2014 SKI & SNOWBOARD AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2014 SOCHI OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES Australian Athletes Emily Bamford Slalom, Giant Slalom Lavinia Chrystal Slalom, Giant Slalom Dominic Demschar Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super G Alpine Ross Peraudo Slalom, Giant Slalom Greta Small Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super G, Downhill, Combined Phillip Bellingham Skiathlon, 15 km C, 50 km Mass Start F, Sprint Relay, Sprint Free Classical Esther Bottomley Skiathlon, 10 km C, 30 km Mass Start F, Sprint Free Cross Country Aimee Watson Skiathlon, 10 km C, 30 km Mass Start F Callum Watson Skiathlon, 15 km C, Sprint Relay, Sprint Free Classical Dale Begg-Smith Moguls Britteny Cox Moguls Katya Crema Ski Cross Matt Graham Moguls Anton Grimus Ski Cross Sam Hall Moguls 41 Athletes Russell Henshaw Slopestyle Sami Kennedy-Sim Ski Cross Scott Kneller Ski Cross 3 Medals Lydia Lassila Aerials Freestyle David Morris Aerials Taylah Oneill Moguls 2 top 5 results Jenny Owens Ski Cross Nicole Parks Moguls Laura Peel Aerials 14 top 10 results Danielle Scott Aerials Anna Segal Slopestyle 26 top 16 finishes Amy Sheehan Halfpipe Brodie Summers Moguls Samantha Wells Aerials Davina Williams Halfpipe Cameron Bolton Snowboard Cross Torah Bright Halfpipe, Slopestyle, Snowboard Cross Belle Brockhoff Snowboard Cross Kent Callister Halfpipe Holly Crawford Halfpipe Snowboard Jarryd Hughes Snowboard Cross Scott James Halfpipe, Slopestyle Nathan Johnstone Halfpipe Stephanie Magiros Halfpipe Alex Pullin Snowboard Cross Hannah Trigger Halfpipe 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS PRESIDENTS REPORT 4 CEO REPORT 6 ASC MESSAGE 8 AOC CHEF DE MISSION MESSAGE 10 DISCIPLINE AND SPORT REPORTS 12 SUZUKI NATIONAL SNOWSPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS 16 PARTICIPATION AND SPORT DEVELOPMENT 18 INTERSCHOOL SNOWSPORTS 20 SSATV 22 AUSTRALIAN SKI AND SNOWBOARD AWARDS 23 SSA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 24 SPONSORS 35 3 PRESIDENT DEAN GOSPER To be included following the President’s address at the Annual General Meeting. 4 5 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MICHAEL KENNEDY plan for moving from world class to world best. SSA partnered with the OWIA to develop a Winning Edge funding case. The Australia’s ski and snowboard athletes ensured that 2014 was Games. The level of resourcing afforded to SSA in contrast eventual funding decision didn’t match the expectations, which a year to remember. Highlighted by the Sochi 2014 Olympic to some of these major summer sports makes the athletes ultimately meant that not all enhancements could be activated. Winter Games, it was a year of fantastic results across all achievements in Sochi an even greater success. Winning Edge will have an immense impact at all levels of disciplines. the sport, particularly on athlete pathways. Significant system More people than ever watched the Games on TV and digital enhancements have been proposed in order to provide surety But of course, the pinnacle of the reporting year was Sochi – a platforms. Record worldwide Olympic Winter Games coverage for long term success. Winter Olympics that exceeded all our expectations. We went on television and on digital platforms saw a cumulative total of into the Games with more realistic medal hopes than any more than 88,000 hours with a potential audience of 4.1 billion New opportunities have been developed including the Pro other Games, and came away with three medals – silver to worldwide (FIS-ski.com). Having only secured the TV rights Athlete Model – an opportunity for the Winning Edge to co- Torah Bright in snowboard halfpipe; silver to David Morris in nine months before the Games, Network TEN did a stellar invest with successful professional athletes to individually aerials and bronze to Lydia Lassila in aerials. job to bring all the Sochi action into lounge rooms across fund activities. The accountability for the sport, together with Australia. With more than 550 hours in total including over 360 its partners, to invest AIS funding into programs and athletes Supporting these medallists was a host of outstanding hours of live and exclusive coverage across TEN and ONE, capable of medal performance at bench mark events (BME) athletes who achieved results that really showed how Australia they provided the most comprehensive free to air coverage of has never been greater. punches above its weight in winter sports. Two top-five results a Winter Olympic Games in history. The TV audience averaged and 16 top-10 results indicate the incredible depth and talent over 780,000 across the full 16 days of competition and Ski & Snowboard Australia’s annual awards night was in the ranks and gives the sport significant foundations to build peaked at over 1 million viewers on at least nine occasions. another great success, with athletes, coaches and programs on for PyeongChang 2018. The coverage ranked Australia as the number one free to air recognised for their excellence. Sochi 2014 silver medallists coverage at the Games (FIS-ski.com). Torah Bright and David Morris shared the award for 2014 The