Regional Update - NSW / ACT / QLD - August 14, 2019
Published Wed 14 Aug 2019
Here is all the latest on and off snow news for SSA’s NSW, ACT and QLD members.
Interschools Ambassadors Update
Interschools Ambassadors, Saskia Fawcett (Moguls) and Antonia Murphy (Alpine/Ski X) were both out and about recently offering tips and advice to junior athletes in preparation for race events.
During the Perisher Moguls Championships, Saskia helped and advised 24 junior mogul athletes who were part of the Talent Identification Program (TIP). “The children were very excited to be training for this major U19 event and I offered tips and support throughout the day which hopefully added to their confidence,” said Saskia Fawcett.
Antonia recently spent time last training with 8 young racers from Thredbo’s Development Squads who were busy training for Ski Cross. The group of young and ecstatic athletes practiced their starts and drills on the Ridercross Course on High Noon with Antonia taking them through their paces. “We had such a fun time working through the terrain features and blasting over the bumps,” said Antonia Murphy.
To get in touch with any of our Interschools Ambassadors, visit https://nswinterschools.com.au/interschools-ambassadors
It's not too late to enter the Amelia McGuiness Fundraising Events!
Several fundraising events are being held to support the Amelia Guiness Memorial Foundation, as well as offer an opportunity for participants to practice snow sports competition before the SSA Northern States Championships.
All monies raised are distributed to our up and coming emerging athletes via the Amelia McGuiness Scholarship Program, applications to open in mid-September each year. 2019 marks the 10th Anniversary of Amelia’s passing and since then, the foundation has distributed $194,860 in funds to emerging athletes.
2019 EVENTS
1. Amelia McGuiness XC Sprints, Perisher Trails – Sunday 18th August - Open to Schools aged athletes - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. Entries close Aug 15 at midnight.
2. Amelia McGuiness Memorial Time Trials (Alpine GS, & Snowboard Cross, Ski Cross has SOLD OUT), Perisher - Monday 19th August - Schools aged athletes - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. Entries close Aug 15 at midnight.
3. Amelia McGuiness Alpine ‘Masters & Apprentices’ Time Trial, Perisher – Monday 19th August. New in 2019. This one is for the adults! After the students have had their time trial on August 19, the adults get their turn. Set on a dual Alpine course, parents, teachers, former Interschools competitors, etc can race each other. Lots of prizes on offer! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. Entries close Aug 16 at 5pm.
Biggest ever NSW-ACT Junior Series
The next generation of Australian mogul skiers were out in force at the weekend as Perisher played host to the biggest ever NSW-ACT Junior Series.
89 young athletes competed across the two-day event, which offered both single and dual moguls competitions.
There was also a chance to watch Olympians in action as silver medallist Matt Graham and other Olympians completed a number of runs to the delight of the young crowd.
Ranging in age from 9-19, competitors battled it out in the U11, U14 or U20 classes for the $5,000 in prizemoney on offer.
It was double delight for George Murphy, a member of the Elite Talent Program, who won the U20 dual moguls and finished third in the singles.
“It was pretty exciting to get the win, I had put good runs down in training the day before and I was able to put down two nice runs on the day,” Murphy said of his singles victory.
“I was pretty nervous for duals, I didn’t think I had the speed to keep up with the others but I tried going fast and I was able to keep up and put down all day,” he said.
The ‘Post-box award’ is steeped in tradition and for the first time in its five-year history it was won by a female with Jaimie Mausdon declared winner.
The accolade is judged by the ground jury and is presented to the athlete who does the biggest airs and pushes themselves to send-it biggest.
Jamie’s Iron Cross Back-tucks on the bottom air were some of the biggest jumps of the day and it saw her awarded the iconic post-box trophy.
The tradition was born after event commentators began saying that an athlete had ‘taken the jump to the post box and sent-it.’ The post box has become a highly sought-after prize with past winners also including Ethan Topalovic, Ben Matsumoto, Will Martin and Will Feneley. Last year's winner, Ethan, had the honour of presenting Jaimie the perpetual post-box trohpy (below).
To cap off a great weekend of snowsport there was also a milestone achieved off-snow as an all-female judging panel officiated the event for the first time.
The judges were; Madii Himbury, Taylah O'Neill, Gen Martin, Phoebe Tudhope, Kendle Richards
Head to Snowracer to view full results from the competition.
Moguls Talent Identification Program
Ski & Snowboard Australia (SSA), along with NSW ACT Freestyle, delivered a Moguls Talent Identification Program (TIP) over the weekend at the Perisher Junior Moguls Championships.
TIP is a long running and successful program which has been responsible for delivering some of our very best mogul athletes.
29 athletes in Year 5 and 6 accepted their invitation to the program, which was based off their performance at the Regional Interschools Freestyle Moguls Competition.
The TIP program is designed to develop the participants’ Freestyle Mogul skills and techniques combined with the opportunity to compete in both the Single and Dual Events at the Perisher leg of the NSW-ACT Junior Series Competition, which was held on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th of August 2019.
Olympic Coach, former NSWIS Head Freestyle Mogul Coach and current Coordinating Winter Sports Coach, Peter “Toppa” Topalovic, has designed and coordinated this program to enhance young athlete development and pathways in Freestyle Moguls. Toppa was again there on the weekend, providing advice to the participants. Guidance was also given by Interschools Ambassador, Saskia Fawcett.
