Hello everyone, welcome to winter!

The 2026 Snow Australia Para Pathway season is shaping up to be one of our most exciting yet, with opportunities available for participants of all experience levels-from first-time skiers and snowboarders through to athletes pursuing classification and competitive development.

In this update, we highlight the recent Emerging Talent Program (ETP) Launch Camp held in Jindabyne, bringing athletes and coaches together ahead of the season. We also celebrate a standout 2026 international season for our Para athletes, along with opportunities to get involved locally through Multiclass Interschools events and volunteering.

Read on for a full Para Pathway overview, key dates, and ways to get involved this winter. The 2026 memberships are now open-don’t forget to renew before the season gets underway!

The Para Pathway provides a clear progression for athletes and participants to develop their skills, confidence, and independence on snow while fostering a welcoming and inclusive community across Australia's alpine resorts.

Adaptive Festivals: Your First Step onto the Snow
Our Adaptive Festivals continue to be the entry point into adaptive snowsports, offering a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for people who are new to skiing, snowboarding, or cross-country skiing.

This season, Adaptive Festivals will be held at Thredbo, Falls Creek, Mount Buller, and Perisher, providing participants with the opportunity to experience the excitement of snow sports while receiving instruction, adaptive equipment, and on-snow support from experienced guides and coaches. For many participants, these festivals are the beginning of a lifelong journey in snowsports.

Building Skills at Futures Fundamental Camps
For skiers and snowboarders who have recently learned the basics and are ready to progress, the Futures Fundamental Camp at Falls Creek and Mount Hotham will focus on developing fundamental snow skills, confidence, and independence.

Participants will work with experienced coaches in a supportive environment designed to help them become more capable and comfortable navigating the mountain while preparing for future opportunities within the Para Pathway.

Taking the Next Step: Development Camps
Athletes who are skiing or snowboarding independently and are ready for more structured training can participate in a series of Development Camps at Perisher throughout the season.

These camps focus on snow performance, athlete education, and long-term athlete development. Participants will experience a structured daily training environment while learning the skills required to progress towards classification, competition, and high-performance pathways.

These camps provide athletes with valuable opportunities to develop both on and off the snow for all Para disciplines- Para Alpine, Apra Snowboard and Para Cross Country.

A Pathway for Everyone
Whether you're stepping onto snow for the first time, building confidence as a developing skier or snowboarder, or pursuing competitive ambitions, the Snow Australia Para Pathway offers opportunities for every stage of the journey.

We look forward to welcoming new and returning participants throughout the 2026 season and celebrating another year of growth, achievement, and inclusion across Australia's snow community.

For more information: https://www.snow.org.au/disciplines/para
Email: para@snow.org.au

June
•    19–21 Jun: Adaptive Festival (Thredbo)
•    28 Jun–3 Jul: Alpine Development Camp (Perisher)
July
•    9-13 Jul: Snowboard Development Camp (Perisher)
•    13–16 Jul: Futures Fundamental Camp (Falls Creek)
•    18–19 Jul: Adaptive Festival (Falls Creek)
•    23-27: Snowboard Development Camp (Perisher)
August
•    10–14 Aug: Alpine & Snowboard Development Camp (Perisher)
•    15–17 Aug: Adaptive Festival (Mount Buller)
•    24-27 Aug: Futures Fundamental Camp (Hotham)
September
•    6–11 Sep: Spring Development Camp (Perisher)
•    11–13 Sep: Adaptive Festival (Perisher)

The calendar provides multiple entry points throughout the season, while the development camps are concentrated at Perisher for athletes progressing toward classification and competition.

Snow Australia officially launched its 2026 Emerging Talent Program (ETP) in Jindabyne, bringing together athletes, guides, coaches, parents, and staff ahead of the winter season.

The annual Launch Camp marks the beginning of the Para Pathway season and provides athletes with an opportunity to connect with teammates, understand expectations, and prepare for the year ahead.

Throughout the weekend, athletes participated in a range of sessions and activities that focused on building connection, strengthening team culture, and developing an understanding of the habits, behaviours, and commitment required to succeed as an athlete.

