Next Generation of Snow Sports Talent Selected

Snow Sports New Zealand received an unprecedented volume of applications for the 2013 Snow Sports New Zealand Winter Games Talent Camp. Submissions were received from 38 candidates from throughout New Zealand seeking to secure a place in the Camp. The programme sought submissions from both ski and snowboard park and pipe athletes aged between 13 and 16 to participate in the four day development camp in Wanaka during the Audi quattro Winter Games.

Adam Dooney, Snow Sports New Zealand Director of Coach and Athlete Development, says, “We are thrilled with the amount of nationwide interest we gained and especially the calibre of candidates that we received applications from. The process achieved our objective, which was to identify up and coming ski and snowboard talent. Given the strength of the camp participants we are confident that the programme will provide a solid step in skill development, as well as offering the participants an insight into top-level competition with the Winter Games experience.”

Places were awarded to six skiers and eight snowboarders from around the country. Application criteria required endorsements from coaches, clubs, sponsors or resorts. Some of the participants were already known to Snow Sports New Zealand and the quality of the applications brought the skill level to the selectors’ attention. Georgia Ferris from Sacred Hearts College in New Plymouth, who placed second in the North Island Secondary Schools Slope Style Champs in 2012, showcased her skills and passion for snowboarding in an excellent submission supported by references by teachers and coaches from New Plymouth.

The applicants who will be attending the Snow Sports New Zealand Winter Games Talent Camp in 2013 are:

Snowboarders: Tiarn Collins (13), Lyon Farrell (14), Seb Judge (15), Jordan Rayward (16), Sam Christy (13), Kristal Roberts (16), Georgia Ferris (16), Carlos Garcia-Knight (16).

Skiers: Finn Bilous (13), Olivia Jones (14), Miguel Porteous (14), Jacob Tapper-Norris (15), Dane Kirk (15), Hugo Cameron (13).

Sport New Zealand in partnership with Snow Sports New Zealand and Winter Games offers this programme in order to grow participation and achievement in snow sports as part of the Winter Games Legacy Programme. The Camp will take place in Wanaka during the Audi quattro Winter Games from 17^th – 20^th August.

 -ends-