TeamHOTHAM named Snowsports Club of the Year

Snow Australia is pleased to announce teamHOTHAM has been named Snowsports Club of the Year in the 2021 Snowsports Community Awards.

This award recognises a Snow Australia affiliated club with an outstanding contribution to athletes at the elite, pathway and grassroot level, while creating a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment that encourages participation in snowsports.

Vice President of teamHOTHAM, Scott Wilson, said this award not only recognises the extensive effort of the committee members, but also all the family and friends who make the club what it is.

“We were absolutely stoked and very excited to win the award,” Wilson said.

“As a volunteer and a not for profit club, a lot of committee members and parents put a lot of effort into achieving the best possible training environment.

“We repositioned ourselves as a winter sport club in 2021, which aligned with our strategic direction to offer all disciplines on snow, aligned with the Snow Australia FTEM. In a pandemic year, we grew our membership base to the biggest we’ve had in a number of years and we’re delighted that we’re being recognised.”

Australian Alpine Skier, Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic hopeful and teamHOTHAM member, Louis Muhlen, said he was really pleased to see his club recognised through this award.
 
“For me I feel a huge amount of pride to be part of the club as they take this award,” Muhlen said.
 
“One of the things I love most about being a part of teamHOTHAM is being a part of that family. Every time I come back I feel like I can spend time and share stories with everyone in the club.
 
“I spent a lot of my younger years skiing and learning to race at the club so I know how special it is, but to see the club and the people who run get recognition for the amazing place it is, feels all the more special.”

A recent addition to the selection criteria for this award was the ability to adapt training practices in a COVID environment.

With competitions, training programs and social events cancelled, Team HOTHAM pivoted to continue to provide value for their members during this challenging time. Their recent offerings included a virtual training program, the introduction of a new Freeride discipline, new coaches, mountain biking camps, virtual ski maintenance videos with Olympian Harry Laidlaw, and the launch of ‘The Edge’ podcast for members and the broader snowsports community.

“When the pandemic started, we were worried we would lose connections with our athletes,” Wilson said.

“But we put together a plan so we could keep our athletes engaged. We introduced mountain biking in summer in the off season, learning the turns and burns of alpine skiing but in another sport.

“We then put a comprehensive plan together for this winter, which included launching our podcast that helped us to tell the story of our club.

“It was an incredibly challenging season with all the lockdowns, but lead by [Program Director] Hugh Brooks, we moved everything online and that was amazingly engaging - it was free and we ended up with a huge amount of participants.”

As the club prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2022, Muhlen pays tribute to the team who work tirelessly behind the scenes.
 
“I would just love to say a massive thank you to all the people who currently work and volunteer at the club, both past and present.
 
“These people are the real stars of the show because without them teamHOTHAM wouldn't be the club it is today. So a massive thank you to them!”