After 4 events the Australian Junior Series is now completed. The young talents in south emisphere showed an high level of riding and Andy Finch was the man at the prize givings ceremony. Here is the full report from the south.
Ben Randal, 14 years old, conquered today's WSF home page.
The fourth and final event of the Australian Junior Series 07 was held last
weekend at Perisher Blue. Young competitors from NSW, Victoria and Queensland
turned up on a perfect blue-sky spring day for some impressive riding. The crowd
loved it. Congratulations to the halfpipe winners Nathan Johnson (17-18 yrs
male), Sam Murphy (14 – 16 yrs male), Billy Hayman (11 – 13yrs male),
and Michaela Davis-Meehan (combined female). The event delivered some excellent
tricks and great air in the pipe. The riders really relaxed in the post competition
Expression Session which just went off, with Sam Murphy and Patrick Davis-Meehan
vying for bragging rights for the biggest air. Next year promises to be even
bigger based on what all the riders did in that final session…and look
out for some of those under-10 year olds coming through like Emily Arthur and
Cameron Stavely.
Michaela and Patrick Davis-Meehan rocks in slopestyle and pipe
The overall series winners were announced on the day, with the top riders clean
sweeping and winning every event. Congratulations to Nathan Johnstone, Billy
Hayman and Michaela Davis-Meehan for an awesome effort to win Slopestyle, Air
and Style, and both Halfpipe comps in their respective age divisions.
The Australian Junior Series was a series of firsts. It was the first time
a junior event in Australia was recognised by WSF and achieved a TTR 1 Star
Ranking and it was the first southern hemisphere event of the TTR World Tour
07/08 season. This was the first time a nationally sanctioned (by Ski and Snowboard
Australia) junior snowboard series has been held in Australia.
Sammy Murphy fly high out of the pipe
The Series overall attracted some 50 snowboarders from 8 to 18 years old. The
strongest representation was in the 14-16 years male division with 21 competitors
and there were 12 female competitors across the age divisions. On average, 35
participants competed in each of the four events.
The event sponsors were Rhythm Snowsports, Dakine, Nikita, Freestyle Max, Billabong,
NSW Snowboard and Perisher Blue. A huge effort was put in by Perisher Blue Winter
Sports Club and it was great to have the NSW Institute of Sport team competing
at every event.
Andy Finch presented the prize giving
Planning is already underway for an even better event next year and watch out
northern hemisphere because our juniors are climbing up the TTR rankings including
Michaela Davis-Meehan currently at No. 21 in the women’s and Nathan Johnstone
at No. 16 in the men’s. Expect to see them in the northern hemisphere
in the near future.
All the podium of the Australian Junior Series
For further information and results go to www.perisherblue.com.au
For some video see www.jibvids.com
Media Contact
Stuart Davis-Meehan
0409570572
stuart@keyinsights.com.au
|