Vardy and Walsh to take on Mt Buller FIS JNR SBX event with a target on their backs

Snow Australia’s FIS JNR SBX National Series, powered by the Chumpy Pullin Foundation, moves from Thredbo to Mt Buller this weekend, for round two of the new four-part series on Sunday 14 August.

The series is an ideal development opportunity for the next generation of snowboard cross athletes, and the inaugural event in July brought 40 male and female riders to Thredbo to battle it out for the lead spot in the series.

Sydneysider Max Vardy, who rides for the Perisher Winter Sports Club and is a member of the 2022 ETP program, won gold in the men’s competition at Thredbo.

The 18-year-old said that after two years of not racing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was fantastic to be racing on home soil again and to see the next crop of SBX riders coming through the pathway program.

“It was great to get back in the gate on Aussie soil,” Vardy said. “The weather wasn't the best but Snow Australia combined with the Chumpy Pullin Foundation exceeded expectations with this event.

“Being one of the older and more experienced riders in the field, it was a bit nerve-racking to see the younger generation having a crack and showing the more developed athletes how it's done.

“Reflecting on the race, the future of SBX in Australia is in very safe hands with the likes of Cam Turner (3rd place) and Robbie Jones (4th place) coming up the ranks.”

In the women’s event, 16-year-old ETP athlete Lara Walsh, from Tasmania, defeated 15 other women on her journey to winning her first FIS gold medal.

“This was my first FIS JNR race in Australia, I had a great time and I was really happy with my result,” Walsh said.

“I really enjoyed the opportunity to race against people that push my skill and ability. There was definitely some tough competition, but it was great to catch up with some friends that I hadn’t seen for a while because of COVID.

“Being the first competition for a long time, we were all feeling very eager to get back into racing and give it our best shot. 

“Big thanks to Snow Australia, Thredbo, and the Chumpy Pullin Foundation for creating a great course and running such a fun event,” she added.

Coming into Round 2, Vardy might have a target on his back as the one to beat and knows he faces some stiff competition as he chases his dream of becoming an OWIA athlete.

“Seeing the abilities of the younger athletes has really made me excited for the rest of the series and to be pushed harder than before,” he said.

“Hopefully I will be able to keep the good results flowing, which will help me in my endeavour to reach OWIA.”

Walsh said she will take confidence from her win in Thredbo into this weekend’s event.

“My biggest takeaway from the first event would be to trust myself and to just have fun and enjoy every second of it,” she said.

“I really enjoyed racing with a great group of supportive boarders that bring out the best in each other. I can’t wait to get back on the racecourse with them all again this weekend.”

Round 2 of the FIS JNR SBX series is on Sunday 14 August in Mt Buller, before heading to Mt Hotham on Wednesday 31 August and Perisher after that. Registrations for Mt Hotham are NOW OPEN.

At the end of the series, a male and female series champion will be crowned.

The FIS JNR SBX SERIES is powered by the Chumpy Pullin Foundation.