Two young Wānaka snowsports athletes have claimed silver medals at the Park and Pipe Junior World Championships in Leysin, France.

A Snowsports NZ representative said the results of Luca Harrington (18) and Cam Melville Ives (15) have made this New Zealand’s most successful Park and Pipe Junior World Championships ever, and there are still two more events to go. 

Cam’s Snowboard Slopestyle silver came from a personal-best second run after a sketchy landing on the rails during his first run.

“Cam always performs well under pressure,” Snow Sports NZ coach Mitch Brown said. 

In his second run Cam laced together a front 1080, back 1260 and a switch back 1260 on the jumps, the first time he has landed this technical combination in competition.  

“He kept it cool and aced his second run with a personal best competition run,” Mitch said.

Watch Cam’s run here.

Luca secured his silver medal in the Freeski Big Air, after executing a triple 1620 with a safety grab and a huge switch double 1800 with a lead tail grab. 

Luca Harrington on the podium after his silver medal-winning run. 

The judges rewarded him with a combined score of 182.50, a clear eight points ahead of his nearest competitor and six points behind the winner.  

Watch Luca’s second and third runs here and here.

Two other Wānaka athletes were also in action overnight at the Park & Pipe Junior World Championships. 

Dane Menzies (16) had a fantastic Snowboard Slopestyle training but wasn’t able to execute his run in the finals, finishing in 16th place, and Fin Melville Ives (twin brother of Cam) finished in 12th place in the Freeski Big air.

The final events of the Park and Pipe Junior World Championships, the Freeski Slopestyle and Snowboard Big Air, will take place on Sunday (March 13).  

PHOTOS: Snowsports NZ