Can Australia produce an alpine ski-racing champion?

We punch above our weight in some winter sports, but what about the traditional glamour event of them all. Is it possible to create more than one Australian alpine ski-racing champion?  Zali Steggall got close by winning a bronze medal in slalom at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, and not to forget her gold medal at the 1999 World Championship in Colorado, USA - so maybe it is not an impossible dream.

Out of little, Australia has done very well in winter sports. Take Alisa Camplin’s and Lydia Lassila’s success in aerials, Stephen Bradbury’s in speed skating, and Torah Bright’s in snowboarding. Look at how successful our freestyle skiers and snowboarders are becoming as access to world-class facilities in Australia becomes achievable. Australians are typically thrill-seeking, courageous and confident individuals - perfect attributes for a ski racer. With the right funding and implementation of effective training, could Australia defy the odds and challenge the world in alpine ski racing?

When I was ski instructing in Austria and told Europeans that I learned to ski in Australia, they laughed. They couldn’t believe it. I skied well. No one automatically associates Australia with skiing. Compared to other northern hemisphere nations, Australia may lack professional training terrain, facilities, academies and funding. But who says we don’t have talent?

Contrary to popular belief, I believe Australians are mentally and physically suited to alpine ski racing. Ski racers should be tenacious and totally committed. Being the outdoor and adventurous type, Australians tend to have no fear and are known for their grittiness in sport. The ability of Australians to expect the unexpected and adapt to challenging situations is also ideal for success in this winter sport.

Australia has good alpine ski racing talent too. We have good numbers in junior competitive ski racing. Just take a look at the interschools at Thredbo or Perisher each year, thousands of school kids entered, and most find it is a positive experience. The problem occurs at the transition from junior to senior level ski racing when it is common for young athletes to drop out.

As a tough and competitive sport, alpine ski racing requires a great commitment and long-term financial investment. As Australia is short of downhill ski terrain, Australian racers are forced to spend significant time training and racing overseas. Former Australian ski racer Alex Wardlaw said, “There are not many events in Australia that actually count to a racer’s overall points. You basically have to travel overseas for a season to really lower them and the runs overseas are steeper and harder”. It can take an average $70,000 to keep a junior racer on the FIS Alpine World Cup skiing circuit. “It is not cheap getting started in the sport either. I think the hardest part is the commitment to your sport and wanting to achieve those goals”, said Alex. 

Alpine ski racing is an exhilarating sport. Photo courtesy of SMH.

Most young Australian ski racers rely on family support or private funding. Ski and Snowboard Australia and the Australian Sports Commission’s funding for winter sports is generous, but according to Michael Kennedy, CEO of Ski and Snowboard Australia, the majority of funds are given to disciplines where Australia is likely to win medals… think aeriels, moguls and snowboarding. Kennedy affirms that they want to see the money spent on sports that get international results.

Slalom Olympic Bronze medalist and World Champion, Zali Steggall, is Australia’s most successful alpine ski racer Born in Sydney, Steggall and her family lived in France for 10 years where Zali started ski racing at the French ski resort of Morzine. She became European age Campion at age 10 and was a member of the French junior skiing team at age 14. Despite moving back to and competing for Australia, Zali continued to train overseas and under Austrian coach Helmut Spiegl. It is hard not to argue that Zali’s success was a result of her early training in the French system and most of her training and racing in Europe. As a result, it is difficult for Australians to be successful at alpine ski racing unless they grow up near the slopes and/or replicate a similar model undertaken by Steggall.

Zali Steggall celebrates winning Bronze for Australia in Slalom at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. Photo courtesy of WikiSki.

The other main barrier for Australians in alpine ski racing is the lack of implementation of effective training. Hugo Haring, CSCF (Canadian Ski coaches Federation) level 3 certificate, Austrian Staatlicher and D trainer, as well as NZ mountain guide, has 25 years of ski instructing and coaching experience. Hugo believes the hardest thing for Aussie ski racers is the lack of effective training time, which forces athletes overseas. Despite the obvious differences, Hugo maintains there are ways to start bridging the gap between training conditions here and overseas. “Firstly, we need to get the individual resorts to set aside permanent race training slopes which are comparable to FIS standard GS and Slalom… they need to be well thought through and well structured with less public access to stop wear and tear on the snow”. Basically, extra funding would enable this, but also by allowing leadership positions to be filled by professionals who are unbiased and see how things are run internationally. Hugo goes on to remind us that freestyle events require soft snow, no problem here in Australia, whereas alpine ski racing requires hard snow, which is less readily available.

Sam Robertson was a former multiple time Australian Alpine Ski Junior Champion, an Australian Junior team member and one of Australia’s hopes for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Born and bred in Thredbo, he dreamt to compete for Australia at the Winter Olympics and travelled overseas for multiple winters searching for races and competing against the best. He told me ski racers usually peak in their mid to late 20’s. He retired in his early 20s.

Sam Robertson in action in a FIS Slalom race in Leogang, Austria, 2012. Photo courtesy of Stoffi Maier.

Being a competitive and passionate sporting nation, Australia does have ski racing talent but needs to nurture it more effectively. The development of an Australian ski academy could be a good start. If Australia believes in its potential and the government and sporting bodies take action, Australia could start producing a depth of world-class ski racers. If big business took a long-term global perspective and backed the development of alpine ski racing in Australia, and the lucrative snow resorts jumped on board, would we be on our way?

The Winter Olympics is an incredible event comprised of adrenaline sports with huge potential for appeal. The return on investment could be very profitable through investing in the creation an “all-conquering Aussie alpine ski-racing team”. In the same way experts recruited Jamaican sprinters as talent for the bobsled and they took on the world, could we give Australians a chance to do the same?