NSW/ACT/QLD Interschools Snowsport event update

Throughout 2021, Snow Australia Interschools has positioned the safety, health and well-being of our competitors, volunteers, parents, and school communities as the prime focus. Together with our Resort partners, we committed to closely monitor the directives from State & Federal Governments, their Departments of Health and the regulations and policies of school systems. Disappointingly, 2021 has been equally if not more challenging then 2020, due to the effects of Covid-19.

Following today’s announcement from the NSW Government of lockdown extensions for a significant number of Local Government Areas including the Greater Sydney Region, and the continuation until further notice of all NSW Schools being limited to Interschool activities and events within their Local Government Area only, together with bans on camps, out-of-area field trips, and overnight stays, we regret to announce the cancellation of the following events for school-aged competitors:

• NSW/ACT/QLD State Interschools Snowsports Championships scheduled for August 23–27 at Perisher.
• Amelia McGuiness Time-Trials (downhill events) scheduled for Friday 20^th August at Perisher.
• FUTURES Slopestyle Development Camp scheduled for Sunday 22^nd August at Perisher.
• Amelia McGuiness Time-Trials (cross country events) scheduled for Monday 23^rd August.
• Interschools Participation Time-Trial 2 scheduled for Saturday 18^th September at Thredbo.
• The recently postponed ACT & Southern NSW Interschools Snowsport Championship is also cancelled.

ACT School Coordinators should expect additional information later next week on a proposed ACT Schools Cup Event, for ACT school competitors only. At this stage, an ACT Schools (only) event complies with ACT Public Health orders.

The Snow Australia NSW/ACT/QLD Interschools Committee met on Monday evening to assess the ongoing situation and reflect on the more than 150 school coordinator survey returns we received last week. We thank our school coordinators for their continued hard work and support of our collective endeavours to develop opportunities for young Snowsports competitors.

The returned surveys evidenced a continued and positive commitment to our events, whilst recognising:

• Challenges in planning with confidence in the unknown environment of lock-downs.
• Challenges for students who have already had a lot of time out of school due to lock-downs.
• Challenges of securing time-off work for parents in this uncertain period.
• Challenges with sourcing accommodation & associated expenses in a constantly changing world.

We recognise the significant disappointment these cancellations will create for our expansive Interschools Snowsport Community, and we are committed to work strongly to ensure that we are well placed to restart our Interschool Snowsports Events in early July 2022.

We also recognise that for the coming years, we will encounter additional event pressures that will require a flexible and adaptive Championship Schedule that reflects the operational demands of Covid-safe events in what can be at times a congested on-snow environment during peak holiday periods. During the coming weeks, school coordinators should expect further survey’s which seek to explore a range of options with the intention of improving the on-snow guest experience for all competitors, families, and schools in 2022 and beyond.

2021 Australian Interschools Snowsports Championships – Sept 8-12 – Mt Buller

Snow Australia Interschools will continue to monitor state border closures throughout August and will look to communicate a decision on the competition format for the National Championships as soon as practical.        

Event Refunds

Event refunds will be processed over the coming 3 to 4 week period. Schools that may have any specific requests should contact Cathy Lambert at clambert@snow.org.au

Our preferred method of communication with general enquiries remains via email where possible, due to the current high volume of enquiries.  Pleases direct those enquiries to Wendy Olsen wolsen@snow.org.au , and Cathy Lambert clambert@snow.org.au

School Coordinators with urgent enquiries and requests should ring as usual.

We thank you for your continued understanding and support during this unprecedented time.

The Snow Australia Interschools Team.