2022 Australian Interschools Snowsports Championships

Last week, 18 boys from the Senior School travelled to Perisher Valley for the last time this year. These were the remaining students of the 52 Senior School boys who started the teams’ journey back in July. In total, there were 1,519 competitors from 290 schools across Australia. It was a unique experience for the boys to be able to compete on the same day and on the same course as female competitors, as well as compete against schools from a vast range of backgrounds.

Some boys who were invited to compete couldn’t make it. Of note, Daniel Kovacs who missed the Division 1 Alpine event due to an HSC French Examination; Adam Watson in Division 1, qualifying for Alpine, Moguls and XC, who was to compete in a Hockey Grand Final the same weekend and Jack Steiger-Thorpe in Division 3, qualifying for Alpine, SkierX, Moguls and XC, out through a broken arm. Caleb Atkinson, Jordan Elliott and Hugh Gluskie were also missed.

Led by our Team Captains, Daniel Kovacs and James Hopkins, the team performed very well, the best we have achieved in the past 10 years at least! Bolstered by three Team and two National Division Gold Medals and two Team National Bronze Medals, Shore ranked 4^th overall in the Secondary Male Category. We ranked 3^rd overall in Downhill Skiing. A fantastic achievement by a tremendous group of passionate and committed skiers, snowboarders and parents.

Division 3 Results (Years 7 and 8)

Division 3 Cross Country Classic – Lachlan Boys (11^th), Byron Kendrigan (15^th) and Julian Harrison (22^nd) placed 5^th as a team.

Division 3 SkierX team – Nicholas Yates, Charlie Kovacs and Julian Harrison smashed out the National Team Bronze Medal in 3^rd place.

Division 3 Alpine – Charlie Kovacs, Nicholas Yates, Julian Harrison and Luca Ewen won the National Team Bronze Medal in 3^rd place.

Division 2 Results (Years 9 and 10)

Division 2 Cross Country Classic – Calvin Shortus placed 20^th.

In Division 2 Moguls, Harry Dubenec sliced the bumps and soared off the jump into 13^th place as an individual.

Division 2 Snowboard Slopestyle – Noah Shepherd and Lachlan Defina ranked 1^st in Australia for Team Gold Medal.

Division 2 Snowboard X – Duncan Cowan placed 17^th in Australia.

Division 2 SkierX – on a course that had claimed many across the week, and almost the boys yesterday, Duncan Cowan placed 1^st, Calvin Shortus placed 8^th and Henry Conick 26^th for Team Gold Medal. Duncan crashed on the first run but was able to empty the mind and lay down the fastest run of the day for his second run to receive the National Divison Gold Medal.

In Division 2 Alpine, Duncan Cowan, Calvin Shortus, Henry Conick and Lewis Kingdom charged through the pack to win yet another Team Gold Medal. And Duncan Cowan, yet again, led the field for the double-tap of National Division Gold Medal.

Division 1 Results (Years 11 and 12)

Division 1 Moguls ­– Max Anderson placed 11th and Roo Taylor 12^th for an overall 4^th place, only two points behind Geelong Grammar.

Division 1 Alpine – James Hopkins finished in 8^th and Marcel Ewen in 27^th.

Division 1 SkierX – James Hopkins, Daniel Kovacs and Marcel Ewen placed a very solid 4^th, a little over 1-second separating them from placing 3^rd.

Well done to all of the boys who competed this week. Competing at a national level is a true privilege regardless of outcome. Thanks to the parents and carers who were there supporting the boys and the teams.

Mr W J Payne
MIC, Snowsports

Top image credit: Division 2 Alpine Gold Medal team of Duncan Cowan, Calvin Shortus, Lewis Kingdom, Henry Conick