Photo: photosport
New Zealand 15-year-old Luke Harrold has clinched a silver medal in his debut at a World Cup freeski event in China.
It was the first top-level event of the Lake Hawea skier's career and he could barely contain his excitement after a bold showing handed him second place at the Secret Garden Resort course - venue used at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
"It's crazy, I can't put words to it, coming here and getting silver is a massive dream. My goal was just to land my run and leaving with a silver medal, well it's a silver lining," he said.
Harrold belied his youth by lacing together a technical run with five different direction double cork tricks, including two rarely seen in competition switch alley oop double cork 900's at the top of his run.
Although he touched a hand down on one of his landings, the judges were suitably impressed by the difficulty and technicality of his run, rewarding him with a 85.25 which had him sitting in third position after the opening run.
An improved score in his second run lifted him one place overall and he finished behind American two-time freeski halfpipe Olympic medallist Alex Ferreira.
Third was another US skier - Hunter Hess.
Beijing 2022 Freeski Halfpipe Olympic champion Nico Porteous was back in a New Zealand bib for the first time since his history-making performance almost two years ago at this very same venue.
After a crash on his first run, Porteous improved in his second to place 10th overall, while compatriot Finley Melville Ives was sixth.