Freestyle skiers selected for SSA Emerging Talent Scholarship

Three young, talented young skiers are among a special group of Australian snowsports athletes to be selected for SSA’s Emerging Talent Scholarship for park & pipe free skiing.

Considered high potential athletes, the three have been identified as having the capability of contributing to Australia’s international snow sport success in the future.  

Abi Harrigan, age 15, Oskar Schulz, age 12, and Joey Ellis, age 11, will each receive support and a development plan working in conjunction with their chosen coach and SSA.

"Abi has been on our radar for many years and is one of our most promising freeskiers" said Rich Hegarty, Park & Pipe Coordinator for SSA. 

"Oskar is very naturally acrobatic and is a ball of energy, which makes him great in the park and in the air and his family are very supportive of his skiing."

"Joey has an obvious advantage of being born into surf and snow culture trailing dad, Reggae Ellis, and he's a great all mountain freeskier."

“We’ve taken the three stand out athletes at this time with the goal of opening up the program to more athletes in the future.” Hegarty said.

The ETS is the first step in the SSA High Performance Pathway and is a way of tracking athletes through to potential Olympic success.

The SSA Selection Committee considered a number of high quality applications in what is a reflection of the tremendous talent across our athlete pathway. Their past performances and performance planning have shown these three to be capable of progressing in the pathway, as well as demonstrating positive behaviour and a strong worth ethic, amongst several core criteria.

Abi, Oskar and Joey join other young athletes in the ETS for SBX, moguls and snowboard park & pipe.

See previous announcements about the Emerging Talent Scholarship.

Alexandra Rouse
Ski & Snowboard Australia