Australian Junior Freeride Championships kick off Friday
Published Fri 11 Aug 2017
Australia’s premier junior park and pipe freeski and snowboard event in Australia, the Australian Junior Freeride Championships, kicks off today at Perisher 11-13 August 2017.
Free skiers and snowboarders between the ages of six and 18 will come together to test their skills and throw down some serious moves in slopestyle, halfpipe and ski/snowboard cross events.
The Championships dove tail the SSA Futures park and pipe program in which participants were coached and mentored by some of Australia’s best athletes to develop their freestyle skills ahead of the event.
Competitors will get to ride Perisher’s Playstation park in the slopestyle on Friday, with the new 50, 55 and 63 foot jumps built in time for the Championships, with the halfpipe set to open for training on Saturday before competition on Sunday.
The Rider Cross course will be primed and ready for competitive action on Saturday.
SSA’s Emerging Talent Scholarship team for freeski and snowboard joined SSA Futures and will be looking to leave an impression on the Championships this weekend.
“The Championships are the pinnacle junior event for ski and snowboard all disciplines” said SSA park and pipe coordinator Richard Hegarty. “It’s a great opportunity for Australian kids to show off their talent. It’s the only junior event that uses a pro-level park and course, so those with outstanding ability can prove themselves and showcase how good they are at an elite level, which no other international systems do.”
“It’s the only real opportunity after interschools to show where the young athletes rank against the best in the country and where they sit in the pathway within their age group.”
Friday: Snowboard Slopestyle
Saturday: Snowboard Cross & Ski Slopestyle
Sunday: Ski & Snowboard Halfpipe
Alexandra Rouse
Ski & Snowboard Australia