Australian junior athletes to compete against world’s best young skiers in Sweden

Images: Louis Muhlen, Lily Tomkinson, Katie Parker, Harrison Coull

Four of Australia’s most talented up and coming alpine skiers will head to Sweden to compete on a global stage against the world’s best athletes in the 2017 Alpine World Junior Ski Championships next week.

The Junior World Championships is a pinnacle event of Alpine ski racing for junior athletes around the World and can be a launch pad to qualification for future Olympic and World Cup events.  

“It’s a great opportunity for our athletes to show the world their stuff against the hottest up and coming alpine skiers in the world.” Said Alpine Program Director Brad Wall. Wall obtained Australia’s highest result to date in the same competition back in 1999, placing 6th, going on to ski in two Winter Olympic Games for Australia in 2002 and 2006.

Louis Muhlen, 18, Lily Tomkinson, 19, Katie Parker, 18, and Harrison Coull, 20, demonstrated their ability to perform at this level through their recent international performances, and they will head to Sweden for the event 6-14 March 2017.

Muhlen, originally from South Yarra who now lives in the USA, made his mark with a bronze medal in the Ski Cross event at the Youth Winter Olympic Games in Norway in 2016, along with solid performances in other alpine disciplines. Since then he’s secured several top ten finishes across a variety of events in North America.

“I’m expecting tough competition, as strong as at the Youth Olympics” he said of going into the Junior World Championships. “I’m fit and going into the event mentally and physically prepared.” 

Also from South Yarra and the only other alpine skier to compete at the Winter Youth Olympic Games last year, Parker will make her debut in these World Championships.  Now living and going to school in the USA where she trains at Sugarbowl Mountain, she’s won and placed in several FIS races in Slalom and Giant Slalom disciplines, with three top 15 finishes in North American Cups this season. 

“It will be tough competition racing against the best junior skiers in the world but I'll give it my best shot!” Parker said.  “I’m very excited.”

Tomkinson, from Mt Macedon, is on her way back to form from two knee reconstructions and a bone graft sustained from two injuries in 2012 and 2014. Despite this, Tomkinson has showed considerable development this season including a recent win in Japan, three wins and three placings in Australian National Championship at Thredbo in 2016 and several top 20 placings in races overseas.

“I'm about to step it up big time, skiing against World Cup skiers is going to make me quicker. When the email came through that I got selected I thought I was dreaming... it is the single best thing that has ever happened to me.” Tomkinson said.

Coull, from Fitzroy, has had a good season with consistently improving results in recent FIS races in USA, Canada and Italy.  He also earned his right on the podium in second place in giant slalom in Thredbo last year.

Keep up with the action and results of the 2017 Alpine World Junior Ski Championships 6-14 March on www.skiandsnowboard.org.au or via social channels:

• www.facebook.com/skiandsnowboardaustralia
• Instagram: @skiandboardaus

Alexandra Rouse
Ski & Snowboard Australia