National Participation Conference - one week to go

‘Supporting Participation in Snowsports and Developing Champions’ is targeted at schools, clubs, the snowsports industry and community.

The conference will assist be a valuable education on how to encourage greater participation in snow sports under best practice guidelines.

The conference will deliver key learnings on the sport and the snowsports industry, provide tools and insights, and create opportunities for discussion, knowledge sharing, networking and feedback.

Keynote Presentations and Panel Discussion include:

• Unique insights on the current trends on participation and athlete development within the Sporting Industry and Schools Systems. Keynote speakers include Kate Palmer AM (CEO - Sport Australia), Pierre Comis (Director, Physical Literacy Leadership - Sport Australia), Belinda Trembath (General Manager Victoria and Hotham, Vail Resorts’).
• A panel of speakers will discuss how each stage of the Snowsports Pathway works together to drive and develop our Sport, and how the Schools involvement is a key contributing factor to long-term success. Keynote speakers include SSA staff members Steve Nelson, Rebecca Clark, Shawn Fleming and SSA CEO Michael Kennedy.
• A panel of Keynote speakers from the Sport, Resort, Schools and Education Sports Unit will outline and discuss key elements of Risk Management within Snowsports. Keynote Speakers include Adam Hosie (Snowsport General Manager – Thredbo), Grant Parker (NSW Department of Education, Sports Unit)
• Athlete inspirational and aspirational stories from School to the Olympics. Be inspired! Listen to the athlete journeys of Mel Perrine (Triple Paralympian, Alpine), Jono Brauer (Dual Olympian, Alpine) from participation to performance and Manuela Berchtold (Dual Olympian, Moguls).

 Conference Workshops include:

• Building and Sustaining a Successful School Snowsports Program
• The role of Schools within the SSA Snowsports Athlete Pathway and Physical Literacy
• Coaching Little Shredders and Little Gliders - Professional Development Session
• Risk Management in Snowsports - Developing School Risk Management Plans
• Snow Safety - including Concussion Guidelines
• Child Safe Sport Best Practice and Principles
• Developing successful School Cross Country Ski Programs