The fourth and final event of the Australian Junior Series 07 was held last weekend at Perisher Blue. Young competitors from NSW, Victoria and Queensland turned up on a perfect blue-sky spring day for some impressive riding. The crowd loved it. Congratulations to the halfpipe winners Nathan Johnson (17-18 yrs male), Sam Murphy (14 – 16 yrs male), Billy Hayman (11 – 13yrs male), and Michaela Davis-Meehan (combined female). The event delivered some excellent tricks and great air in the pipe. The riders really relaxed in the post competition Expression Session which just went off, with Sam Murphy and Patrick Davis-Meehan vying for bragging rights for the biggest air. Next year promises to be even bigger based on what all the riders did in that final session…and look out for some of those under-10 year olds coming through like Emily Arthur and Cameron Stavely.

The overall series winners were announced on the day, with the top riders clean sweeping and winning every event. Congratulations to Nathan Johnstone, Billy Hayman and Michaela Davis-Meehan for an awesome effort to win Slopestyle, Air and Style, and both Halfpipe comps in their respective age divisions.

The Australian Junior Series was a series of firsts. It was the first time a junior event in Australia was recognised by WSF and achieved a TTR 1 Star Ranking and it was the first southern hemisphere event of the TTR World Tour 07/08 season. This was the first time a nationally sanctioned (by Ski and Snowboard Australia) junior snowboard series has been held in Australia.

The Series overall attracted some 50 snowboarders from 8 to 18 years old. The strongest representation was in the 14-16 years male division with 21 competitors and there were 12 female competitors across the age divisions. On average, 35 participants competed in each of the four events.

The event sponsors were Rhythm Snowsports, Dakine, Nikita, Freestyle Max, Billabong, NSW Snowboard and Perisher Blue. A huge effort was put in by Perisher Blue Winter Sports Club and it was great to have the NSW Institute of Sport team competing at every event.

Planning is already underway for an even better event next year and watch out northern hemisphere because our juniors are climbing up the TTR rankings including Michaela Davis-Meehan currently at No. 21 in the women’s and Nathan Johnstone at No. 16 in the men’s. Expect to see them in the northern hemisphere in the near future.

For further information and results go to www.perisherblue.com.au

For some video see www.jibvids.com

Contact: Stuart Davis-Meehan: 0409570572 – stuart@keyinsights.com.au

Photos: Ben Alexander