SPORT
SNOWSPORTS ARE ALIVE AND WELL AT SCOTCH
COMPETING : AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT
TOP LEFT : PREPARING FOR THE SNOWBOARD EVENT
THIS IMAGE : BOYS WATCHING THE COMPETITION IN
SLOPESTYLE
Often , when visiting the snow , it is tempting to measure success in numbers : how much vertical , how many up-lifts , how many runs completed … But as my good friend , Monsieur Olivier Marquet always likes to remind me , it ’ s not about any of those things – it ’ s about how much time you have with friends , it ' s about being in the mountains , the experience of freedom and carving ( literally !) your own path down the mountain .
In 2023 , the snow conditions weren ’ t great , but the atmosphere among friends and family on the mountains as part
of Scotch snowsports was very much alive . As a community , there was an excitement to be in the mountains , on course , competing and connecting . As a team we are still feeling the effects of the COVID years , but there is a significant group of enthusiastic boys coming through in Years 7 and 8 . Over half of our 65-strong team came from these boys !
Thanks to the Snowsports Auxiliary which sponsors free lessons and equipment rental , the school holidays were filled with on-snow training for our cross country and snowboard competitors . Many of them were first-timers wanting to branch out into a new competitive discipline to support their school . This would prove to be a significant step in strengthening our team results later in the season .
Snowsports is made up of three different disciplines and covers nine events . It is one of the only sports where the championship requires depth of talent in every event , discipline and division from Year 7 to Year 12 . One of our greatest values is that a boy in Year 7 contributes just as significantly to the championship as a boy in Year 12 .
Overall , the Senior School team was a close second to Melbourne Grammar School . We had some very encouraging results overall , which pleasingly included one team in first place , eight teams in second place and eight teams in third place . Scotch also had three state champions – Hugo Broadbent ( Year 7 – slopestyle ski ), Henry Aberdeen ( Year 8 – cross country ), and Max Boykett ( Year 11 – moguls ).
From our 60 teams and 65 competitors , more than 40 per cent qualified through to the nationals event . Unfortunately for all of us , this event was cancelled due to lack of snow and we will have to wait until next year to test our skill against Australia ’ s best young skiers and boarders .
As a team we would like to acknowledge the hard work of our Head Coach , Harvey Edmanson (’ 17 ), current Australian number one GS rider , who was ably supported by Charlie Heyburn (’ 21 ). I would also like to thank our Snowsports Winter Sport Program Teacher-in-Charge , Olivier Marquet , and his team of Mr Riley and Mr Woodlock .
Our Winter Sport Program provides valuable on-snow and dryland training preparing boys for the season . The program has supported boys to develop to a level that they most likely would have never been able to reach , had it not been for the opportunities and coaching we have provided as a school . This , in conjunction with support from the Snowsports Auxiliary has enabled us to allow any boy who comes to Scotch to have the opportunity to ski or board .
Snowsports is alive and well in our school , and as the ski gear dries and gets packed away for another year , we are already planning and preparing for 2024 . Go Scotch !
CAMERON CUTCHIE – TEACHER-IN-CHARGE , SNOWSPORTS
68 Great Scot Issue 170 – December 2023