"All the kids were amazing and so enthusiastic," Fawcett said. "They all had fun and all improved and their confidence was boosted as the day went on. I had a great time too," she said.
Throughout the weekend participants had the opportunity to ski with the Mogul Olympians and NSWIS National Team Mogul Athletes.
Wrap Up of the 2019 Blue Cow Cup
Plenty of hi-fiving, fist pumping and “knuckles” packed the finishing area on Saturday night at the colourful and at times thrilling Parallel Slalom race as part of the Blue Cow Cup last weekend. Strong sportsmanship prevailed as athletes raced head-to-head in the knock-out rounds against training pals and friends. Some were disappointed not to go onto the next round but the cheers from the crowd buoyed spirits and the engaging family atmosphere made the race a fun night. A race hold was called for an impressive fireworks display where the booming sounds ricocheted around the resort but, it was back to business after 10 minutes. The race series was held for Alpine skiers for U10s, U12s, U14s, U16s and Juniors and all gave it their best shots under the lights on Front Valley.
The GS race was held for 117 starters on Mother-in-Law at Guthega on the Saturday and 114 athletes sent it down the Centre Valley course for Ski X on Sunday.
Blue bird days made the long-standing series just that little bit more enjoyable and more friendships were forged between some of Australia’s best junior racers.
“We had an amazing three events across two days,” said Christian Geiger, Head Coach of Perisher Winter Sports Club. “The weather was perfect, the races competitive but most importantly, we had a lot of fun. The Race Department and coaches did an amazing job.”
Race Winners – 2019 Blue Cow Cup
GS - U10s – Skylar Heida and Harry Gilson, U12s – Madison Gilson and Thomas Campbell, U14s – Charlotte Mooney and James Peake, U16s – April Wynn and Noah El-Hakim, Junior – Emma Vizard and Killian Kretzschmar
PSL - U10s – Saskia Shortus and Harry Gilson, U12s – Alyssa El-Hakim and Sebastian Atra, U14s –Cassandra Nicholls and Duncan Cowan, U16s – Letitia Murphy and Aiden El-Hakim, Juniors – Kyra Wheatley and Ben Wynn
Ski Cross - U10s –Charlotte Gorman and Harry Gilson, U12s – Ruby Kite and Sebastian Atra, U14s – Cassandra Nicholls and Duncan Cowan, U16s – Letitia Murphy and Romeo Atra, Juniors – Eloise Siow-Lee and Constantine Nikias
Photos by Kemble Cowan
SSA National Children’s Championships and SSA Futures Ski Cross Camp – Registrations now open
Registrations are now open for the SSA National Children’s Championships which will be held in Falls Creek from Saturday, 31st August to Monday, 2nd September. This is the premiere ski racing event in Australia for U14 and U16 alpine athletes. The event will see the up-and-coming junior racers take to the hill and show us their range of skills across GS, SL and Ski X. Athletes from Thredbo Ski Racing Club, Thredbo Mountain Academy, Perisher Winter Sports Club, Falls Creek Race Club, Mt Hotham Race Club and Mt Buller Race Club will attend the event.
The proposed schedule is Saturday 31st of August - Ski Cross, Sunday 1st of September - GS and Monday 2nd of September - SL.
The Championships are only for U14 (06/07) and U16 (04/05) athletes and all entrants must have an SSA Alpine Junior membership. Please click here to register or upgrade your membership.
Click here to register for the SSA National Children’s Championships. Registrations close on 26th August.
Leading into the Children’s Championships, SSA will be holding a SSA Futures – Ski Cross Camp on Friday, 30th August. This camp is free of charge of all athletes who are Alpine Junior members. Shawn Fleming, SSA Alpine Co-ordinator and OWIA Ski Cross Head Coach will head the coaching team and will be joined by our leading Ski Cross athletes and guest coaches; Sami Kenndy-Sim, Anton Grimus, Doug Crawford, Robbie Morrison, Liam Michael and Lee Rolls.
Click here for more information and to register for the SSA Futures – Ski Cross Camp.
Little Shredders Featured at the Monaro Small Schools Fun Day
The Monaro Small School's Network (MSSN) Fun Day was held in July at Adaminaby Public School, where participants had the opportunity to try out Little Shredders to learn the basic skills needed for snowboarding.
The day was hugely successful, with many students returning home to tell tales of what they had learnt. NSWIS Snowboard Cross athlete Josie Baff and Park and Pipe athlete Abi Harrigan were on hand to offer support to the students. Mr Bogatek ran the Little Shredders lesson and combined a few ideas from the curriculum provided for maximum exposure and engagement. The participants enjoyed practicing the essential skills, such as stance and balance, on the Little Shredders Equipment.
Only 4 from 85 students indicated they had been snowboarding before. The students took away learned skills on what is required for snowboarding.
The MSSN is made up of 5 small primary schools on the Monaro; Nimmitabel, Jerangle, Dalgety, Bredbo and Adaminaby. They range in size from 5 students (Bredbo) to 37 students (Nimmitabel). In total, 85 students from K-6, largely from farming families, participated in the program. The schools all run Snowsports programs in term 3 to develop their snowsports skills and love for the sport.
If you are interested in getting Little Shredders to your school, visit http://www.littleshredders.com.au/home/ for more information.
Local Sporting Champions
Local Sporting Champions provides $500 financial assistance to young sportsmen and women aged 12-18 that can be used towards the cost of travel, accommodation, uniforms or equipment when competing, coaching or officiating at state, national or international championships. Closes 30 September 2019. For more information click here