With one of the best starts to a snow season in recent memory, SSA athletes at all levels and disciplines are enjoying sensational training conditions.

The domestic competition season has begun and the SSA website will continue to be your major source of information for race results, and all other sport related information.

You may also have noticed that in line with the recent name change, the domain name for the SSA website has also been changed to; http://www.skiandsnowboard.org.au please update your records accordingly. Our new general enquiry email address is info@skiandsnowboard.org.au

From all at SSA, enjoy the great snow and good luck to all athletes competing over the coming weeks. We look forward to the continuation of what has been a fantastic season as we begin our preparation for the 2004/05 Northern Winter.

 

2004 Alpine Exposure World Aerials
Ski & Snowboard Australia is set to once again host the Premier Ski Event on Australia’s calendar – the Alpine Exposure World Aerials. Scheduled for September 4 and 5, the world’s best aerial skiers will descend on Mt Buller for the seventh time.

Set to return from injury is former Mt. Buller World Cup Winner and World Champion Jacqui Cooper. Jacqui suffered a severe knee injury in training at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

The Alpine Exposure World Aerials are the first two World Cup competitions of the 2004/2005 Freestyle FIS World Cup Circuit. This will be the seventh year that the Circuit has kicked off in Australia. The event is free to attend and once again will be televised nationally on Network Seven.
 

World Aerials Exclusive Hospitality Opportunity
SSA is pleased to extend an invitation for all members of the ski & snowboard community to participate in the exclusive World Aerials hospitality program. A limited number of places are available. Details and RSVP forms are available for download here.

The official event web site http://www.worldaerials.com is the best place to keep up to date on all the latest news regarding the event. Check back regularly for further updates.

Snowboard Development Halfpipe Program

Ski & Snowboard Australia (SSA) together with Perisher Blue and the Olympic Winter Institute (OWI) are proud to present the 2004 Australian halfpipe snowboard talent search.

Following the highly successful pilot program in 2003, SSA is looking to identify and select the next generation of Australian Halfpipe riders to take their shot at Olympic Glory.

This is every young rider’s opportunity to be identified as a National Development Team member in one of the most exciting Winter Olympic disciplines.

Last year’s program unearthed and propelled two riders (Mitch Allan & Hannah Trigger) directly onto the Australian World Cup Snowboard Team along side Torah Bright.

SSA will, together with the technical expertise from the OWI, conduct a three day talent ID program at Perisher Blue from 16 to 18 of August 2004.

Registration is open to potential halfpipe athletes of all ages. The program will be coached by OWI head coach Ben Wordsworth and will be assisted by other international experts.

Click here to download the registration form
 

Alpine High Performance Review
The recently completed High Performance Advisory Panel (HPAP) review into Alpine Skiing conducted by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has stirred a great deal of healthy debate as to the future of High Performance Alpine activity in Australia.

While it was widely accepted that a considerable skill gap exists at the elite junior level, the methodology on how to improve the situation is the topic that has generated a great deal of discussion.

The Board of SSA asked for comment from the community on the draft report. All submitted comments were considered at the recent board meeting and SSA will now work with the ASC towards a final report over the coming weeks. The final report will be put to the SSA Board in October with a view to implementing the action plan by early 2005.
 

Cross Country

Cross Country athletes at all levels have thoroughly enjoyed the fantastic early winter conditions.

Late May saw the Cross Country congress being held in Mt Beauty, in conjunction with a National Team weekend training camp. The inaugural Level 1 Officials course was held towards the end of May.

The Cross Country level 1 Coaching course was held at the start of June in Jindabyne. NSW Cross Country Race Week was launched at Perisher Valley on the same weekend.

On the weekend of June 18-20 the National Team testing camp was held at the AIS in Canberra. The National Team were involved in an on-snow training camp from June 27 - July 2 at Falls Creek and from July 4 - July 8 the National Sprint Team also had their on-snow training camp at Falls Creek.

Upcoming events include:

Perisher Valley August 1 - Australia / New Zealand Cup + National 10/15km Championships, Mt Hotham August 7 - Australia / New Zealand Cup + National Sprint Championships, Lake Mountain August 14 - National 15/30km Championship, Perisher Valley August 21/22 - Australia / New Zealand Cup + National 5/10km Championships, Perisher Valley August 28 - Kangaroo Hoppet, Falls Creek September 4/5 - National Junior Championship, Falls Creek

Plans are well underway for next season in Europe, where we will be fielding teams at the World Championships in Germany, the World Junior Championships in Finland, and various World Cup and Continental Cup events in middle Europe and Scandinavia