2023 NSW, ACT and Queensland Snowsports State Championships
Last week, 41 students from Kindergarten to Year 12 ventured to Perisher to compete in the 2023 NSW, ACT and Queensland Snowsports State Championships. As was the case with Regionals the conditions were looking pretty grim in the lead-up but some last-minute snow helped make the week possible and the boys and girls were excited to get down there to face the challenge of competition.
Up to the top six placed teams and up to the top 20 individual competitors from all divisions and disciplines qualify for the Australian Nationals, which were slated to be held in Mt Buller in early September. We have received the disappointing news that Nationals will not go ahead this year due to a lack of snow, so the results that you read below will be the final effort of racing for Shore Snowsports in 2023. Divisions are split by years: Division 1 – Years 12 and 11; Division 2 – Years 10 and 9; Division 3 – Years 8 and 7; Division 4 – Years 6 and 5; Division 5 – Years 4 and 3 and Division 6 – is Years 2, 1 and Kindergarten.
On Monday, with quite warm weather, the Division 5 Moguls Team of Theodore Karedis, Adrian Zhang and Kai Long put up a strong effort, placing 7th. In Division 5 Alpine, the A Team of Theodore, Adrian, Callum Saurajen and Max Madar cranked into 5th place, Kai Long placed a very strong 18th and Jethro Carroll 67th racing as a pair.
In Division 3 Slopestyle Ski, Lachlan Jansen placed 21st and in Slopestyle Snowboard, the A Team of Asher Shepherd and Cyan Couch placed 10th.
In Division 2 Slopestyle Ski, Charlie Kovacs placed 17th and in Division 2 Slopestyle Snowboard the A Team of Noah Shepherd, Neo Pressley and George Lane smashed out a TEAM BRONZE MEDAL.
Tuesday was ghastly to be fair, with rain – driving at times – throughout the day. This wasn’t enough to mar the spirits of the racers, there were still plenty of smiles and some great competition. In our Division 6 Alpine Team, Lachlan Barnes ranked 42nd, Aria Zhang 63rd and David Chan (racing for his very first time so that the team could compete) sadly DSQ’d both runs. The Division 5 Skier X Team of Theodore Karedis, Callum Saurajen and Adrian Zhang placed 5th.
Our Division 3 Snowboard Cross Team of Asher Shepherd, Cyan Couch and Lachlan Boys placed 10th with Asher ranking 11th as an individual.
The Division 2 Snowboard GS Team of George Lane, Noah Shepherd and Neo Pressley placed 5th, with Noah placing 11th as an individual!
Our Division 1 Slopestyle Snowboard Team of Jasper Pressley and Lachlan Defina stepped up to the podium for TEAM BRONZE.
All of the Cross Country (XC) events were held on Wednesday. It was lovely day out on the mountain with the return of beautiful and intense sunshine. Too warm though, the snow quality deteriorated through the morning and afternoon and all competitors found the conditions increasingly difficult.
Our Division 1 XC Classic Team of Caleb Atkinson, Jordan Elliott and Adam Watson narrowly missed the podium, coming in 4th. In Division 2 XC Classic, Angus Motteram placed 17th and in Division 3 Lachlan Boys placed 7th and Lachlan Jansen 17th. In the relay, Caleb, Jordan and Adam placed 5th in Division 1 for Nationals qualification and Lachlan Boys and Lachlan Jansen competed up a division with Angus Motteram to place 6th in Division 2, also qualifying for Nationals. A good morning of XC.
Later that day, Adam Watson placed 18th in Division 1 Moguls. In Division 2 Snowboard X, Noah Shepherd, George Lane and Neo Pressley placed 8th, Noah placed 12th overall! The Division 3 Snowboard GS team of Asher Shepherd, Cyan Couch and Lachlan Boys placed 11th.
Thursday saw the Division 3 Skier X team of William Thompson, Luca Ewen and Benjamin Rose placed 10th out of 17 teams.
In Division 3 Moguls, William Thompson, Lachlan Jansen and Benjamin Rose placed 8th.
In Division 2 Alpine, Charlie Kovacs, Nicholas Yates, Taj Robertson and James Thompson placed a solid 5th. Charlie placed 4th overall, 0.05 seconds out from 3rd.
Our Division 1 Snowboard GS A Team of Jasper Pressley, Lachlan Defina and Harry Brigden placed 8th with solo pilot Calvin Shortus being popped from the rutted course for a DNF.
In Division 1 Snowboard X, the A Team of Jasper, Lachlan and Calvin also placed 8th, with Harry placing 33rd, also flying solo.
Friday’s competition was epic. In Division 3 Alpine, William Thompson, Luca Ewen, Lachlan Jansen and Toby Cay placed 7th.
In Division 2 Moguls, Harry Dubenec, Charlie Kovacs and Henry Wheeler soared in at 6th.
The reader may recall that the Division 2 Skier X race at Regionals was cancelled due to lift closures and gale-force winds. The race at State Championships served as a re-run of the Regional Event. The A Team of Charlie Kovacs, Nicholas Yates and Julian Harrison ranked 6th, the B Team of Taj Robertson, James Thompson and Henry Wheeler placed 20th, the C Team of Angus Motteram, Miles Kingdom and Max L’Orange placed 22nd and Max Papadopoulos placed 60th, flying solo.
The Division 1 events are where athletes reach the peak of their abilities at the Interschools races. Truly inspiring to watch… In Division 1 Alpine, Duncan Cowan, Calvin Shortus, Lewis Kingdom and Adam Watson won TEAM SILVER, with Duncan Cowan winning INDIVIDUAL GOLD to be the fastest Alpine skier in Secondary Schools in NSW. Duncan was 1.12 seconds in front of 2nd place and only 0.16 seconds separated 2nd to 4th. Calvin ranked 10th, Adam 25th and Lewis 26th in an outstanding display of skiing skill.
In Division 1 Skier X, Duncan and Calvin were joined by Marcel Ewen as they stepped up to accept the TEAM GOLD MEDAL. Duncan again winning INDIVIDUAL GOLD – the fastest Secondary School Skier X skier in NSW. Duncan was 1.29 seconds in front of second and there was only 0.19 seconds separating 2nd to 4th. Calvin placed 12th and Marcel 20th. Such strength…
The Prep Team have done very well to pace 5th overall out of eight teams behind Scots, Cranbrook, Knox and King’s. Considering our numbers this year at the State Championships, this is a very good result.
The Senior School placed 3rd in the Secondary Male Overall Championships behind Scots and Kings and in a field of 9 schools.
Many thanks for a terrific season go to the Captains: Roo Taylor, Adam Watson, Jake Mears and their families; the parent community; staff and especially the boys and girls of the 2023 Shore Snowsports Team.
More in store for 2024, GO SHORE!!!!!
Mr WJ Payne
MIC Snowsports
Top image: Duncan Cowan Division 1 Alpine. Photo credit: Kemble Cowan