The camp included physical education and physical capacity testing at the National Snowsports Training Centre, providing valuable benchmark data to track athlete development throughout the year. Athletes also had the opportunity to try out the new ski and snowboard simulator, take part in equipment and tuning workshops, and engage in team-building activities that encouraged learning, collaboration, and connection across the group.

The weekend concluded with a team hike and a session outlining season expectations, commitments, and upcoming opportunities across the Snow Australia Para Pathway.

2026 Emerging Talent Program Cohort

Para Alpine
•    Zane Meyer
•    Ivy Walker & Guide Keisha Tickle
•    Zara Perry & Guide Lara Gilson
•    Dylan Molloy
•    Fletcher Crowley

Para Snowboard
•    Jeremy Kim
•    Samson Droney
•    Noah Arkansoul
•    Lachlan Simpson
•    Lois Kim
•    Austin Alexander

Para Cross Country
•    Dave Miln
•    Taryn Dickens
•    Matthew Brumby
•    Lauren Parker
•    Lynne Marie Cullen

Snow Australia would like to thank all athletes, guides, families, coaches, presenters, and staff who contributed to a successful camp.

With Launch Camp complete, the cohort now turns its focus to the 2026 winter season, where athletes will continue their development through training camps, competitions, and pathway opportunities. We look forward to following their progress throughout the season and beyond!

Athletes of all ages with physical, intellectual and visual impairments are invited to experience the excitement of competitive snowsports through the 2026 Interschools Snowsport Championships Multiclass Events.

The Multiclass and Special Olympics (SO) events provide a fun, welcoming and inclusive environment where participants can take part at either a recreational or competitive level. Competitors have the opportunity to test their skills in either Alpine Giant Slalom (GS) or Snowboard Giant Slalom (GS) events while enjoying the unique experience of racing alongside fellow Snowsport enthusiasts.

2026 Multiclass Event Dates
•    7 July 2026 – Thredbo
•    24 July 2026 – Perisher
•    19 August 2026 – State Championships, Perisher and Buller
•    4 September 2026 – National Championships, Perisher

A highlight of the Multiclass Interschools program is the Open Category, available at all Multiclass Interschools events. This category allows Para athletes who are not of school age to participate in a fun racing environment and experience the thrill of competition on snow.

Whether participants are new to racing or experienced competitors, the Multiclass events offer an opportunity to build confidence, develop skills and connect with the broader snowsport community.

For more information about the Multiclass and Open Category events, please contact para@snow.org.au.

Inspired by the energy and momentum of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, Snow Australia is expanding its Para Alpine, Para Snowboard, and Para Cross-Country programs, and we’re looking for passionate volunteers to join the journey.

Snow Australia’s Para athletes 2026 International season delivered a defining campaign, combining Paralympic podium success with historic milestones and continued growth across all three Para disciplines.

The standout performance came from Ben Tudhope, who claimed two medals at Milano Cortina 2026 to take his career tally to three Winter Paralympic medals. He now sits behind only Michael Milton (11) and James Paterson (4) on Australia’s all-time list.

Memberships for the 2026 season are now open!

If you're a Para Alpine, Nordic or Snowboard competitor competing in FIS sanctioned events, or part of the Snow Australia Para National Team or ETP Program, it’s time to renew your membership and stay competition-ready for the season ahead.
Your membership includes:

• Active SnowID
• Access to Snow Australia facilities, including the NSTC*
• Para FIS registration (Alpine, Nordic, or Snowboard)
• Access to Snow Academy online courses

Built for flexibility
Your season can change-and your membership can too. Upgrade at any time throughout the year to match your training and competition needs.

If you’re unsure which event is right for you, or want to explore volunteering, guiding, or other ways to be part of the Para Snowsports community we would love to hear from you.

Contact us at: para@snow.org.au

We’re always looking for guides! If you're interested in supporting adaptive athletes on snow, please reach out.

Share this information with your networks, clubs, and communities and we’ll see you on snow!