Dear Alpine Community,

The season that keeps on giving! As I am writing this, we still have good conditions across our resorts and many of the race clubs are taking full advantage with spring camps in full force. This season had a strong start on the June long weekend and has delivered ever since offering up over 111 days of skiing to date, with a possible extra 10 days to come …. how many have you done?

Travelling around to each resort, getting to work with athletes, coaches, clubs and their parents is always the highlight of a busy season, but one that also seemed to fly by this year, with some of the best ski days I have ever had in Australia. I would like to thank each club and their hospitality throughout the season. Also, I would like to recognize all the parents who take the time to attend any of the information/Q&A club sessions throughout the season, volunteering their time for events, and being their child’s biggest supporters.

The Ski Cross Futures at Mt Hotham in August was a great 2 days allowing club athletes the opportunity to ski and learn from our National Team and Emerging Talent athletes. Following the Futures we had 2 great days of ANC Ski Cross racing with the weather causing us to cancel the third race. Some tight racing and great comradery across the athletes from different clubs made for an exciting environment and a big congratulations to Rose Hocking and Duncan Cowan for taking the overall honours for the 2025/26 season.

The ANC Alpine events returned to Australia for the first times since 2019 and Thredbo stepped up to deliver an outstanding race series. Thredbo was the second leg of the ANC series with athletes competing the previous week in Mt Hutt NZ and flying across the Tasman to converge on Thredbo. Whilst the weather on the week presented some challenges, each day athletes were presented with a great hill which provided for some very competitive racing. It was a great opportunity for some of our club level FIS athletes to compete alongside our National Team athletes as well as top international ski racers. Many of our athletes then continued to follow the series back to New Zealand for the last stop in Coronet Peak. A big congratulations to our National Team athletes, both male and female, who managed to win the overall titles for both SL and GS. Phoebe Heaydon continued a strong southern hemisphere block by winning both the Giant Slalom and Slalom titles for 2025/26 season. On the men’s side Hugh McAdam took the Slalom overall title with Louis Muhlen-Schulte taking out the Giant Slalom title for Australia. I can’t wait to welcome the ANC races back to Thredbo in 2026!

The Snow Australia Children’s Championships was held in Mt Hotham this year and we found ourselves smack dab in the middle of one of the biggest snowstorms of the season. This made for some challenging race conditions, with soft snow on the race hill especially for the Slalom days. Athletes were also treated to a great powder day showing of Hotham’s incredible off-piste terrain. The weather created an ever-changing race schedule which kept the athletes on their toes but also tested and displayed the resiliency and adaptability of some of our best club athletes. After it was all said and done there were four deserving Overall Champions for the 2025 season:
•    U14 Women Lilly Brauer TSRC
•    U14 Men Loki Davis TSRC
•    U16 Women Eliza Sweeney Ramasundara MBRC
•    U16 Men Xavier Lees TSRC

The final event of the season was the FIS National Championships and National Junior Championships Slalom and Giant Slalom races held in Perisher. The first 2 days of competition saw great conditions for giant slalom and slalom while the weather provided some extra challenge on the final day seeing the cancellation of one of the final FIS slaloms. The smaller field sizes gave athletes a great opportunity to show off their best skiing with conditions holding up very well for everyone. Ultimately Zac Howell managed to take 4 wins from 5 events and Madi Gilson showed similar dominance on the women’s side winning 5 from 5 starts. The winners of the National Championships and National Junior Championships titles for 2025 were:
•    Zachary Howell – Men’s Giant Slalom and Slalom National Champion
•    Madi Gilson – Women’s Giant Slalom and Slalom National Champion
•    Donald Watson – Men’s Giant Slalom and Slalom National Junior Champion
•    Madi Gilson – Women’s Giant Slalom and Slalom National Junior Champion

I hope everyone is enjoying this late season snow, taking advantage of any training opportunities on offer from their clubs and looking forward to the northern hemisphere winter!

All the best,

Shawn

Snow Australia recently hosted three action-packed days of Alpine racing at Perisher, with the National Championships delivering high-calibre competition across Slalom and Giant Slalom disciplines.

Also incorporating the National Junior Championships, the event offered up and coming athletes another chance to compete at a FIS sanctioned event right here in Australia.

Courtesy Paralympics Australia

Three-time Winter Paralympian Toby Kane has been appointed as Australian Deputy Chef de Mission for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.

Kane’s return to national duties, this time in a leadership role under Chef de Mission Ben Troy, follows his decorated career as a Para-alpine skier which included a Paralympic bronze medal at both Torino 2006 and Sochi 2014, two World Championship medals and 16 World Cup podiums. He also carried the Australian flag into the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics.

This week marked a significant milestone for Para Snowsports in Australia, with activity spanning elite competition and grassroots participation.

From hosting FIS-sanctioned Para-Alpine races as part of the National Championships and five athletes earning international classification, to launching the inaugural Finskos Cup and spring instalment of the Adaptive Festival, it’s been a landmark week for the Para snowsport community.

More than 150 of Australia’s top young alpine skiers converged on Mount Hotham for the 2025 Children’s Championships, with four days of racing showcasing the next generation of talent in the U14 and U16 categories.

Despite challenging weather conditions that saw the Ski Cross event unable to be held, the Championships delivered a strong program of racing, with athletes demonstrating resilience, adaptability, and determination.

Competing Overseas in the 2025/26 Season?

Snow Australia remains the single point of entry for Australian skiers competing internationally in FIS sanctioned events.

To compete overseas in FIS sanctioned competitions there are a number of prequisites that must be completed before you can be included on an official entry form. Please view the summary information below and visit the Competing Overseas page on the website to make sure you understand your obligations.
 

1. Membership

To compete overseas you must be an Alpine International Racer member in your respective discipline. This ensures you have the correct level of membership and are registered with FIS.

If you are competing in FIS sanctioned Children's Alpine races you will need to be an Alpine Club Racer.

2. Competition Insurance

It is a FIS requirement that Snow Australia ensures all its competitors hold insurance that covers competitive skiing and meets, at a minimum, FIS International Competition Rules: 212.3

We have been working with our insurance providers to confirm policies ahead of the northern winter. Please visit the Competing Overseas page for the latest information on available policies.
 

3. Expression of Interest & Coach Authorisation Letter

To compete in FIS sanctioned races overseas you must complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) form and submit it to Snow Australia (entries@snow.org.au).

To simplify the entry process for FIS level Alpine races internationally, Snow Australia may provide a coach authorisation letter to approved coaches. To apply for this authorisation letter, coaches must apply direclty to Snow Australia. More information here

Snow Australia is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the sixth edition of the Snow Australia Community Sport Awards (CSA). These prestigious awards recognise outstanding achievements and contributions across the snowsports community over the past 12 months, including athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials, schools, clubs, and programs.

From exceptional young athletes and inspiring coaches to committed volunteers, innovative school programs, and recognised pathway initiatives, the CSAs highlight the individuals and organisations driving progress and making a meaningful impact at the grassroots and development levels of the snowsports community.