First FUTURES camp of the season held at Australian Institute of Sport

More than 30 young athletes took part in the first FUTURES camp of the season over the weekend at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra.
 
Hailing from all the snowsports disciplines, athletes were treated to a weekend of educational sessions, gymnastics, strength & conditioning, acrobatics sessions and a Q&A with top Australian Alpine skier Greta Small.
 
With the expertise of AIS staff assisting over the weekend, access to world-class on-campus facilities and the opportunity to engage with a two-time Olympian, the young talents got invaluable insight into what it takes to be an elite athlete.

Participating in a FUTURES camp for the first time, Greta Small said it is fantastic to see the next generation of snowsports talent coming up and making the most of this program.

“When I was 12-13 years old programs like FUTURES did not exist. It’s an amazing opportunity for these young athletes to learn what it is like to be a full-time athlete at elite level,” she said.

“For me, personally, it’s really rewarding to connect with youth, share some of my knowledge and show them what’s possible, that they can aspire to compete at World Championships or Olympic level.

“Everybody was really engaged and they had very valid questions, particularly on the mental aspect of preparation and how it feels to be in the start gate of an important event. It showed that they already think about how they can improve mentally as well as physically,” Small said.

Another highlight of the weekend was the acrobatic session, led by one of the most experienced gymnastics/snow sports coaches Anthony Khoury.
 
Khoury led a three and a half hour session where athletes were able to learn new skills and test their agility and focus.
 
Following the practical session, parents were invited to join the athletes and Khoury for an educational session, answering questions about what it takes to be an elite athlete.
 
For Khoury, seeing so many young and talented athletes was reassuring for the future of the sport.
 
“They have all had such a great camp this weekend. There are not very many sports that I work with where athletes at this level get the opportunity not only to work with some great coaches, but also have access to some of the best facilities that this country has,” Khoury said.
 
“The athletes should feel very lucky to be able to have this opportunity and to keep joining these programs.
 
“Snow Australia is constantly looking at ways to evolve and expose young athletes to such great programs like FUTURES,” he said.
 
With on-snow activities returning in 2021, there are FUTURES dates set for right across the domestic season.
 
To view the draft schedule and read all the details about the 2021 FUTURES program – click here