Australian Interschools Championships – Cranbrook Snowsports on FIRE!
Last week and into the weekend, 20 students represented Cranbrook at the Australian Interschools Snowsports Champions in Perisher. After a long absence from Interschools competition, due to the pandemic, Cranbrook has come back stronger than ever! This National event was perhaps one of the best we’ve seen, in terms of podium finishes.
With less than perfect conditions of rain and slushy snow, the boys brought their A-game and landed a record number of spots on the podium against a very competitive field of over 1500 athletes from 291 primary & secondary schools from across Australia. Competing in 17 events over 6 days, the whole Cranbrook team brought in a total of 5 SILVER and 2 BRONZE medals in Team events and personal bests spanning the field. It is worth mentioning that the Cross-Country competitors had incredible results, bringing home the hardware in every Relay they competed in, across 3 Divisions! Individually, a huge shout out goes to Charlie Roberts for his individual BRONZE result in Division 5 Alpine.
For the most impressive individual results, we must honour an extraordinary achievement by Laidley Dowling, Year 12. Laidley took a place on the podium in 4 separate disciplines at this National event. Against specialist athletes, he demonstrated his diversity across Moguls, Ski Cross, Alpine and Cross-Country Relay, earning him 1 BRONZE and 2 SILVER in team events, and a remarkable 2 individual medals. Laidley set an unbeatable time, earning himself a GOLD in Ski Cross, as well as a SILVER medal in Moguls, just a mere .18 points off first place. What a crowning achievement to his 13-year Interschools career at Cranbrook. There has never been an athlete in Cranbrook Snowsports who has achieved such consistent podium finishes over all five disciplines in Interschools. What an incredible finish. Congratulations, Laidley.
Please join me in acknowledging the entire 2022 National Cranbrook Snowsports Team: Laidley Dowling, Charlie Punch, William Hupfau, Oscar-Louis Antflick, James Stodart, Samuel Gipson, Joel Droga, William Roberts, Charlie Mann, Dash Bouvier, Jai Rastogi, Sam O’Neil, Bo Campion, Ziggy Edwards, Oscar Parsons, Charlie Roberts, Rhys Au, Hugo Croft, James Cowan and our youngest competitor, Xavier Fern. We are all so proud of your effort, stamina, perseverance and generosity of spirit on the mountain.
Final Medal Tally from the Australian Interschools Championships:
| Alpine Division 1 | SILVER Team | Laidley Dowling, Oscar-Louis Antflick, William Hupfau, Charlie Punch |
| Alpine Division 5 | BRONZE Individual | Charlie Roberts |
| Moguls Division 1 | SILVER Individual | Laidley Dowling |
| Ski Cross Division 1 | SILVER Team | Laidley Dowling, Oscar-Louis Antflick, William Hupfau |
| Ski Cross Division 1 | GOLD Individual | Laidley Dowling |
| XC Classic Division 2 | SILVER Team | Dash Bouvier, William Roberts, Charlie Mann |
| XC Relay Division 1 | BRONZE Team | James Stodart, Charlie Mann, Laidley Dowling |
| XC Relay Division 2 | SILVER Team | William Roberts, Joel Droga, Dash Bouvier |
| XC Relay Division 5 | SILVER Team | Charlie Roberts, Xavier Fern, Hugo Croft |
