2023 Snowsports Handbook

Welcome to the 2023 Loreto Toorak Snowsports Season

The Loreto Toorak Snowsports program is a fantastic opportunity to compete and enjoy alpine sports. The program is not an opportunity to learn to ski, but a chance to compete and improve technique. It is open to any student who is of an intermediate level or above and must already be able to ride a chair lift and be able to turn and stop competently. Competitors must participate in at least two events at the Victorian Interschools Championships (such as Grand Slalom, Cross Country, Ski/board cross or Moguls.

The 2023 season commences with our Training Weekend at Mt Buller in July and Optional Training Weekend in August. Students will then compete in the Victorian Interschools Championships at Mt Buller from 21-27 August. Teams and individuals who qualify will also have the opportunity to compete at the Australian Interschools Championships at Mt Buller from 5-10 September.

Parents are an integral part of the Snowsports program as each family is required to organise accommodation and supervision for their children over the training weekends and for the Interschools events.

Snowsports Contacts

Head of Snowsports: Annie Carrie

Email: annie.carrie@loretotoorak.vic.edu.au

Calendar of Events, Training and other Activities

Term 3, 2023

22-23 July Training Weekend Mt Buller

5-6 August Optional Training Weekend Mt Buller

6 August Victorian Cross-Country Championships Mt Buller

21-27 August Victorian Interschools Snowsports Championships Mt Buller

5-10 September Australian Interschools Snowsports Championships Mt Buller

The provisional timetable for the Victorian and Australian Interschools Championships are included in this booklet under their respective sections. Updates and changes will be updated on MyLoreto and communicated via email as they become available.

Team Selection

The Victorian Interschools Championships and the Australian Interschools Championships include both individual and team events. All competitors compete individually, and individual results are aggregated to determine team results.

The School will enter teams in all possible events at the Victorian Interschools Championships. To ensure the best possible teams represent the School, selection will be undertaken by the Head of Snowsports and Snowsports Staff (in conjunction with race coaches assisting at the training weekends).

Team selection will be based on performances at the two training weekends, results during the 2022 Snowsports season, and other 2023 season race results (if applicable).

If any teams qualify for the Australian Interschools Championships, the best individual results in the Victorian Interschools Championships will determine the makeup of these teams.

Uniform and Equipment

Uniform

Students participating in Snowsports activities must provide or hire their own equipment and take it to the mountain with them. The School is unable to provide equipment.

Loreto Toorak Snowsports activities are ‘snow-safe’ events. Students participating in Alpine, Snowboarding or Moguls events are required to always wear a helmet. Snowsports staff will refuse participation to students without a helmet.

A Loreto Snowsports jacket will be provided to each student in the Snowsports team. The student will use the jacket for the season and must return it to the School in good condition following completion of their season. Parents and students will be required to complete a contract for the use of the jacket for the season and there will be a replacement cost if returned in an unsuitable condition. Note that students are unable to purchase jackets from the school.

The following School uniform items are required for the Interschools Championships:

• School Vest

• School Tracksuit

It is compulsory when representing the School at Presentations and on the podium that all students must wear School tracksuit pants with the Snowsports Jacket.

Equipment

All students are required to have their own equipment for each of the disciplines.

Alpine

• Skis, poles and ski boots

• Helmet compulsory for all students

• Googles

• Warm waterproof gloves

• Waterproof warm jacket and pants

• Thermals

• Lycra suit or Alpine racing suit optional for Giant Slalom (not permitted for ski cross or moguls)

Snowboard

• Snowboard

• Snowboard boots suitable for bindings on Snowboard

• Helmet – compulsory for all students

• Goggles

• Warm waterproof gloves

• Wrist guards (these are highly recommended as one of the most common injuries for snowboarding is fractured wrists)

• Waterproof warm jacket and pants

• Thermals

• Lycra suit or Alpine racing suits are optional for Giant Slalom (not permitted for Snowboard Cross)

Cross-Country

• Cross-Country classic skis for Classic event

• Skating skis for advanced skiers in relay event

• Cross-Country poles and boots

• Well-secured hat or beanie and sunglasses

• Waterproof gloves

Training Weekend

22 - 23 JULY 2023, MT BULLER

There will be a training weekend held on 22-23 July at Mt Buller. This will be an opportunity for students to develop their skills and race technique with professional coaching provided.

This is an important weekend and all students must attend to be selected into a team for the Victorian Interschools Championships.

The School will provide coaching and supervision during training sessions. However, transport, accommodation and supervision outside specified training times must be arranged separately by families.

Sessions for the training weekend are as follows:

Saturday 22 July 9:00am - midday

Saturday 22 July 1:30pm – 4:30pm

Alpine race coaching including use of a racecourse. Will include time trials to assess current standard of students.

Alpine race coaching

Sunday 23 July

9:00am – midday

Sunday 23 July

11:00am-1:00pm

Alpine race coaching (Div 1, 2, and 3)

Alpine race coaching (Div 4, 5 and 6)

Optional Training Weekend

5 - 6 AUGUST 2023, MT BULLER

There will be an optional Training weekend offered on 5-6 August for students wishing to gain additional race training in preparation for the Interschools competition. Sessions for the training weekend are as follows:

Saturday 5 August 9:00am – midday

Saturday 5 August 1:30pm – 4:30pm

Sunday 6 August

9:00am – midday

Alpine race coaching

Alpine race coaching

Alpine race coaching

Victorian Interschools Championships

21 - 27 AUGUST 2023, MT BULLER

The Interschools Snowsports Championships will be held at Mt Buller from 21-27 August. The championships consist of the following 9 disciplines with points awarded for individual and team performances:

• Alpine Giant Slalom – Skiers are timed on a modified giant slalom course

• Ski Cross

Skiers are timed on a specifically designed course with banked turns and rollers

• Ski Slopestyle – Skiers are scored on a variety of obstacles including jumps, rails and/or other terrain park features (Division 1-3 only)

• Snowboard Slopestyle – Snowboarders are scored on a variety of obstacles including jumps, rails and/or other terrain park features (division 1-3 only)

• Moguls – Skiers are scored on a bumps/jumps course

• Snowboard GS – Boarders are timed on a modified giant slalom course

• Snowboard Cross – Boarders are timed on a specifically designed course with banked turns and rollers

• Cross-Country Classical – Raced classic cross-country skis, with a mass start

• Cross-Country Relay – 3-Person Relay team only event

The Interschools races are conducted under divisions according to school year levels:

Division 1 Years 11 and 12

Division 2 Years 9 and 10

Division 3 Years 7 and 8

Division 4 Years 5 and 6

Division 5 Years 3 and 4

Division 6 Years 1, 2 and Preparatory (alpine giant slalom and ski cross only)

2023 Victorian Interschools Overall Provisional Timetable

Monday,

Thursday,

Saturday,

Alpine Giant Slalom

1 Boys Snowboard Giant Slalom