Interschools: The Grassroots Pathway Behind 109 Winter Olympians and Paralympians

Each year over 7000 school students from nearly 700 schools from around Australia come together to compete at Interschools, providing an opportunity for young skiers and snowboarders to experience competitive snowsports at either a recreational or competitive level.

Of the athletes who competed at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, 31 began the early stages of their careers at Interschools, including Matt Graham, Val Guseli, Cooper Woods and Kyra Wheatley.

Students from Kindergarten to Year 12 have the opportunity to compete for their school, as part of a team or as an individual in any or all of the eight disciplines: Alpine, Ski Cross, Moguls, Snowboard GS, Snowboard Cross, Cross Country and Freeski and Snowboard Slopestyle. Students compete in divisions based on their year at school, progressing through regional, state and then national rounds of competition.

For years, Interschools has been the gateway to competitive snowsports for over 109 Olympians and Paralympians, providing young athletes the platform to compete in a safe and controlled environment. Interschools has grown rapidly since its early days, expanding from its racing origins to include freestyle disciplines in recent years. This inclusion is a reflection of how far snowsports has evolved in Australia.

Wendy Olsen, National Event Coordinator for Snow Australia, said the program’s real strength lay in the opportunities it can create for its participants, well before they were thinking about the Olympics and beyond.

"It is so amazing to see that 31 members of the Milano Cortina Australian Team, have come from the Interschools pathway. It inspires the new generation of snowsport athletes, to see Olympians grow so far from the same position they are standing in today.”

“It goes to show just how important these first competition experiences truly are.”

This week, the Mogul Ski World Victorian Interschools Championships are underway at Mt Buller. The eight-day event, which concludes on Sunday, has attracted more than 2,500 participants from over 250 schools, generating more than 5,700 competition entries.

Meanwhile, the Subaru NSW/ACT/QLD Interschools Snowsports Championships wrapped up at Perisher, with nearly 1,900 participants from almost 300 schools competing across 4,362 entries.

Despite lower-than-average snow conditions for this time of year, both Mt Buller and Perisher have delivered outstanding competition courses, ensuring a fantastic experience for all competitors.

Ultimately, Interschools’ greatest achievement is not in the medal counts or the amount of Olympian alumni, as exciting as it is. 

It is in the thousands of students each year who get to try competitive snowsports, and develop their own connection with the mountains. The 109 Olympians and Paralympians who have passed through the Interschools pathway are a powerful marker of its success, and now, every new race will continue to shape the next generation of Australian skiers and snowboarders, whichever level they dream to reach.

A sincere thank you to the volunteer course officials, team managers, school coordinators and families who make these events possible. The Interschools Championships are a true team effort, and your dedication and support are greatly appreciated.

Thank you to the athletes that attended presentations to present medals to the competitors.

We now look to the last Interschools event for the season, the Subaru Australian Interschools Snowsports Championships in Perisher September 1 to 6.