Snowboard cross athletes reimagine training at Jindabyne summer camp

As the season is about to end, Australian snow sports athletes continue to make the most of summer training opportunities. Last week it was the NSWIS snowboard cross program that completed its second camp in Jindabyne, with athletes working on developing a solid conditioning base, improving start gate techniques and looking to maintain movements they will perform on the snow later in the year. The Evolve skateboards were back in action after being previously introduced at the first summer SBX camp back in January.

“Being a winter sports program that is grounded in an Australian summer has presented some unique opportunities to reimagine training and how we can maintain and improve the technical aspects of our sport,” said Snow Academy coach and apprentice James Barb-Winter. 
 
“Thanks to some creative thinking by Head Coach Jason Clauscen, the athletes now have access to state-of-the-art Evolve electric skateboards, which can be used both on and off road. The boards have a multitude of applications and this week the athletes were pitted head to head in slalom-style courses. This provided the opportunity for athletes to work on line choice, position, technique and racing tactics, all in a competitive environment,” he said. 
 
The SBX team was joined in Jindabyne by Alpine Snowboarder Harvey Edmonson, a World Cup-level rider who is currently in Australia due to COVID-related travel restrictions and jumped at the opportunity to join his bordercross colleagues. 
 
“There are many technical differences between alpine snowboarding and SBX, but I was still able to take away some technical aspects from the start-gate work, particularly dialing my alpine starts and - in snowboard cross - how I shift my weight through features,” said Edmonson.
 
“It was great to be training with some top coaches and a team of riders with similar goals and drive to be the best snowboarders. I believe it’s really beneficial to be training as much as possible with athletes who push each other in a fun team environment,” he said.
 
Alongside the specific start-gate work, switch riding and racing simulations, the camp provided a variety of cross-training activities which included strength sessions, start gate training, hikes to Blue Lake in the Kosciuszko Park and some demanding mountain bikes rides in Thredbo Mountain resort and to Charlotte Pass and Lake Crackenback resort. 

It was also an opportunity to work on behavioral change. Although not present at the camp, two-time Olympian Cameron Bolton took the time to call in and share his experience with the young SBX talents. Bolton highlighted how developing good habits in his training life allowed him to reach his goals as an athlete and how he learnt to prioritise his training times to get the best balance in his sport and life.

Barb-Winter said that the NSWIS camp in Jindabyne provided also an excellent opportunity for athletes and staff to connect. 
 
“The athletes showed up highly motivated and as a result they were able to maximise the effectiveness of each session,” he said.
 
Snow Australia and team NSWIS would like to say a big thank you to all those that helped support the camp, including Thredbo mountain resort, Lake Crackenback resort, Jindabyne Sport and Recreation Centre, the athletes and support staff.