19 minute read
BRITT COX
Mt Beauty’s mogul master carving fresh trails to make Beijing her fourth Winter Olympics
By KELLIE SHEPPARD
AUSTRALIA’S fi rst ever world champion moguls skier, Britt Cox, enjoyed a brief visit home to Mt Beauty in July, and got back on the bumps briefl y at Falls Creek, before the beginning of a gruelling Olympic training camp in the lead up to the Beijing Winter Olympics in February 2022.
“Normally we would be going to Whistler and Switzerland but this year we’re enjoying Australian snow, with water training in Brisbane before arriving in Beijing fi ve days before the Games,” Britt said of the revised training schedule.
As Australia’s first moguls skiing world champion, rather than feeling pressured by expectation, Britt views all of her record-breaking achievements as an opportunity to provide a model for other young women to pursue their dreams.
“The one thing I most want to achieve is to leave a positive mark on the sport for other young girls to follow,” she said.
“I don’t want girls to feel pressured to be or do anything, I’m hoping that my story will help other young girls have control over shaping their own.”
Still a young woman herself, the 26 year old admits that lengthy periods away from home, living constantly in future tense and the physical demands of being an elite athlete take their toll.
“It is so important for me to be able to fi nd balance,” Britt said.
“Being introduced to yoga was such an impactful experience that offered me deeper insight and understanding of myself as well as teaching me techniques that have helped me both on and off the slopes.”
Moguls runs only last 30 seconds.
Britt’s Britt’s new new tricks tricks
CHASING THE DREAM: Triple Winter Olympian Britt Cox in action at Falls Creek in July. She will be training in Australia this year in preparation for her fourth Winter Olympics in February 2022. PHOTOS: Chris Hocking
In that short time frame, Britt’s mind and body are pushed to extreme limits.
“Moguls are all about moving in a way that feels counter-intuitive, you really do have to conquer mind over matter and have complete trust in yourself, in your body,” she said.
“There is so much noise in your head before a run, the adrenaline is incredible, I love that feeling.
“But you have to be able to separate the noise from the doing and fi nd a way to focus so that you can make strategic decisions with a calm mind and just be in the moment.
“My yoga practice helps me to achieve that.”
Cox also attributes yoga to helping her recovery from a bad crash in a World Cup event in China in 2019, where she lost consciousness and sustained injuries to her ribs and collarbone, requiring surgery and forcing her out of the remaining 2019/2020 World Cup season.
The adrenaline junkie in Britt is now aiming to perfect the top and bottom jump fl ips that she presented at this year’s World Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where she fi nished seventh, along with a new trick that she is working on.
“Going into the last Olympics as the world number one, it was all outcome focussed,” she explained.
“Beijing is about nailing jumps and a new trick I’m excited to practise on the water in Brisbane.”
Chasing the dream to win Olympic gold keeps Britt motivated and committed, however, she knows that she can’t compete forever.
“As a kid, I never realised I could get hurt,” she said.
“The reality is my body won’t be able to do this forever, so I’m really just centred on enjoying the journey, process, achievements and each moment as they come.”
While at home in early July though, it was all about fun and remembering where she began.
“I couldn’t wait to join my Dad and brother on skis when I was six and spent the next few winters chasing my brother all over Falls Creek,” she said.
“When I can get home, my favourite places to ski up there are still the Summit, with it’s natural moguls down the front face, and for something a bit more challenging I love the ‘Maze’ after a fresh dump.”
The Beijing Winter Olympics are due to be held in February 2022.
They will be the fourth Games for Cox.
Cox’s career so far
youngest Winter Olympian since 1960 when she debuted at 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. medal a Moguls World Cup in 2012 result in Lake Placid in 2013. placing by an Australian female mogul skier at the Olympics. Championships – again a first for Australia. and podiumed at two others. Won the skier who has accumulated the most points in any of the freestyle skiing moguls skiing World Champion when she most successful winter athletes of all time. with snowboard halfpipe World Champion Scotty James. China ended her season. ing World Cup of 2020-2021 season in
Things you may not know..
Bachelor of Communication (majoring in surfing.
Omeo
147 Day Avenue
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Season has only gotten better
By CHRIS EPSKAMP
AS the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm, and this winter, the early birds (myself included) caught the powder before the lifts starting spinning for the season.
After a long break due to the COVID impacted ‘annus horribilis’ that was 2020, the smiles on the faces of everyone skinning out of Heavenly Valley at Mt Hotham on June 10 was heartening to behold.
