Alpine Director Update - September 2024

Dear Alpine Community,

Well mother nature definitely had a mind of her own over the last month. Resorts across the country saw difficult conditions with unseasonably warm spells mixed with some very blustery periods reducing the snowpack and affecting lift access on many days. As always though our clubs showed their tenacity with coaches and athletes coming together and finding solutions to maintain their daily training environments and keep everyone on snow. While the weather can certainly be frustrating, I am very impressed with the commitment of the athletes, families, and coaches to focus on what they can control, creating beneficial training opportunities.

I was able to visit with the Team Hotham Winter Sports Club in early August and enjoyed some great skiing on wintery snow. Across the days I was able to observe and partake in training opportunities on the Drift, skills assessments, SX training discussions with coaches, and a town hall with parents and athletes highlighting the Snow Academy and E-learning opportunities for all of our community members. I had a great time interacting with all the members, committee, and coaching staff at Team Hotham and thank everyone for making my time there so welcoming.

Continuing with my visit to Hotham we held a Ski Cross Futures on August 12th and 13th. There were 26 attendees from across the clubs who took part in two days of on-snow education covering the main training aspects of Ski Cross which was delivered by myself and National Ski Cross Team athletes Kyra Wheatley, Liam Michael, and Emerson Facer. There was opportunity to learn about warm up, technical freeskiing, jumping, aerodynamics and gliding with access to the track on both days to put learnings in to practice.

Following on from the SX Futures, Hotham hosted 3 ANC SX races with athletes participating from AUS, CHN and JPN. The warm weather presented competitors with softer conditions causing the course to be shortened slightly, however it also provided beautiful weather for head-to-head racing for the first two race days. Unfortunately, strong winds and rain caused the third race day to be cancelled due to athlete safety. National Team member Liam Michael took the overall ANC title on the men’s side with Kyra Wheatley being the top ranked Australian female.

Returning back to Jindabyne after the conclusion of the ANC SX races saw the warm weather continue. I worked closely with Thredbo Events, Thredbo Ski Racing Club, and FIS during that following week to assess the viability of hosting the ANC Alpine races scheduled for September 3-6th. Unfortunately, after much consultation and deliberation with all stakeholders we concluded that it was not possible to host the ANC races due to warm temperatures, no snowmaking opportunities, and a decreasing snowpack. While a difficult decision to make, in the end it was the right call and I appreciate all the efforts by Thredbo resort and their Events Department to give us the best opportunity possible and I look forward to working with them in the future to host a great ANC Alpine event.

The Snow Australia Children’s Carnival, hosted in Perisher, is the pinnacle event for U14 and U16 athletes each season. This season we were met with a difficult weather forecast across the whole week however with great effort from all of the club coaches we were able to realize five events by the weeks end. This was a great outcome for the athletes and families involved, with my highlight being the GS race down Excelerator on the Ridge Chair. Excelerator has hosted many FIS level races and is unique in Australia with many different pitches and fall lines as it snakes down the mountain. This race venue highlighted the importance, and position, of the Children’s Carnival as the pinnacle for Australian U14 and U16 alpine ski racing. Many athletes, and parents, I spoke with talked enthusiastically to the length, challenge and variety of terrain presented by this GS race. The effort from all the club coaches really was the difference maker in making these races successful and was a remarkable experience to be a part of. Their determination and commitment to the athletes was apparent with every early morning, and every late evening, and I must take this opportunity to thank all of them. Thank you! 

Congratulations to each and every athlete who competed and I hope you each take away some learnings from your week in Perisher. Special recognition goes to our Overall winners from each category:

U14 Female – Charlotte Gorman – Perisher Winter Sports Club
U14 Male – Zephyr Lusted – Thredbo Ski Racing Club
U16 Female – Lara Kelly – Mount Buller Race Club
U16 Male – Sebastian Atra – Thredbo Ski Racing Club

With the warm weather continuing and snowpack shrinking it was unfortunately a decision to be made to cancel the FIS National Championship and Junior Championship races at Perisher. I am very mindful of this being the second year with no FIS racing in Australia and I will review our strategy and work with our stakeholders to ensure these races moving forward.

I am slowly wrapping up my time on snow, finishing my season with a couple last Alpine Level 1 Coaching courses in Perisher over the next week.

It is now time for many athletes to start focusing on preparing for the northern hemisphere winter and the training and competition opportunities that his change brings. With this change brings some reminders to make sure your memberships are upgraded to use overseas; you submit your event EOI’s for any races you may be looking to attend and provide your insurance details covering training and competition internationally to allow us to provide Coach Entry Authorization letters.

All the best to those athletes still able to access snow in our domestic season and a reminder to all that just because the snow may have melted, and resorts have closed it does not mean that training must stop. This is a great time to get back in the gym and being active outdoors , also watch this space for any future camp opportunities at the NSTC.

Cheers,

Shawn

Shawn Fleming
Alpine Director
Snow Australia

Read Full Update

In this edition:

• Discipline Committee Review and Call For Expressions of Interest
• 2024 Interschools Wrap Up
• Multiclass & Special Olympics athletes light up Interschools
• Competing Overseas

Image Courtesy of Chris Hocking, Hotham Alpine Resort