New Athlete Pathways for Alpine and Snowboard Cross
Published Fri 05 Jul 2019
Navigating the pathway to high performance snowsport has just become easier with the release of Ski and Snowboard Australia’s (SSA) Athlete Pathways.
Alpine Skiing and Snowboard Cross are the first athlete pathways to be developed using Sport Australia’s FTEM framework which divides ‘the whole of sport pathway continuum’ into four phases – Foundation, Talent, Elite and Mastery. FTEM recognises that each stage of sport development is unique and is an important stepping stone for athletes with a goal to succeed in high performance sport.
SSA Performance Pathway and Program Manager Ben Wordsworth, said the pathways had been developed to inform every member of the snowsport community about the stages of an athlete’s development journey.
“SSA’s athlete pathways have been prepared to make it easier for all participants to understand an athlete’s road to success,” Wordsworth said.
“They’re an evidence-based and practicable blueprint for athlete development.
“Whether you participate recreationally or compete at an elite level, the pathways support all stages of athlete development,” he said.
The pathways promote a collaborative approach between clubs, coaches and sport partners and provide practical methods to maximise and manage long-term athlete development opportunities.
Each stage of the SSA athlete pathway provides an overview of athlete preparation, programs, on and off-snow development, equipment, competition, leadership and support.
In encouraging news, FTEM has been proven at elite international level in other successful snowsport countries.
While the Alpine and SBX athlete pathway guides are the first to be released, work is currently being undertaken to finalise all other discipline pathways and should be available shortly.
More information on SSA athlete pathways is available below and here.
Download Alpine Pathway Brochure
