Aussie Ben Tudhope embracing high Winter Paralympics expectations

Once Australia’s boy wonder, Ben Tudhope is all grown up and ready to make the Beijing Winter Paralympics his own.

Tudhope captured the world’s imagination when as a fresh-faced 14-year-old in Sochi, he became the youngest ever Winter Paralympian.

Now, still only 22, Tudhope enters his third games with a target on his back as the world’s No.1 para-snowboarder and red-hot World Cup form.

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Not that the pressure fazes him.

“I’ve had time to be the one who was hunting at a young age at 14 and 18 at Sochi and Korea,” Tudhope told AAP.

“But now heading into Beijing, I’m looking like I’m the one to be hunted by my competition.

“It is a lot of pressure but knowing that I have everyone around me supporting me and the Australians as well as everyone on the team there, I know I can handle the pressure on the day.”

Still the youngest member of Australia’s team, Tudhope, who has cerebral palsy, was named co-captain alongside Melissa Perrine, in a testament to his maturity amid a tough lead-in.

While the rest of Australia’s team, comprised of alpine para-skiers plus two sighted guides, were based in Austria since November, Tudhope has been training in Finland.

He trains alongside Finnish and Canadian rivals, under a Norwegian coach - a tight-knit group who’ve coined the nickname ‘Team Unicorn’.

Meanwhile during Australia’s snow season, amid COVID-19 border restrictions, Tudhope spent time training with Winter Olympians.

It’s made for a unique, but rewarding build-up.

“The preparation going into Beijing has been one of the most challenging but probably one of the most rewarding for years as well,” he said.

“It’s been a truly amazing journey to