Ben Tudhope earned a Paralympics bronze medal for Australia but had his other team, 'Team Unicorn', to thank after his breakthrough podium finish.

Ben Tudhope's rise from boy wonder to Beijing bronze medallist was finely tuned not in Australia but in Finland, alongside a Finn and a Canadian.

When Tudhope snatched third with a last-ditch push in Monday's para snowboard cross, the first man he turned to was gold medallist Matti Suur-Hamari, before both were caught in a massive bear hug from hulking Canadian Alex Massie.

The latter had put aside his personal disappointment of missing the Big Final to delight in the success of 'Team Unicorn' teammates Tudhope, who claimed his first Paralympic medal on his third attempt, and back-to-back gold medallist Suur-Hamari.

"This team is something else. It's honestly incredible," Tudhope told reporters.

"I couldn't do it without them, I couldn't be here without them and they mean the world to me.

"I know it wasn't Bubz' day, Alex's day but he just wanted us to get it after he went out.

"That's exactly what we do to each other. If it's not me on the top of the podium I want them there."

Tudhope fist-pumped and shouted in elation when he realised he'd snatched third, then he and Suur-Hamari were caught by Massie.

"I probably could have hit him twice as hard but I didn't want to hurt him," Massie said.

"So excited for both of those boys. They're my best friends, they're my brothers.

"Seeing them on the podium, it feels almost as good as being there myself.

'Tuddy', what a show from him in the finals there. Never gave up and he worked his way right to the bottom and coming home with a medal. So I'm super stoked for the kid."

Suur-Hamari also delighted in Tudhope's breakthrough medal after his own triumph.

"It's amazing. This was our dream for the Paralympics," he said.

The trio formed a team after the 2018 Games.

They later went through the death of coach Mikko Wendelin in November 2019, with both Tudhope and Suur-Hamari paying tribute to him after their medals, while Massie emphasised his teammates' bond.

"This year on the anniversary of Mikko, I also lost my dog. It was just the worst kind of thing," Massie said after his sixth-place overall finish.

"I got in from training that day and they just sat down with me for a half-hour and we just sat and chatted.

"They're always there for me. Even at the top after semis, I had tears in my eyes and I felt heartbroken and Tuddy came up to me and said 'you've got one more mate, have a good one, make the best of it.'

"I said thanks buddy, you go put one down for me too', so I'm so glad he did that."