NSW/ACT/QLD News and Information 2 July 2019

Dear Members,

This week coming there are several community catch up events occurring, which are a great opportunity for members, families and clubs to get together and share information on the upcoming season.  

The come and try cross country skiing events this weekend are still on and it's not too late to register. Keep reading below for more information.

The Interschools events season has begun with the Interschools Development and Participation series being conducted in June to introduce new participants to what Interschools racing is all about as well as giving participants a practice before the Interschools Championships. The Interschools Championships events kicks off next week with the Travelplan Ski Northern NSW & QLD Interschools Championships first up receiving a 10% increase in entries from last year, recording a total of over 3,000 entries for the first time.

SSA Alpine Community Forum and Welcome to Winter Catch Up - July 7

In conjunction with the NSW, ACT, QLD Alpine Welcome to Winter celebration, SSA will be holding an SSA Pathway information session in the Koscuiszko Room, Thredbo Village (next to the Pub) from 5pm to 5.30pm. The information session will overview the new national direction including the athlete pathway, current initiatives and how it relates to athlete development.

This will be followed by the NSW, ACT, QLD Alpine Welcome to Winter celebration at the Candlelight Lodge, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. All of the Alpine community is welcome and encouraged to attend.

SSA staff will be joining the NSW, ACT, QLD Alpine community after at the Candlelight Lodge in acknowledging our Alpine athletes and celebrating the start of the southern season.

SSA Northern Snowboard Community Catch Up - July 6

Freestyle - Meet the Coaches and Parents - July 6

All members of the freestyle community are invited to the The Man Hotel this Saturday afternoon from 4pm. PWSC coaches will be there to meet and greet families to kick off the 2019 season. Everyone is welcome to come along, even if you are not involved with PWSC, this is a good opportunity for our community to welcome new families into the program.
 

Freestyle Calendar and News Updates

Click Here for the Freestyle Calendar

The Freestyle events calendar includes social and parent information sessions, along with the athlete events. If you haven’t already, join the Freestyle TeamApp to receive news and updates for the season.

Come and Try Cross Country Skiing is ON THIS SATURDAY JULY 6

It is not too late to register for the Come and Try Cross Country Skiing Day on July 6 if you are new to the sport and want to try it out. The day involves a two hour lesson conducted by professional ski instructors at the Perisher Cross Country Centre. Participants will need to bring their own cross country equipment. There is also a ladies only Ski de Femme event on July 7 for new participants to cross country skiing.

The events are still on even though the snow coverage is limited at the moment. Online registrations are available till 10pm July 4.

For those that are attending, here are a couple of important tips on driving instructions and hiring equipment:

• If you are driving up, leave Jindabyne by 7.30 am to get up the road in a timely manner and get a space in the top (main) car park. If there is a chance that there is snow on the road you need to leave Jindabyne by 7.00am.
• Wilderness Sports at Perisher and Jindabyne have a special hire rate on cross country skis, poles and boots package for the day at $45 a day (discounted from $59). Just mention that you are registered for the come and try day. Also a note that the Perisher Wilderness Sports Shop does not open till 8.30am on Saturday, so you may want to collect equipment the day before. The Jindabyne Store hours are 8am- 10pm Friday and opens at 8am on Saturday.

If you miss out on the come and try days this weekend, there is also one happening on July 13. 

Registration Links:

• Come and Try July 6 - Online Registrations
• Ski de Femme July 7 - Online Registrations
• Come and Try July 13 - Online Registrations

Cross Country Online Event Entries

Planning to do some cross country ski racing this season? A variety of events are on offer in Perisher Valley and surrounds and there is something for all skill/ability levels and interests.

Local 2019 Calendar

XC Week (August 3-11) Calendar

The majority of events can be entered on-line through the SSA events website - https://www.skiandsnowboard.org.au/events/

Please plan ahead, activate and update your Snowracer membership and SnowID (if you haven't already) and enter on-line by the closing dates. Your event organisers love participants who enter ahead of time, it makes their jobs so much easier on the day. If you must enter on the day, be there early and register.

