Remember me | Forgotten your password?
  • Add to del.icio.us
  • Digg!
  • Email to Friend
  • Email to Friend
  • Contribute

Competition News Press Releases

Add or Update Press Release (Login reqired)

High demand for Snowboard and Freestyle judges' training in Southern Hemisphere

By Press Release

Wednesday, 19 July 2006


In the Southern hemisphere, the winter starts in June, normally. The competition program there is extensive. And some of the biggest Snowboard and Freestyle Skiing events annually are held ‘down-under' as many of the best-known names spend months training there before the Northern season starts. No wonder that well-trained Snowboard and Freestyle Skiing judges are in demand!

To ensure consistently high judging skills, Ola Sundequist (SWE) traveled to Australia and New Zealand to educate and update the local judges in the latest FIS rules under the auspices of two international FIS judges' clinics. The first clinic was held in Jindabyne (AUS), near the resorts of Perisher and Thredbo, from 4th-6th July. The second was held in Queenstown (NZE), at the center of many different winter sport areas, including Remarkables, Coronet, Cardrona and Snowpark, from 10th-11th July.

Being the 3rd official FIS Freestyle judges' clinic and the 1st official FIS Snowboard clinic in the last ten years, the Australian clinic combined sessions on both Snowboard and Freestyle Skiing. Some critical topics that belong to the program of any international judges' clinic include information on FIS's structure, responsibilities and duties as FIS official and Judges' criteria, judging practices using DVDs or tapes, and tests on judging and tricks.

In New Zealand, the clinic was planned to focus on snowboard only but some participants indicated interest in half-pipe skiing and in the new discipline, slopestyle, as well. Previously, FIS Snowboard judges' clinics had been held in Christchurch (NZE) in 1997 and 2000.

Due to national differences and the need to ensure continuing volunteer involvement, there is some variance in judges' and officials' education among the nations. The international judges' clinics, however, are one way for the NSAs to maintain a certain structure in their organization and competition programs. The combined judges' clinics in Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard in AUS and NZE proved very successful: frequently, it is the same individuals that judge big air, half-pipe and slopestyle events and those events are occasionally also open for both Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard athletes. The participating judges left the ‘down-under' clinics with a smile and considerably more knowledge for judging both Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard competitions. Overall, the clinics delivered a great glimpse into the great progress that is taking place in Australia and New Zealand in these disciplines.















 


Shop

Snowboarding the World

Snowboarding the World cover shot
  • The World's most comprehensive snowboarding book:
  • Over 250 pages
  • More than 600 colour photos
  • Price: AUD$40.00 (including taxes)
 


© Copyright Snowboard the World 2013
Email: info@boardtheworld.com
Board the World is an online snowboard magazine and world resort guide and has been compiling snowboard resort reviews since 1996. Board the World is the largest snowboard resort reviews database on the Internet with over 20 countries and 200 resorts reviewed in person by the BoardtheWorld team.