INTERSCHOOLS - Australia's Biggest Sporting Event, What's it About?

16th of June 2012

Vancouver 2010 Olympian Britt Cox competing in the 2011 Victorian State Interschools Championships. Image:: Mt Buller

Interschools 2012 | Alex Horvath

With the first round of the 2012 Interschools snowsports competitions fast approaching Alex Horvath takes a look at Australia's biggest sporting event

Ask any of our aspiring Sochi 2014 Winter Olympians where their personal journey in racing began and you would be hard pressed to not hear stories of gaining their first few podium positions during the annual Australian Interschools Snowsports Championships.

The Interschools program has been the proving ground for the likes of Brittney Cox and Ramone Cooper (moguls), Jono Brauer (alpine skiing) Katya Crema and Scott Kneller (ski cross) and Australia's 2010 Olympic Champion Torah Bright. The competition begins at regional level, then progresses to state and finally a national level championship. At the regional level emphasis is on fun and participation as competitors from novice right through to elite compete for their schools in each discipline. Based on participant numbers alone the Interschools competition is among the largest in the southern hemisphere.

Teams and Individuals compete in their school divisions: Division 1 Years 11 & 12, Division 2 Years 9 & 10, Division 3 Years 7 & 8 , Division 4 Years 5 & 6, Division 5 Year 4 and below, providing the opportunity to participate for all ages.

2012 will mark the 25th Anniversary of Interschools competition and will be celebrated in Sydney at a special event in Darling Harbour October 25.

This year NSW/ACT regional competition will be held throughout the July school holiday period at both Thredbo and Perisher July 4-27, NSW State Champs will take place at Thredbo August 23-26. VIC competition takes place at Mt Buller throughout August, SA Interschools Champs will take place at Mt Buller July 18-19.

The teams selected from the three state rounds will come together for the Australian Interschools Champs at Perisher across September 5-9.

For more information about the 2012 Interschools Snowsports competition including how you can get your school involved click here .

The Kings School Snowsports Team at the 2011 NSW State Championships. Image:: Kings