After the promising start to the Mt Hotham winter season, the few weeks following the Queen’s Birthday long weekend proved a mixed bag of weather conditions.
Despite some ‘liquid sunshine’ dampening the spirits of an otherwise enthusiastic throng of visitors, sterling efforts from the snowmakers and grooming team saw the upper lifts at Hotham open and operating into the first week of the Victorian school holidays.
The season truly got going with a cold blast in early July.
With the school holidays in full swing, the mountain transformed into a winter wonderland.
The second week of the holidays saw blue skies, cold temperatures and more lifts and terrain open in the resort.
Through the ongoing magic of the grooming and snowmaking teams and much to delight of guests, Heavenly Valley (HV) opened on July 6.
ALL TO MYSELF: Backcountry split-boarder Brett Godden (above) enjoys a few turns at Mt Hotham on July 6. EARLY RUNS: Our Mt Hotham scribe, Chris Epskamp (top right), getting an early season run at Heavenly Valley. STILL SMILING: Even blizzard conditions at Mt Hotham on July 4 couldn’t wipe the smile off Tristan Creed’s face.
Nothing gets skiers and boarders more pumped than their first run of the season down Imagine.
Even before the HV chairlift started turning, the mass of skiers and snowboarders traversing across from the summit and tracking Heavenly was certainly a sight to behold.
A vast amount of pent up energy was being expended. Hotham’s superb backcountry turned it on too. Snow drifting into all the ‘right spots’ providing fabulous powder turns in the alpine zone through early July as temperatures remained cold. Backcountry split-boarder Brett Godden from Melbourne said of the conditions on July 6, “Skiing the groomers and inbounds off-piste early was awesome”. “With the sun out and all the school holiday crowd on the slopes, we thought it a prime time to chase some of the fresh powder on the other side of the rope,” he said. “The cold temps meant the snow we rode was arguably as good as it gets at Hotham.” The snap COVID lockdown starting on July 16 also heralded the biggest storm of the season, dumping loads of snow on the resort and setting it up perfectly for when everyone could safely return to Hotham. Even though the lifts stopped turning for the period of the lockdown, those lucky enough to be on the mountain had the joyous option of skiing powder for exercise within their 5km radius.
Looking forward to the rest of 2021 being ‘annus mirabilis', a wonderful year.
Deep snow on the ground is a good start.
Open 7 days a week from 10am Dining Wednesday - Sunday Lunch 12pm - 2pm Dinner 6pm - 8.30pm
252-254 Great Alpine Road Myrtleford, VIC, 3737 Ph: (03) 5751-1296 Email: info@clubsavoy.com.au Web: clubsavoy.com.au
FALLS CREEK QT HOSPITALITY ASSETS + SNOWDRIFT LODGE
For Sale by Expressions of Interest - Closing 30th September at 4pm
Whats For Sale?
1. Bazaar Restaurant
2. Stingray Bar
3. FIXX Cafe & Function Area
4. Slalom Plaza Pop Up Licensed Area
A very funky 3m x 3m pop up space known as
5. The Pass (leased to an operator)
Being sold as a going concern, known as WR12
6. Day Spa Facility
Being sold as a going concern, known as WR]’ 7. 2 bedroom 2 bathroom Managers Apartment in St Falls West
To be sold with vacant possession, known as
‘W01’
8. Snowdrift Lodge - 15 Falls Creek Road - comprising 23 en-suited rooms, commercial kitchen, lounge/dining area, ski room, drying room & extensive storage areas to be sold with vacant possession, known as
9. Management Rights over 37 apartments in St
Falls East & West + management rights over day spa, reception area & transit rooms
To be sold as a going concern.
These nine components can be purchased individually or in one line.
For more information contact John Castran | 0411 502 424 | john@castran.com.au
By JEFF ZEUSCHNER
MOTHER Nature came good in spades in July, delivering the biggest dumps of the season to push both Falls Creek and Mt Hotham alpine resorts’ average snow base well above a metre.
Mt Hotham Chamber of Commerce president Steve Belli, who operates several business at Mt Hotham and Diner Plain, said more than 63cms of natural snowfall in the seven days from July 11 to 18 set ther resort up well for the rest of the season.
Falls Creek Chamber of Commerce president Lisa Logan, who was still shovelling footdeep snow off her Diana Alpine Lodge on July 18, was equally as upbeat.
“I believe we had 55cms of snowfall in the 24 hour period from July 16 to 17, our biggest dump for the season,” she said.
