Alpine Director Update - February 2024

Dear Alpine Community,

A new year is upon us and 2024 has started out full throttle, with athletes competing around the globe and at many major events this January.

Just last weekend we witnessed history at the men’s World Cup Giant Slalom event in Bansko BUL seeing Harry Laidlaw become the first Australian male to qualify for a second run in World Cup GS. This is an absolute testament to Harry’s unwavering commitment, perseverance and work ethic striving to become one of the world’s best GS skiers. Harry and his team at Global Racing, including Australian coach Hugh Brooks, have created history and we cannot wait to watch the future unfold enroute to the Olympic Winter Games in Cortina-Milano 2026.

See Bansko WC results here: Bansko World Cup Results

We also saw the FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships take place in Portes du Soleil FRA under quite warm conditions, however organizers provided great race venues. We had 5 athletes representing Australia in Giant Slalom and Slalom: Abbey Evans, Pia Bruce, Joey Steggall, James Kelly, and Kyle McGown. For Joey Steggall this event had an even more special as Joey has grown up training and competing in the Morzine area where the races were held.

See results here: FIS Alpine Skiing Junior World Championships Results

Australian Alpine and Ski Cross athletes were also busy representing the nation at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon Korea. In Alpine, Max Kelly and Arkie Lennon represented Australia in both GS and SL at the HIGH1 Resort along with 60 other nations and a field of 80 athletes both in men and women’s competitions. Over in the Willi Hilli Resort the Ski Cross athletes, Duncan Cowan, Dakota Turner, and Bayley Sadler competed alongside 11 other nations in both Ski Cross and a Team event consisting of one male and one female athlete from each nation. Both venues were world class and offered great winter conditions under blue sky.

See YOG results here: 
Alpine - FIS Alpine Skiing - Gangwon Youth Olympic Games Results
Ski Cross - FIS Ski Cross - Gangwon Youth Olympic Game Results

It has also been busy on the FIS Children’s competition front, we have had athletes competing at Trofeo Borrufa AND, Folgaria ITA, and most recently in Skofja Loka SLO. These events provide valuable experience to our U14 and U16 athletes gaining exposure to international competition and meeting athletes of the same age from across the globe, potentially a future World Cup star in the making!

We are only halfway through the northern winter and already I feel that so much has occurred. That leaves me hopeful and excited for what more may come across all of our different athlete cohorts. For those of you who aren’t overseas, it is only. 16. Weeks until the June long weekend- so that means you can get in TWO cycles of Snow Ready- Snow Australia’s physical training program.

I wish everyone the very best in their training and competitions!

Shawn Fleming
Alpine Director
Snow Australia

Laidlaw Breaks new ground in Australian GS racing at Bansko World Cup

Courtesy of OWIA

Australian alpine skier Harry Laidlaw has shown he can match it with the best, reaching the top-30 and second run in the World Cup giant slalom event in Bansko, Bulgaria, for the first time in his ski racing career.

Laidlaw finished the first run in impressive fashion to place 24th in a time of 1:12.99 seconds. In making the top-30 qualifying level, the 27yo earnt himself a second run in the event, becoming the first Australian male to achieve this feat at World Cup level in a giant slalom race.

In the second run, Laidlaw showed great technical skill and speed and appeared set to be the first Australian to claim World Cup ranking points in the giant slalom, but unfortunately crashed out in the final sector of the course.

“Whenever I push out of the start gate, I push to be competitive and this culture has been ingrained in us within this special team at Global Racing” said the 2018 Olympian.

“It hurts not putting two runs together but proud to have pushed the way I did.”

“More to come and grateful to be racing.”

2022 Olympian Louis Muhlen-Schulte finished in 41st place, his best ever World Cup finish in a giant slalom.

See Harry's second run below

Gunew & Jackson Score Maiden Para Alpine World Cup Podium

Georgia Gunew first joined the Australian Para Alpine Team in September 2022 for a series of races in New Zealand.

Just 16 months later she has earned her first World Cup medal, finishing third in slalom at the Veysonnez World Cup in Switzerland.

read more >
April School Holidays activity at the NSTC

Snow Australia are taking Expressions of Interest (EOI) for April School Holiday Sessions and a Pre-season FUTURES Camp at the NSTC between 15 - 21 April 2024. 

The school holiday sessions will run from April 15 - 19, giving participants the opportunity to use the Acro and Airbag facilities of the NSTC at a discounted rate over the school holidays. The full week includes 8 Airbag sessions and 5 Acro sessions, with the option for attendance on specific days during the week for a lower cost.

To express your interest and find out more about this program, click the links below.

NSTC April School Holiday Sessions EOI - Snow Australia

2024 Pre-Season FUTURES Camp EOI - Snow Australia

read more >
SnowReady
Snow Live

Aussie snowsport fans can now catch all the FIS World Cup action this season for free via FIS TV.

Snow Australia has acquired the rights and are proud to be delivering this free of charge for Aussie fans during the 2023-2024 World Cup season.

Upcoming Para Alpine, Alpine & Ski Cross World Cup Events in February and early March:

Date Location Event
22 February Reiteralm, AUT Ski Cross - Men
24 February Palisades Tahoe, USA Giant Slalom - Men 
1 March Aspen, USA Giant Slalom - Men
read more >
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