Emerging Talent Program camp sets the tone for 2023 season

The first weekend in June saw more than 40 of Australia’s rising snowsport stars descend on Jindabyne as their launchpad into the 2023 domestic season.

Athletes from Alpine, Cross Country, Snowboard Cross, Moguls, Park & Pipe Snowboard, Park & Pipe Freeski, Para Alpine and Para Snowboard assembled at the National Snowsports Training Centre for the Emerging Talent Program (ETP) Pre-Season Camp.

Twelve coaches in attendance provided the opportunity for athletes to be exposed to High Performance themes via Olympic athlete panel sessions, movement screenings, performance services education and discipline-specific practical and theory sessions.

“We are really lucky to be in a position to provide opportunities like this,” said Ben Bond, Snow Australia Performance Health & Talent Manager. “It’s certainly unique to bring such a talented group together with a vast diversity of ages and cultures across the disciplines. 

“Some of these athletes will be training and competing alongside each other for many years to come.”

Bond said the camp provided athletes with a window to see what opportunities lie ahead should they continue on their trajectory, and what is expected of elite athletes as well.

“The ETP is designed to facilitate athletes being ‘institute-ready’ in years to come, so that those who graduate to high performance programs can really thrive and not just survive when they make that transition,” said Bond.

“Matt Graham took the time to speak to the group in our final session - he’s such a champion. Matt’s approach to his training and competition from a young age was inspiring to learn of.

“I am sure everyone felt a huge sense of motivation and desire following Matt’s chat.”

The camp also had plenty of lighter touches with the inaugural ETP interdisciplinary teams challenge, held in Thredbo village, allowing athletes from different sporting backgrounds to work together.

“It’s been nice to meet other athletes, not just from moguls but from other sports as well,” said 13-year-old Talia Mann.

Seventeen-year-old Oscar Sayers said the ETP camp gave him a better view of what his snowboard cross career could look like while observing what it means to athletes from other disciplines too.  

“Snowsport can be tough as it’s often an individual sport, but programs like this make you realise how much support there actually is and that many athletes are in the same boat as you, which is both reassuring and motivating at the same time,” he said.

The ETP athletes will take home a heightened motivation to their club programs, working closely with their coaches to set short and medium term goals. The ETP will continue to provide discipline-specific activities leading into and during the domestic season, along with its educational webinar series.