters. But the youngster faces stiff competition fying rounds. “I’m really starting to wonder Austrians will come from a newly-strong Davis won the men’s 1,500, an event he finished second in at from 2011 Four Hills winner Morgenstern and where he gets those extra metres,” said his Ammann, 32, who started with a win in the Turin and Vancouver games. He was timed in 1 minute, 43.20 four-time Olympic champion Ammann, who Austrian colleague Wolfgang Loitzl. Oberstdorf and is hot on Morgenstern’s seconds “I’m sitting in a good position, pretty strong,” he said. is still seeking his first trophy at the event. But Diethart has kept his cool. heels. Japan’s Noriaki Kasai, 41, competing The same could be said of the US long-track skaters. Joey Mantia Reigning Four Hills champion Gregor “Everything’s just working perfectly at the in his 23rd Four Hills tournament without and sprinter Tucker Fredricks, who have notched World Cup wins Schlierenzauer meanwhile looks unlikely to moment... and it’s great fun,” he said. “If I can ever having won it, will meanwhile be hop- this season, also could medal in their events. “We have a strong complete a tournament hat-trick with disap- stay loose, I’m sure there’s still room for more,” ing his time has finally come to lift the tro- team,” Davis said. —AP pointing performances in the first two races. added the 21-year-old, who described stand- phy. He is currently fourth. —AFP.