Welcome,

In this edition you will find a wrap-up from the 2004 LINZ Australia Ski & Snowboard Awards, information on our Winter Olympians participating in the Olympic torch relay, and information on the from the ASC’s High Performance review of Alpine Skiing.

You will also find an important and timely reminder for athletes in regard to their obligations with drug education. SSA is very committed to ensuring all athletes are aware of their obligations and there are some fantastic resources available to assist with this.

I hope you enjoy this edition of the SSA E-News as always if you require any further information please contact the Ski & Snowboard Australia office.

 

2004 LINZ AUSTRALIAN SKI & SNOWBOARD AWARDS

The 2004 LINZ Australian Ski & Snowboard Awards was held at the Atlantic South Wharf, in South Bank, Melbourne, on Thursday May 20th, 2004.

The awards brought together athletes and stakeholders of the snow sports industry to recognize outstanding achievements and contributions to our sport over the past 12 months.

The night was a great success and SSA would like to thank the sponsors of the evening who without their support would not have made the event possible. Thank you to Linz Australia, Seven Network, RT Edgar Alpine, and Mark Adams Real Estate.

Full results here...» more…
 

AUSTRALIAN WINTER OLYMPIANS IN THE OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY

Several prominent Australian Winter Sport athletes have been selected to participate in the Olympic Torch relay as it makes its way through former Olympic cities Sydney and Melbourne.

We encourage as many snow sport supporters to get along and cheer on our current and former Winter Olympians as they carry the torch in their respective cities.

Details for the Sydney athletes are as listed below.

Sydney Friday 4 June

Zali Steggall	1:50pm	Climbing Harbour Bridge!!
Michael Milton	3:40pm	Pacific Hwy, Crows Nest, Shirley Road
Stephen Bradbury	6:09	Olympic Bvd, near Edwin Flack Ave

Melbourne Sat 5 June

Lydia Ierodiaconou	8am	Royal Children’s Hospital (first runner!)
Adrian Costa	10:25am	Outside Seven at Docklands
Colin Coates	5:10pm	Crown Casino (river side)

New Quay Torch Relay Celebration
For Melbourne based supporters, an opportunity exists to support the athletes and attend a function at the New Quay at Docklands. Proceeds from the breakfast go to the Australian Olympic Team


Be part of history on Saturday 5th June, when the Athens Olympic Torch travels down New Quay Promenade.

You can secure a prime viewing position to witness the first truly global Torch Relay that will see the Olympic flame travel to 34 cities around the world, including all previous Olympic Host Cities.

To celebrate this momentous event, New Quay at Docklands is hosting a fundraising breakfast from 9am - 11am. The winter sporting community is getting together to enjoy a light breakfast, while watching history in the making. A special outside area will be set aside to give you an uninterrupted view of the flame as it travels past.

Date: Saturday June 5th
Time: 9am - 11am
Tickets: $35 per person (Proceeds go to the AOC) Bookings Essential
Contact: Ryan Taylor at Ski & Snowboard Australia (03) 9696 2344.
RSVP: Tuesday 1st June

ASC HIGH PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF ALPINE SKIING

As many would be aware by now, the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) recently invested considerable resources into a High Performance review of Alpine Skiing in Australia.

The process began with an extensive interview process of key discipline stakeholders including race clubs, resorts, coaches, officials, athletes and administrators. Input from any interested parties was also welcomed via the SSA website.

A panel of experts both from within the sport and from other sports was put together and discussed the current situation and mapped out a process for longer terms solutions to holes in the athlete pathway.

The draft report was put before the SSA board for consideration on the 21st May at which time the board endorsed the concepts contained in the report. A copy of the report can be found here...» more…

The report was then tabled at the National Alpine Committee meeting the following day. The board of SSA now invites submissions on this report from interested stakeholders. These submissions will form part of the board’s consideration of adopting the final report at its next board meeting.

Submissions should be received by Wednesday 30th June and can be sent by fax or email attention of:

Michael Kennedy
CEO Ski & Snowboard Australia.
Level 1, 1 Cobden St
South Melbourne VIC 3205
Fax: (03) 9696 2399
Email: Michael.Kennedy@skiingaustralia.org.au

A copy of the report can be found here...» more…


 

DRUG EDUCATION: AN ATHLETE'S RESPONSIBILITY

It is at this time of the year that we remind athletes of their obligations and responsibilities in terms of drug testing, familiarity with banned substance lists, notification of whereabouts for National Team members, and the lodging of TUE Forms (Therapeutic Exemptions) for athletes who, for example may be asthmatic and take medication as part of their treatment.

With the new World Anti Doping Association (WADA) code now in place, it is increasingly the ultimate responsibility for each athlete to comply with Drug testing procedures.

Athletes that compete at National and International events at almost any level can be subject to drug testing at any time, and it is vital that all athletes understand the process and what is expected of them.

Ignorance is no excuse.

The ASDA website is the best educational resource for all matters relating to drugs in sport. www.asda.org.au

SSA encourages each athlete, club and family to carefully read the ASDA website and freely ask questions of SSA as required. Queries can be directed to Ryan Taylor who is our ASDA liaison officer. Ryan can be contacted on ryan.taylor@skiingaustralia.org.au