Regional Update - NSW / ACT / QLD - September 4, 2019
Published Wed 04 Sep 2019
All the latest on and off snow news for SSA’s NSW, ACT and QLD members.
There are many National events that are on at the moment, or have recently finishsed. Here is a round up of recent local community events.
Amelia McGuiness Foundation Marks the 10th Anniversary
On Monday 19 August, the 10th Anniversary of the Amelia McGuiness Australian Snowsports Development Foundation (AMASDF) was celebrated with fundraising events held at Perisher. 350 participants competed in the Alpine, Ski Cross, Snowboard Cross, Cross Country and Alpine Masters event.
The McGuiness family were there to present medals and lucky bib donated prizes.
Amelia was an advanced and much-loved skier from Barker College when she passed away in a tragic ski accident in 2009. Despite the enormous pain of their personal loss, her parents Cath and Sam McGuiness, developed the foundation so her legacy could live on. And thus in 2010, the 1stAmelia McGuiness Memorial Time Trial occurred, and a small team of volunteers came together to form a Committee for the foundation. In the first year, the foundation raised $27,000. Over the past 10 years including this year, the oundation has now raised $210,240.00 in total.
Scholarships have been distributed to a very significant and impressive list of young “rising stars” in snowsports, across the wider snowsports community looking to live and experience their own personal dream. This has included many athletes who have gone on to compete at the Olympic Winter Games.
There has been a long list of sponsors and supporters over the past 10 years and we thank them all enormously for assisting the foundation to develop into a very significant snowsports community event.
CLICK HERE to make a donation to the Foundation through the Australian Sports Foundation.
Come and Try Interschools - September 14 at Thredbo
Are you a parent with a junior racer who is lacking a little bit of confidence on race day? Race day is always a mix of excitement, adrenaline and a few butterflies but, Interschools has an opportunity to sweep some of those nerves under the magic carpet.
New for this season, the SUBARU SSA Interschools Participation & Development Series gives your young athlete some valuable experience on a racecourse in a non-competitive environment.
The first two highly-successful events of this new initiative were held at the beginning of the season in Perisher and the third and final event for Winter 2019 will be held in Thredbo on Saturday, 14th September.
The cost is $25 for the day and will include an Alpine, Snowboard GS and Rider Cross event experience, support and event tips from our Interschools Ambassadors, as well as a Q & A with Thredbo on programs that support the progression of developing skiers and snowboarders.
“This event is geared towards athletes that may be in the younger divisions of interschools or don’t have access to training on a racecourse,” says Steve Cooper, Chairperson of SSA Northern Interschools. “It’s an opportunity to learn about how to collect your race bib, how to marshal in order and how to stand behind the wand and wait to be counted down by the starter before your turn to race. It’s all a bit daunting when it’s new especially when there are plenty of distractions and cow bells ringing on the side lines. We want our young racers to feel confident and at ease with the systems and protocols on race day.”
All new schools experiencing Interschools for the first time, along with new 2019 participants and any members of the public are invited to attend the event.
The course location in Thredbo is yet to be confirmed but it’s a great opportunity for Interschools racers to also become familiar with Thredbo resort, which will host both the Northern NSW & QLD Championships and the SSA Northern States Interschools Championships in 2020.
Entries: Online entries are open via the SSA Events Portal and will close on Wednesday 11th September. Waivers must be submitted at the time of entry (if you have not already completed one for the season), along with payment via credit card.
The 86th Edition of the Balmain Cup raced under perfect conditions
With plenty of snow and sunny weather, the 86th running of the Balmain Cup was held in perfect conditions last weekend at Perisher.
Skiers and Snowboarders young and old talk of the Balmain Cup with affection. The Balmain Cup is the oldest interclub snowsports competition in Australia, which was first held in 1933.
It is a friendly but hard-fought meeting of skiers and snowboarders that are members of clubs in Guthega and Perisher.
The cup was donated in 1936 by the Balmain brothers, who, in those days, ran a bus service in the Snowy Mountains.. The Balmain bothers involvement in the event ended long ago – but their cup goes on.
Back in the pre-lift days, the race was held at such places as Mt Franklin, Cabramurra and Kiandra. When races completed a run, they climbed to the top again with skins on their skis. Today’s competitors would not consider racing under such primitive conditions! The Balmain Cup has been modernised but has always had the element of multiple events being contested, which used to include a ski jump competition.
Today’s event consists of a slalom, giant slalom, snowboard giant slalom and cross-country race all held on the one day. Each club can enter six racers in each discipline, with the best four times taken in each discipline to determine the overall club winner. Modern rules allow clubs to use their best overall times of three out of the four disciplines for the club standings.
The Cooma Ski Club Slalom Team lines up for the Slalom
This year, Guthega Ski Club won the Balmain Cup with a team that performed well in the alpine and cross-country events.
In addition to the Balmain Cup, the George Dudzinski Cup is awarded to the club member with the best combined performance over three out of the four disciplines. This year, a record 18 participants took part in the George Dudzinski Cup, with the winner being Rupert Winkler of Guthega Ski Club. Alina McMaster of Cooma Ski Club took out the best female performance amongst the standings.
Rupert Winkler in the Slalom
The participating clubs take it in turn to host post-race celebrations. Tate Ski Club was the host this year and served up a delicious meal for the other participating club members and supporters at their lodge.
The Balmain Cup has been historically run by competing clubs, club associations the Southern District Ski Federation, SnowSports ACT, and now Ski & Snowboard Australia.
The standard of skiing and snowboarding has always been very high and some of the top skiers and snowboarders in the Balmain Cup have represented Australia in the Winter Olympics. This year, up and comer Valentino Guseli of Canberra Alpine Club and Winter Olympic Silver Medallist Jarryd Hughes of Brindabella Ski Club, had a close battle in the Snowboard GS.
Discipline Winners
Slalom – Rupert Winkler, Guthega Ski Club
Giant Slalom - Rupert Winkler, Guthega Ski Club
Snowboard GS - Valentino Guseli, Canberra Alpine Club
Cross Country – Dave Arens, Cooma Ski Club
Balmain Cup Club Standings
- Guthega Ski Club
- Cooma Ski Club
- Brindabella Ski Club
- Tate Ski Club
- Canberra Alpine Club
CLICK HERE for the Results
Fun and Friendly Competition at the ACT Schools Cup
The ACT Schools Cup was held on Sunday at Perisher with just under 200 Canberra school students competing.
The event is a chance for ACT students to line up and race against their friends from other schools, as well as an important practice race for those heading to this week’s Australian Interschools Championships.
For many, it’s also a first race for those that have been developing their ski and snowboard skills all season and it makes for a great introduction to snow sports competition.
The emphasis is on fun, participation and representing your school.
The top 3 individuals were awarded medals in their Interschools division and the team results went towards a point score to determine the overall ACT Champion Schools.
The 2019 Champion Schools are:
Primary Girls – Radford College
Primary Boys – Canberra Grammar
Secondary Girls – St Clares’ College
Secondary Boys – Radford College
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