Thredbo Ski Racing Club wins the inaugural Snow Australia National Skills Challenge

Thredbo Ski Racing Club has won the inaugural Snow Australia National Skills Challenge, which took place at this year’s Children’s Carnival at Thredbo earlier this month.

Five clubs (FCRC, MBRC, MHRS, PWSC and TSRC) attended the event, with a combined 60 athletes taking part and coaches on hand to offer support.

Athletes took on three different tasks in the National Skills Challenge, including a slow speed technical task, one ski skiing and an off-piste freeride run on The Bluff.

One coach from each club along with Snow Australia Alpine Director, Shawn Fleming, took on the role of assessors, while triple Olympian Sami Sim was on hand as starter and encouragement for the athletes. 

Fleming congratulated TSRC on their victory and all athletes who took part in the debuting event.

“I want to firstly say congratulations to Thredbo Ski Racing Club on taking the inaugural win and thank them for hosting a great week of racing and the first National Skills Challenge,” he said.

“Secondly a big thank you to all the clubs, coaches and athletes who took part. It was a great initiative and a great way to incorporate a relaxed competition in a team format to follow on from the individual competitions earlier in the week.

“I want to extend the challenge to all of the other clubs, coaches and athletes to bring the trophy home to their club next year.”

TSRC Program Director, Craig Branch, congratulated all athletes on their efforts over the week.

“It's a huge honour for TSRC to win the inaugural National Skills Challenge,” he said. “A big congratulations to all our athletes and coaches for their hard work this winter. ”

“The Skills Challenge capped off what was a fantastic week of racing and a very welcome return to the National Children's Carnival after a long absence.

“Thanks, and congratulations to all Club's for attending and to all the volunteers who made the week possible.”

Branch also acknowledged the importance of skill development in the developing Alpine community, and the great opportunity the Skill Challenge provided to those U14 and U16 athletes.

“Thanks to Snow Australia for launching this very important initiative as another way to drive the importance of fundamental skill development across our Club systems,” he said.

“It was great to see our Club athletes and coaches from across the country come together as a community and have some fun outside the competitive arena of a racetrack.

“Let's continue to drive the importance of developing fundamentally skilled skiers outside the gate arena to help promote the growth of athletes pushing down the pathway of the sport. “