emergence of Greta Small in alpine skiing has brought Suzuki Snowsports Athlete of the Year. Retiring athletes, the sport back into the spotlight in Australia. At just 18 years of The Sochi Games were not without their challenges, however two-time Olympic medallist Dale Begg- Smith, three–time age, Small placed 15th in the Super Combined in Sochi - the all credit goes to the Organising Committee who did everything Olympian, ski cross athlete Jenny Owens, her teammate, best alpine skiing result for Australia at an Olympic Winter to put on a spectacular Games. The venues were world class. two-time Olympian Scott Kneller, and 2014 ski halfpipe Games since Jenny Owens’ ninth in the same event in Salt The images of the sun setting over the mountains at the Laura representative Davina Williams, were also recognised on the Lake City 2002. Cross Country Ski and Biathlon Centre made the world sit up night. and take notice of what a beautiful area the Games were in. Ski and snowboard athletes comprised the largest section of The infrastructure that was put in place for the Games made The 2014 domestic season was one for the books, incredible the Australian Team, with 41 athletes across four disciplines. the experience a smooth one for all involved. snow and amazing race day weather. The size of this team puts ski and snowboard on par with the nation’s major summer sports such as swimming, athletics SSA has continued to work with the ASC on the The Suzuki Snowsports Championship series represents and rowing who regularly send over 40 athletes to an Olympic implementation of Australia’s Winning Edge, the nation’s game the highest level of snowsport competition in Australia with 6 athletes competing across all four disciplines at each major Significant steps were taken throughout 2014 to grow 1. Talent pool – How to increase the number of resort. Over 1500 competitors took part in 2014 across 16 registrations in the Snowracer program, which aims to engage competitors in Snowsports? competition days in August. Further details are available with and provide benefit to, the large and active community of 2. Revenue Diversification – How to increase our later in this report however it is important to acknowledge recreational competitors. More events and resorts have been revenue sources? the tremendous support from Suzuki as major sponsor encouraging their participants to sign up to Snowracer due to 3. Clarify Roles – How to clarify the roles of SSA and of the winter series together with the resort partners and the free insurance benefits that are provided. With the Victorian its major stakeholders? event organising committees who deliver these top class and NSW Interschools now requiring participants to register 4. Relevance – How to increase relevance of competitions. as a condition of entry, the number of Snowracer participants Snowsports in Australia? is now over 12,500 and growing. We are looking forward to 5. Pathway Capacity – How to increase the capacity of From a development perspective SSA understands that more participants, clubs, events and resorts coming on board our pathway? in order to be successful, we need to work effectively with in the future as we implement more benefits and value add program partners at all levels of the pathway from grass opportunities for all Snowracers. The strategic plan sets lofty but achievable goals for the roots (resorts/interschools) through to elite high performance organisation and I look forward to seeing us take steps to (Sporting Institutes). Significant effort continues to be invested SSA continues to innovate, with some exciting opportunities achieve these goals. into pathway development initiatives aimed at achieving better going forward. SSA is one of 30 selected sports involved in pathway performance including: the new ASC Sporting Schools Program. Replacing the Active I would like to thank everyone for another successful year of After Schools Program, Sporting Schools provides a platform snowsport in Australia. The tireless efforts of the SSA team • Pathway Program Recognition Scheme for NSO’s to deliver specially developed programs into Primary are truly appreciated and I thank them for their dedication and • Entry level Ski & Snowboard Coaching programs schools across Australia. SSA is developing a ski & snowboard enthusiasm. To the Discipline Committee Chairs, the volunteers • SSA Futures Programs module, capable of being delivered in schools under the and the SSA Directors, I thank you for your time and leadership Snowracer banner. It will incorporate a specially designed as we continue to move the organisation into the future. SSATV continues to develop as a valuable asset of the curriculum including activities, exercises and education with a organisation, seeing significant increases in its views and view to increasing participation and providing a seamless link I would also like to extend a huge thanks to our major partner engagements throughout its second year of operation. In the to a first time on snow experience and ultimately interschool Suzuki who has supported our sport at the highest level since lead up to the Sochi Games, exclusive footage was captured competition.