Words by Freeskier Magazine and pictures by russhenshaw.com
RUSSELL, HOW ARE YOU?
I’m good mate.
Just in Mammoth for the Grand Prix.
AH, THE US GRAND PRIX.
HOW ARE THINGS LOOKING DOWN THERE?
WHAT’S THE COURSE LOOKING LIKE?
Then as soon as everyone rocked into town, the weather turned to blizzard conditions.
The course is sick though, I managed to hit the jumps yesterday and they are super fun.
CAN YOU TAKE ME THROUGH THE COURSE?
HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO SOME OF THE OTHER SLOPESTYLE COURSES THIS YEAR?
This course is super long and flows really well.
And then four jumps.
ALSO, WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON THIS US-ONLY PRACTICE HUBBUB THAT WE’VE BEEN SEEING?
But I mean, will the Russians have separate training sessions in Sochi?
We will have to see if we can train on the jumps before the comp though.
HOW’S THAT KNEE OF YOURS?
IS IT FINALLY 100-PERCENT SINCE YOUR OPERATION LAST SPRING?
HAVE YOU BEEN HAPPY WITH YOUR SEASON?
Yeah, I have gotten a lot of fifth place finishes this season.
This is my comeback season so hopefully next year I will come back even stronger than this year!
I’VE HEARD THAT YOUR SURGERY IS CRAZY.
I’m pretty sure that the surgery I had done is only done in Australia.
Basically it’s the same as getting a cadaver graft.
Only difference is I had a live donor, my Dad, who donated his hamstring tendon.
Pretty happy with the outcome as I was able to ski pretty early.
YEAH BIG UPS TO ELDER HENSHAW.
HAVE YOU BEEN CAPITALIZING ON ALL THESE FIFTHS BY BUYING YOURSELF IN FANTASY FREERIDE?
No actually I haven’t.
I didn’t join up at the start, I don’t even know how it fully works.
I know Gus Kenworthy and Joss Christensen are both super into it.
They gave me a run down of it when I was in Snowbasin.
WHAT’S NEXT AFTER THE GRAND PRIX FOR YOU?
YOU BACK ON TRACK WITH MSP THIS YEAR?
OR ARE YOU BRANCHING OUT?
I am back with MSP which I’m stoked on.
Super cool crew and always a good movie.
Pretty stoked I have the opportunity to film with them again and I hope I get some good shots.
AFTER ALL THIS FILMING AND COMPETING, YOU GET TO GO BACK TO AUSTRALIA IN TIME FOR… WINTER.
WHAT’S IT LIKE NOT HAVING MUCH SUMMER?