Falls Creek had 75cms in total for the seven days up until July 18.
Despite restrictions preventing Melburnians visiting the resorts on opening weekend, and some marginal snow cover earlier in the season, both Mt Hotham and Falls Creek resorts’ visitation prior to the mid July lockdown had been phenomenal, setting a new record for the last decade.
Alpine resort entry statistics up until July 11 showed Falls Creek had recorded 114,142 visitor days, which is 72 per cent up on season 2019 (unaffected by COVID), while Mt Hotham’s 93,137 visitor days were 71 per cent up on season 2019.
HEAVENLY PLAYGROUND: Mt Hotham, fresh from big dumps in July, is picture perfect.
PHOTO: Chris Hocking
2021 Victorian Backcountry Festival
PROGRAM LAUNCHED
The line-up for the festival has be launched.
For full details, including registration and booking enquiries for the VBCF tours, go to https://www.backcountry-festival. com/victorian-backcountry-festival-2021-program-launched/
There is way too much to list, but do yourself a favour at go the website to see all three ‘streams’: indoor events with speakers and films; the outdoors tours and workshops; and other activities from Friday to Sunday, September 3-5.
Beyond resort boundary, how times have changed…
By CHRIS EPSKAMP
A FEW years ago (more than few actually), standing at the Cross after a few spring ‘backcountry’ turns harvesting corn with the classic Mt Feathertop backdrop, I recall Hotham legend Andrew Barnes bemused at an animated conversation involving ‘gear freaking’.
Fat skis (over 70cm), funky new telemark bindings and plastic boots were changing the face of backcountry skiing.
Thinking it was much ado about nothing, little did we realise that in a short order, the backcountry would start to fill with those seeking some adventure and fresh tracks beyond the resort boundary.
Fat skis would become fatter and rockered (sic), alpine boots would get lighter and walk better than telemark boots (much to the chagrin of telemarkers), alpine touring bindings would became tech bindings with amazing versatility and negligible weight, and snowboards would get split and come with touring bindings and crampons.
With skiers all over the world leaving the resort boundaries in ever increasing numbers, it is no wonder that at Australia’s best backcountry ski resort, Mt Hotham, the Victorian Backcountry Festival was born.
To be held this year from Friday, September 3 to Sunday, September 5, the volunteer festival organisers have been busy putting together a stellar program of tours, lessons, speakers, films and activities related to all things human-powered backcountry, including cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, telemarking, alpine touring, split boarding, photography and snow camping.
One of the original festival organisers, Cam Walker, explains the reason for the festival creation and importance.
“There is no doubt that clearly numbers using the backcountry is increasing,” he said.
“What we are doing with the festival isn’t necessarily encouraging people into the backcountry, but more about if you are going, to do it safely and responsibly.
“Safe, skills, meeting other people … we like to think we are fixing the problem.
“Ski and ride hard, do good.….”
The 2021 event is feted as being bigger and better than previous events.
Held over three days instead of the previous two days, at least 300+ registered participants are expected, up from around 250 in 2019.
Cam explained the expanded program over three days is the major change to the festival.
“Feedback from previous participants was that everyone loved the program, but two days simply did not allow for a balance between the outdoor activities and the speaker events,” he said.
“This year’s festival will remedy that.”
And what is Cam most looking forward to at the Victorian Backcountry Festival?
“The community gathering, the gathering of the tribe," he said.
“And the outdoor bar! A big fire, great crew out on a snowy mountain top with a couple of beers. It just doesn’t get better than that.”
Too true.
More info and registration is at www.backcountry-festival.com.
The outdoor bar is open to the public and is located on the Christmas Hills cross-country trail.
Have fun getting there.
Dinner Plain Sled Dog Sprint a highlight on August calendar
ONE undeniably iconic element of Dinner Plain is the snow dogs.
They’re an ever-present sight at Australia’s only alpine village to completely welcome visitors with their pets.
So it stands to reason that the nation’s longest running sled dog event is held at Dinner Plain, and it’s hopefully back again in August.
The Dinner Plain Sled Dog Sprint is a winter show-stopper, a weekend where people come from far and wide to take part in the unique atmosphere.
It attracts dog teams from across the country, mostly Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes.
Since its first race in 1994, the event hosted an unbroken run of 26 years until 2020 and COVID-19 broke the streak.
Now 12 months on, Dinner Plain is ready to bring back this classic event to its snowy trails.
It’s scheduled for August 14 and15 and a new organising committee has been working on some new elements to the format.
