7 things you didn’t know about SSA Futures

This week the SSA Park & Pipe Futures session at Perisher wrapped up Ski and Snowboard Australia’s (SSA) development program for its eighth season.

SSA Futures enhances opportunities and resources available for athletes in the pathway both on and off the snow.

All SSA Futures programs aim to introduce athletes to elite sporting opportunities, increase athlete’s knowledge of the pathway and establish a consistent and unified approach to athlete development.

Here are seven things you may not know about the development and talent identification program, SSA Futures:

1. In 2018, 194 athletes and 33 coaches were involved across the 7 different sessions that were offered.
    
2. Over 20 Olympians, Paralympians and elite athletes were on hand to pass down their experiences to the future of Australian ski and snowboard. Athletes including PyeongChang Paralympics gold medallist Simon Patmore and dual bronze medallist Melissa Perrine in addition to PyeongChang Olympics silver medallist Jarryd Hughes were among a host of Paralympians and Olympians.
    

    

   A post shared by Ski & Snowboard Australia (@skiandboardaus) on Jul 26, 2018 at 11:41pm PDT

   
    
3. Thredbo (NSW), Perisher (NSW), Mt Hotham (Vic) and Falls Creek (Vic) played host to the next generation of Australia’s ski and snowboard riders.
    

    

   A post shared by Ski & Snowboard Australia (@skiandboardaus) on Jul 27, 2018 at 9:04pm PDT

    

4. A total of 48 days passed from the first SSA Futures this season on 12 July to the last program on 29 August.
    

    

   A post shared by Ski & Snowboard Australia (@skiandboardaus) on Jul 15, 2018 at 5:20pm PDT

    

5. Since the inception of SSA Futures in 2011, 1300 participants have benefited from 57 different programs all focused on developing pathway opportunities for up and coming Australian athletes.
    
6. The SSA Futures programs would not be possible without the assistance of NSWIS Acrobatic Centre of Excellence (ACE), OWIA, Rob Kneller Youth Foundation, Australian Paralympic Committee, Disabled Wintersport Australia (DWA) as well as the resort-based departments and park crews who work on building and maintaining the facilities utilised for different SSA Futures camps.
    

    

   A post shared by Ski & Snowboard Australia (@skiandboardaus) on Aug 13, 2018 at 12:14am PDT

    

7. SSA Futures will be back again in 2019, keep an eye on the SSA Futures webpage during early next year for when the next season of dates and programs are released. To view the webpage - click here.