John Hancock visits the National Snowsports Training Centre

Snow Australia was delighted to host major benefactor John Hancock and his family last week in Jindabyne for their first look at the facility which bears his name. While he was unable to attend the official opening of the National Snowsports Training Centre in June, John and his family travelled to Jindabyne last week specifically to see and tour the NSTC.

The John Langley Hancock Building provides world-class training facilities for everyone from local community programs through to Olympic medallists.

However the mission to upgrade the training facility in Jindabyne would not have been possible without the generosity of John Hancock, whose financial contribution to the project provided the balance of funding required to bring it to life.

Upon touring the complex for the first time, Hancock could not have been more impressed.

“I couldn’t be more excited to see the building - it’s just amazing,” he said. “What a facility, world-class.

“Just stoked to see everyone using it today, and good luck for Milan in a couple of years time. I’m just so happy that everyone’s enjoying it.”

Snow Australia CEO Michael Kennedy, who took John and his family around the facility, says that naming the building in John’s honour is testament to how integral his impact has been on the NSTC.

“Broadly speaking we are lucky to have the support of Governments, State Institutes and resorts, and they all make a difference to the development of our athletes,” said Kennedy.

“However it is rare to have an individual who believes so strongly in a vision that they are willing to put their hand in their own pocket to not only make a project like this a reality, but ensure that this facility is up there with any other of its kind in the world.

“In the past week alone we have had everyone from local Interschools participants through to World Champions, Olympic and X-Games medallists who have flown in from around the world to use the facility.

“While they may not realise it at the time, every elite athlete who walks through the front doors of the John Langley Hancock Building at the NSTC will ultimately be grateful to him and his generosity for without it this may still just be a dream.

“His donation is going to have an impact on not just this generation, but generations to come.”