At the time we were going to press in late July, the organising committee was awaiting further clarity around lockdowns and restrictions in Victoria and NSW prior to opening up entries.
It remained hopeful the event could still proceed, allowing the public to enjoy watching teams of two, three, four and six dogs race.
Please visit the Dinner Plain Sled Dog Sprint Facebook page for the latest update.
Besides this annual event, Dinner Plain is home base for Howling Husky Sled Dog Tours, giving the opportunity to ride on the back with your own dog sled team.
Racing through the alpine snowgums is definitely one to chalk up on the must-do list.
Check visitdinnerplain.com. au to see about the accommodation options on offer, and see what you need to know about taking your own dog to the snow this winter season.
RESTAURANT, BAR & BISTRO
Sit back, relax and enjoy the ambience of our historic restaurant with an open fireplace for those chilly winter nights. Our menu offers an excellent range and selection of local produce prepared by our professionally qualified and highly experienced chefs.
Are you chasing a more relaxed dining experience? Look no further than our Bar & Bistro, which offers light and delicious snacks to share right through to the classic ‘pub’ favourites that you can enjoy in the Beer Garden or the shade overlooking Bright’s main street. The choice is yours. One thing is for sure you’ll certainly enjoy the atmosphere. ACCOMMODATION We offer 24 clean and comfortable, newly refurbished rooms at the hotel as well as four modern self-contained apartments located nearby at Butler Court. All within close walking distance to boutique shops, parks and walking tracks and offering a home away from during your stay in Bright.
With Bright being located only an hour’s drive from the snowfields, you can discover the abundance of activities and things to see and do in the beautiful alpine landscape. From Snow Skiing, Cycling and Mountain Biking, Bushwalking and Hiking, Climbing, Caving and Abseiling, there is something for the whole family.
Find out more:
Address: 7 - 9 Anderson Street, Bright Email: accom@alpinehotelbright.com.au Website: alpinehotelbright.com.au
By CHRIS EPSKAMP
THE highlight of many a summer holiday on the coast includes watching glorious sunrises and sunsets with friends and family.
For a few, they are also a spectacular ingredient to a successful holiday in the alpine regions.
Whilst the ‘dawn patrol’ in the mountains certainly has its merits, sunrises can be tough to get out of bed for in winter.
So perhaps amazing sunsets are a more suitable addition to a ski holiday at Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain, but where to go?
A wide range of sunset options are close to all the Hotham and Dinner Plain accommodation.
If lucky enough to be in Bundarra or Pegasus Ski Club lodges, one only needs to look out the lounge window or wander out onto to the deck!
Higher up in the village, the Lawlers Apartments can provide sensational views of the dipping sun.
But the true alpine sunset experience is about getting out on skis or snowshoes and watching the brilliant shades of red, yellow, orange, purple and pink from a lookout or summit vantage point.
Mt Hotham’s true summit (beyond the top of the Sum-
PERFECT ENDING: Ross Olden from South Gippsland (above) savours the setting sun from Mt Hotham’s summit while (INSET) watching a sunset with friends should be on everyone’s Hotham to do list.
mit Chair) is far and away, providing the best outlook.
Combining amazing views spanning from Buller, Buffalo, and Feathertop, pre-sunset lift access, an invigorating (but easy) 600m walk/ski from the top of the Summit Chair it is an experience worthy of any international travel destination.
Drinks and nibbles are optional but recommended, particularly if in a group.
For many, the 'pièce de résistance' as daylight turns to twilight is finishing with a refreshing ski back down to the village via the summit run.
Dress warm and avoid getting sprayed by the snowguns!
Whilst they may not provide the full expansive views of the Mt Hotham summit, numerous other sunset sites in the resort provide gorgeous vistas as the sun sets (or rises).
They include: mit (via Big D chair or walk up from Higgi Dve); (short steep walk up from the end of the Davenport village - start from behind Tanderra Ski Lodge); Heavenly valley chair - one of the easier options; and Hills) Lookout on the Christmas Hills cross country trail.
If staying at Dinner Plain, one could be tempted to check out a sunrise or sunset from the cliff edge at intriguing Dead Timber Hill.
Despite its ignominious name, Dead Timber Hill is a grand, lesser-known location with interesting views across to the Bogong High Plains, Mt Loch and Hotham, and only a short snowshoe or ski from Dinner or JB Plain.
Adding a sunset to your alpine stay is a rewarding, unforgettable experience.
Just plan ahead and be ready to go when the conditions are right.
The mountain weather can be fickle after all……
