NSWIS SBX Season Summary: Jason Clauscen
Published Tue 19 Apr 2022
With a disrupted domestic season training in NSW and Victoria the NSWIS athletes headed north in mid-October for the Northern winter. With over 22 months out of the sport, 3 NSWIS athletes were able to make their World Cup debut in the 2021/22 season.
Mia Clift debuted at the China World Cup test event prior to the Olympic Winter Games, finishing with a great result of 22nd. Brothers Declan and Kobi Dent made their first appearance in Montafon Austria with Declan Dent finishing a respectable 29th and Kobi with a 47th. With it being an Olympic year the World Cup fields were loaded with the World's best riders.
The aims for the season leading up the OWG were as follows:
- To qualify 1 x Female + 1 x male athlete for OWG as reserve athlete.
- To improve athletes understanding of the high performance pahway.
- To provide athletes with exposure to OWIA training / WC course and events.
- For athletes to identify and clarify strengths and areas of improvement in their technical and tactical abilities.
The continued risks of travel and the Covid environment along with snow, lead to some events being cancelled or missed. This was balanced out with exposure to training with the OWIA athletes and coaches which was a huge bonus for the NSWIS athletes.
Unfortunately, Mia Clift sustained an injury in the Cervinia World Cup event. We all wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to her being back on snow!
Looking to the future, NSWIS will target the Next Generation of athletes with the purpose of development and education, progressing team members into the OWIA team and Olympic qualification.
Jason Clauscen
NSWIS SBX Coach
