Snowsports Team rises to ultimate challenge

By Jonathan Mandl, Technical Director Snowsports

Twenty of our best snowboard and ski athletes from Years 4–12 earned the right to challenge Australia’s best on some of the steepest and longest courses over four hectic days of competition at picturesque Mt Buller in Victoria last week.

After travelling more than 600km south and climbing 1800m to the resort, we quickly found ourselves a part of a student army of 3640 entries from a record 334 Schools across Australia.

Radford Snowsports’ excited team of 20 were all fired up and sped down the most technically challenging courses in the country with skill and grace. They were also excellent ambassadors for the College, exhibiting good sporting behaviour at all times.

The days were long for all, with the group at the team base of Coonamar Lodge making an early start from 6:00am for events. A hearty meal in the evenings preceded a mixture of equipment tuning, preparation and relaxing in the games room.

Outstanding performances included:

  • Our youngest Snowboard competitor, Jack Appaneal in Year 4, charging the course in the Division 4 SBGS
  • Darcy Barlow rampaging for Radford in the Division 5 SkierX
  • Audrey Potter lighting up the hill, finishing 21st in a field of 48 in Division 4 Moguls
  • Our Division 3 Alpine GS team of Fin Barlow, Niki Georgalis and Mitch Riepon (13th)
  • Our Division 2 Snowboard GS team of Maggie Potter and Emma Brennan (9th) and backing up same day on Division 2 Snowboard Cross (12th)
  • Our Division 2 SkierX team of William Brake, Lachlan Herring and Tom Ewer (10th)
  • Our Division 2 Alpine GS teams of William Brake, Lachlan Herring, Louis Hearn and Tom Ewer (8th) and Alex Schofield, Campbell Kruger and Will Seddon (11th)
  • Our Division 1 girls SkierX team of Rosie Joshua, Mia Rajak and Katherine Hinchcliffe (6th)
  • Our Division 1 boys SkierX team of Oscar Gordon and Ethan Kruger (13th)
  • Oscar Gordon leaving nothing in reserve on the Division 1 boys Alpine GS course.

On the Champion Schools table, Radford College recorded a very respectable 10th from a strong field of 26 Co-Ed schools and the top performing ACT school in both competitor enrolment and points scored.

Many thanks go to our tireless parents and family supporters who got us there and back safely! The ‘Mt Buller mission’ every two years is not for the faint-hearted. I’m reliably told all students will do extra work around the house over Summer and keep their bedrooms clean to show their appreciation of your efforts on the highway and course-side. Special thanks to Mr Alan Ewer for a very entertaining stint volunteering as Start Marshall on Sunday’s Div 2 GS course, a job well done and our thanks to you as one of the 315 parent course official volunteers rostered on over the four days of the championships.

Special thanks to Mr Bradley Greer for his dedication and commitment to supervise the team all season long and enjoying spectating events at Mt Buller. Also, Mrs Lisa Stocks for her tireless and accurate work behind the scenes to plan and coordinate our event entries, accommodation and transport.

As this is our last event report for 2019, the team would like to thank Mr Larkham and Mrs Godfrey for their unhesitating endorsement of the Snowsports Program in its 26th year and all the approvals for our many activities throughout Winter.

Lastly, a reminder to find your favourite star in our talented team by searching their event photos at this link: https://photoshopmtbuller.com.au

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