Regional Update - NSW / ACT / QLD - September 17, 2019
Published Tue 17 Sep 2019
All the latest on and off snow news for SSA’s NSW, ACT and QLD members.
Nominations now open for the SSA Community Sport Awards
Ski & Snowboard Australia is calling on the snow sports community to recognise outstanding achievements and contributions from athletes, coaches, volunteers, clubs, schools, resorts, administrators and programs at the development and pathway level of snow sports.
Nominations close October 11, 2019. Finalists will be announced in the weeks leading up to the event with winners announced at the SSA Community Sport Awards.
AWARDS OVERVIEW
The inaugural Ski & Snowboard Australia (SSA) Community Sport Awards will be held in Canberra on Thursday November 7th.
Established to compliment the Australian Ski & Snowboard Performance Awards held annually in May in Melbourne, the SSA Community Sport Awards have been established to acknowledge and recognise athletes, coaches, volunteers, clubs, schools and programs at the development and pathway level of snow sports.
The SSA Community Sport Awards aims to develop into a significant Awards and celebration evening, to be held annually In the Northern States/Territories.
In 2019, the awards are being held during the SSA National Participation & Development Conference.
AWARD CATEGORIES
There are ten categories in the Community Sport Awards. Award categories may have finalists, with the opportunity to announce these in the weeks leading up to the awards. Winner(s) are to be announced on the night. Each category has it's specific criteria. The Award categories are:
Snowsports School of the Year
Outstanding School Achievement in Snowsports
Spirit of Interschools Award
Snowsports Official of the Year
Snowsports Pathway Initiative Award
Snowsports Young Achiever of the Year
Emerging Talent Snowsports Athlete Awards
Snowsports Club Coach of the Year
Snowsports Club of the Year
Service to Snowsport
HOW TO NOMINATE
Clubs, discipline and management committees, schools, resorts, program providers may forward nominations via a representative.
Registrations now open for the National Participation Conference
On behalf of Ski and Snowboard Australia (SSA) and the SSA National Participation Committee, it is our pleasure to invite Interschools Snowsports Coordinators, Industry Representatives and our Community to attend the 2019 National Participation Conference, in Canberra on Thursday 7th & Friday 8th November.
As the first Olympic sport in Australia to unify to a single governing body, SSA endeavours to connect with pathway partners; to inform, engage and inspire our sport to move in a single national direction.
‘Building Participation in Snowsports & Creating Champions’ will deliver key learnings, provide tools and insights, and create opportunities for discussion and feedback.
The conference explores the key areas of:
- • Industry – Unique Insights from Sport and the Snowsports Industry
- • Participation – Connecting with our Community to Inspire, Engage and Encourage Greater Participation
- • Schools – Developing sustainable, safe and successful School Snowsports programs
- • Diversity and Inclusion – Learning about the opportunities available for Disabled Wintersports Participants
- • A Systems Approach – Exploring what this means for Snowsports and our community, with an emphasis on developing an evidence-based approach to collectively achieve great outcomes
The Conference dates are structured to coincide with the inaugural Ski & Snowboard Australia Community Sport Awards to be held on the Thursday evening – 7th November at QT Canberra.
SSA looks forward to providing an array of networking opportunities, sharing knowledge, showcasing best practice, and to create an environment that collectively builds participation and future champions.
CLICK HERE for the Conference Program
CLICK HERE to Register.
Alpine/Ski Cross Athlete Preparation Camp at the AIS
The Alpine/Ski Cross Athlete Preparation Camp aims to educate and prepare U16 and FIS Athletes aged between 2004 to 1999 on best practice for athlete preparation and development within a team performance environment.
The camp will be delivered by our OWIA/SSA and Club Coaches, with support from the expertise, services and facilities of the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. This two and a half-day residential camp is a unique opportunity for young athletes to experience the pinnacle of high-performance training at the AIS within a team environment while learning more about what it takes to become a successful Alpine/Ski Cross FIS Athlete across the Australian and International seasons.
The Alpine/Ski Cross Athlete Preparation Camp is possible due to the support of NSW/ACT/QLD Alpine and SSA.
This camp is free of charge for Alpine / Ski Cross Athletes who have Alpine Junior membership OR Alpine Racer membership and are born 2004 to 1999
When is it?
Starts: Friday 25th of October: 3:00pm
Concludes: Sunday 27th of October: 2:30pm
The schedule will be available shortly
How to Register:
Please click here to register.
Registrations close: 18th of October 2019
Please click here to download the information brochure.