Perisher XC

Click Here to read the latest PXC News, which gets you up to speed on what is happening in the 2019 winter ski season at the Perisher Cross Country Centre and Trails.

Follow NSW Cross Country Team App for updates on training opportunities and events

There are many training opportunities coming up for youth cross country skiers. Make sure you follow NSW Team App to receive updates on holiday and season on snow and off snow training programs.

2019 Interschools Ambassadors supporting junior athletes

Inaugural Interschools Ambassadors made their first appearance for the season at Sunday’s Interschools Participation and Development Series held at Perisher.  

Four out of the five appointed Ambassadors were able to lend a guiding hand and a word of support to 45 junior racers.

The four in attendance were Jack Adams (Alpine), Theo Coates (Alpine), Antonia Murphy (Alpine/Ski Cross) and Saskia Fawcett (Moguls) with the fifth ambassador, Zoe Spanos (Alpine), returning to Sydney for University commitments.

Ambassadors were carefully selected for the role and needed to meet a criteria which required them to be current international FIS competitors, former Interschools competitors and undertaking tertiary studies

All of the Ambassadors are Interschools National Champions and a quick whip around the group confirmed that between them they had raced in more than 550 events across many disciplines including alpine, ski cross, moguls and cross country resulting in a number of medals across regionals, state and national championships for individual and team results.

As well as attending Interschools presentations, the Ambassadors will share tips and advice about racing and training as well as stories of their individual journeys through the snowsports athlete pathway.

More information about each athlete can be found on the Interschools website and athletes are welcome to send the Ambassadors questions via email.

Olympian Lambert Lends a Hand at the Interschools Development Series

Olympian Adam Lambert was on hand to give advice to more than 25 young skiers and 11 boarders who attended the first Interschools Participation and Development Series on June 23. The Series was aimed at skiers and snowboarders aged between five and 17 to practice their starts and turns in preparation for the NSW, ACT and QLD Regional Interschools races that commence on 9 July.

Interschool and Perisher staff were also on on hand to show some of the younger participants and first time racers the start process and what to expect when they enter the gate.

“For some, it’s their first timed race,” said Paul Livissianos, a representative of SSA Northern Interschools.

“This initiative provides children with exposure to Interschools racing through fun and participation.”

With 23 June being Olympic Day - an annual event that celebrates Olympians and inspires future generations - Lambert's prescence was timely.  

“Spending time on a racecourse like this offers some good solid on-snow experience and is an important practice session for the bigger races that are coming up,” Lambert said.  

“It is great to see the younger participants progressing towards bigger and better things.”

Participants had several hours on the hill and were busy chatting and making friends as they moved towards the start gate. The junior athletes came from Sydney, Canberra, Goulburn and Jindabyne to participate.

“This is a wonderful start to the Interschools events for this snow season and it’s pleasing to see so many parents enjoying the race with their children,” said Steve Cooper, Chair of SSA Northern Interschools and colourful race MC.

“It’s been a fun day out.”

Little Shredders - Term 3 grants now open

Term 3 Sporting School grants are now open, so it’s the perfect time to help introduce Little Shredders to a school near you!

Little Shredders is an SSA developed learning and participation program that uses modified equipment and games to introduce children to snowsports.

Children can learn about snow safety whilst acquiring fundamental balance, agility and co-ordination skills to help prepare them for their first on-snow experience – all from the safety of their school gymnasium.

Little Shredders can be delivered easily to any primary school throughout Australia as part of the PE curriculum. Many schools are able to access the program through funding from the Sporting Schools Initiative.

Little Shredders is a great way to start or strengthen a snowsports program at your school and get children involved in snowsports.

Help spread the word this Winter and ask your school to take on Little Shredders!

For ACT schools, there is also a new offering; Little Gliders, which is similar to Little Shredders, but teaches children the basics of cross country skiing.

For more information visit the Little Shredders website - www.littleshredders.com.au or email littleshredders@skiandsnowboard.org.au