Park & Pipe Combine Fosters Future Snow Talent

Snow Australia hosted the inaugural Park & Pipe Talent Combine in Jindabyne this week, bringing together 21 of Australia’s brightest Park & Pipe prospects for a three day camp at the National Snowsports Training Centre (NSTC), and on snow at Perisher Resort.

Athletes had the opportunity to be coached and guided by world class experts, including Olympic silver medallist and OWIA Aerials Coach David Morris, dual Olympian and Freeski World Cup winner Russ Henshaw, and OWIA Medical Services & Rehabilitation Manager, Peter Caine.

Activities over the three days included sessions on the world class NTSC Airbag facility, acrobatic fundamentals on trampoline, technical and skills assessment on snow and in the Perisher terrain park, along with dryland movement and landing sessions.

Snow Australia’s Performance and Talent Manager, Ben Bond, said the three-day Combine is part of Snow Australia’s new talent identification process to foster the next generation of World Cup and Olympic talent.

“This is a new initiative for us and will greatly aid our Talent Verification processes across all disciplines, providing tangible and objective metrics as to how our next generation talent is positioned for the future,” Bond said.

“With world class facilities such as the airbag, and with support from our local resorts for on snow infrastructure, we are in for a really exciting next 4-8 years in Park & Pipe.

“Most importantly, the Combine provided pathway coaches, athletes and parents the opportunity to connect, share ideas and learn from each over the few days,” he said.

Following the event, all athletes will be provided with individual profiles and with both specific and general feedback from the staff experts. This feedback is intended to be positively translated into practice in their daily training environments as they progress their park & pipe careers.