Sydney Acro Sessions held again in Term 4
Click here to download brochure
Click here to Register
SSA National Alpine Children’s Carnival - Ski X Race
Well the wu-tanging was wonderful and the berms blissful at the SSA National Alpine Children’s Carnival Ski X event held on Saturday, 31st August in Falls Creek.
Qualifiers were held in the morning where the fastest 16 men and women in the U14s and U16s moved through to the heats.
The U14s went head to head and the U16s went four across through the heats and eventual final and small final. There was great excitement in the start gates as junior athletes pushed out to pass the first wu-tang and charge their way down the step and highly-featured course. There was overtaking strategies at play and aggressive blocking which added to the thrill of the chase.
There was fist pumping, knuckle blocks and hugs as competitors came across the line and the genuine positive displays of sportsmanship was good to see.
Fast-tracking around to the top for the next heat, competitors regrouped and pushed forward to race hard and fast in the finals.
It was a great day of competition and this was the first national Ski X event to be held at this level of competition for a few years. One to keep on the calendar.
Congratulations to the winners and finalists:
U14 Girls 1st Isabelle Davis - TMA 2nd Arkie Lennon - TSRC 3rd Dakota Turner - MBRC 4th Charlotte Mooney – PWSC
U14 Boys 1st Duncan Cowan - PWSC 2nd Max Kelly - MBRC 3rd Lachlan Houghton -FCRC 4th Zac McGown – MHRC
U16 Girls 1st Matisse Stafford - MBRC 2nd Maddie Hooker - FCRC 3rd Anika Whitby - MBRC 4th Letitia Murphy – TSRC
U16 Boys 1st Harry Hoffman - TSRC 2nd James Houghton - FCRC 3rd Campbell Daines - TSRC 4th Laidley Dowling - TSRC
In case you missed it, read up on the National Alpine Children’s Carnival 2019 at Falls Creek and other Alpine news HERE.
Don't Forget the Fun in Snow Sport
We are fortunate within our winter sports community to have the opportunity to play and participate with family and friends in a range of fun outdoor activities which accommodate people of all ages, physical capabilities and experience. It is this platform for broad participation that distinguishes snow sports as one of the most inclusive and universally enjoyable outdoor activities available to diverse groups of friends, families and communities.
The appeal of snow sports is born from the vibrant community structure which has historically existed within the fabric of all on mountain activities.
Beyond social skiing and boarding, the opportunity also exists to participate competitively in snow sports. In Australia, this often happens for the first time at Interschools. Interschools has become one of the largest school sporting events in Australia and allows school students to come together and compete with friends typically formed in teams.
The team focus of Interschools is fundamental to its success, and purposefully builds upon the social foundations of snow sports, allowing members to socialise and enjoy group success while creating unforgettable experiences in a friendly group environment.
There are two critical outcomes that Ski and Snowboard Australia hopes to achieve through its Interschools program:
1. Provide an introduction to competitive snow sports with a focus on the fun and enjoyment of being with friends. Build upon the principles of teamwork and social structure which are so important in snow sports communities;
2. Similar to any sport in Australia, we aim to teach our children values that will help them throughout all areas of life, allowing them to grow into well balanced, respectful and productive adults.
Some of the values we aim to promote in Interschools include:
- Respect
- Teamwork
- Discipline
- Time management
- Patience
- Determination
Interschools committee members aim to demonstrate that there is so much more to be gained by participating in sport than just winning medals.
Now that we are coming to the end of another season, it is a good time to reflect on the success in achieving these value objectives. Participation in Interschools has again been higher than ever and the events continue to grow each year. All of this adds pressure to everyone involved and sadly, this season, maybe more than previously, we have witnessed some examples of minimum standards of behaviour not being met during periods of competition.
There have been some worrying examples where the spirit of fair play, respect for fellow competitors and integrity have been surpassed by a desire to win at any cost.
This type of behaviour isn’t what we would expect from a snow sports community who would typically have higher expectations for enjoyment, community spirit and goodwill towards others in the sport. Good sporting behaviour, care for fellow snow enthusiasts and respect for athletes, officials and parents are fundamental values we have come to expect from all members.
At all times we should remember that sport is a great opportunity for us to teach our children about the values of integrity, humility, honesty, discipline and above all else – FUN.
Please do remember that snow sports is a fun activity that should be enjoyed by all participants. Next time you or someone you know forgets this point, don’t be afraid to remind them of the values we Australians, and snow sport enthusiasts, place on sport.
Ski & Snowboard Australia - Codes of Behaviour
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