2004 - 2005 SSA Annual Report - FINAL

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Contents Foreword .......................................................................................................... 2 Board Members, Staff & Committees............................................................. 3 President’s Report ........................................................................................... 4 CEO Report..................................................................................................... 11 2005 Australian Ski & Snowboard Awards .................................................. 23 National Team Athletes ................................................................................. 24

Alpine ...................................................................................................................... 24 Cross Country ........................................................................................................ 24 Freestyle - Aerials .................................................................................................. 24 Freestyle - Moguls.................................................................................................. 25 Snowboard.............................................................................................................. 25

Financial Reports........................................................................................... 26 Stakeholders .................................................................................................. 46

Affiliates .................................................................................................................. 46 Institute Program Partners.................................................................................... 47 Resort Program Partners ...................................................................................... 48 2005 Mt Buller World Aerials Sponsors ............................................................... 49 2005 Australian Ski & Snowboard Awards Sponsors......................................... 50

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Foreword

Ski & Snowboard Australia (SSA) is the nationally and internationally recognised authority governing competitive snowsports in Australia.

SSA is affiliated with the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS), Australian

Olympic Committee, and the Australian Sports Commission.

Ski & Snowboard Australia conducts events and programs in alpine skiing, cross country skiing, freestyle skiing, and snowboarding.

The fundamental purpose of Ski & Snowboard Australia is to provide the

opportunity for Australian athletes involved in snow sports to achieve at their highest level.

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Board Members, Staff & Committees

Board Members

President Dean Gosper

Hugh Whan Philip Teitzel Zali Steggall

John Pinkerton Andy Evans Leon Zwier

David Fouvy Cliff Mason

Staff

Chief Executive Officer Michael Kennedy

Executive Assistant Ryan Taylor

Discipline Committee Chairs

Alpine

Stephen McKittrick

Cross Country Peter Cunningham

Freestyle David Frydman

Snowboard Jayson Onley

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President’s Report Dean Gosper This report covers the activities of Ski & Snowboard Australia for the 12 months to 31 October 2005. I would draw everyone’s attention to, and encourage you to read, the comprehensive CEO’s report in the Annual Report and therefore I will touch only on the highlights of the period. The year in review saw our elite athletes focusing on: • preparation for the 2005 FIS World Championships across all disciplines;

and • opportunities to achieve early Olympic selection. In Freestyle Aerials, our Women’s Team continued to dominate at World Cup particularly through the performances of Lydia Ierodiaconou. The freestyle world also welcomed the successful comeback of Jacqui Cooper. In Moguls, Dale Begg-Smith began to show the signs of prospective world and Olympic champion with a pocket full of World Cup and World Championship medals. Dale had arrived in Australia a couple of years earlier and had moved up through the rankings as a member of the Australian Moguls Programme. While our Alpine skiers had strong starts to the 2004/2005 season, injuries to AJ Bear and Jono Brauer took their toll. Each of Craig branch and Luke Deane went on to achieve personal best results at World Championship and Europa Cup levels respectively. The period also saw the early plans for implementation of the ASC sponsored review into Alpine Skiing. In particular, the framework for the formation of a high performance development team. Our Cross Country athletes had a much improved 2004/2005 Northern Winter season with personal best results and Australian best results being achieved. Katie Calder claimed two podium finishes in the Swiss Cup and scored the best ever distance FIS points for an Australian woman. Ben Sim also recorded his personal best FIS points of 57.10 in the Italian Police Championships, this is the first time that an Australian has scored under 60 FIS points since 1998. Paul Murray had a great season including scoring Australia’s first ever World Cup points while competing in a 1.2km sprint in Germany. In Snowboard, two of our Halfpipe athletes, Torah Bright and Andrew Burton both had strong results, meeting the performance criteria for selection to Torino 2006 in the process.

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Torah collected two World Cup podiums while Andrew saw his world ranking climb to 10th place. Australia boasted 13 athletes at the Snowboard World Championships in Whistler. On behalf of Members, I congratulate all the athletes in our Sport for their dedication, inspiration and achievements during the year. PARTNERS As always much of the success achieved by Ski & Snowboard Australia links directly to the quality of the Partnerships it enjoys. Without doubt, the World Aerials at Mt Buller remains the high point of Ski & Snowboard Australia’s domestic winter calendar. It remains the sole domestic expression by the sport of its remarkable achievements at an international level. The 2005 event operated under a new model with Mt Buller taking on principal responsibility. While the publicity surrounding the event benefits the mountain, the support and generosity of the mountain community in general, and the Grollo Family in particular, is graciously acknowledged. The event’s broadcast sponsor, the Seven Network, again delivered national television coverage which is critical to the commercial outcomes of the event. Your Sport continues to respect the critical importance of Resort Facilities for events, training and development. We are benefiting from ongoing investment by Resorts in dedicated training space and World Cup standard aerials, mogul courses and halfpipe terrain. Falls Creek continues as the national training Centre for the SSA Cross Country programme. The NSW Resorts also provide invaluable hill space for our National Alpine Team and all resorts play host to their respective Competitive Clubs. Particular acknowledgement goes to Mt Buller, Perisher and Thredbo. I would also like to acknowledge the ever-evolving partnering by SSA with the various State Sporting Institutes. SSA is able to leverage scarce funding by contracting the expert services of State Institutes for various National Teams and Programmes. I mention in particular, the New South Wales and the Victorian Institutes of Sport.

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Finally, I again commend to you the internationally renowned success of our partnership with the Olympic Winter Institute. Through the OWI, our Sport enjoys a unique arrangement with the Australia Olympic Committee, the Federal Government via the Australian Sports Commission to ensure continued elite sport outcomes. As the Australian Sports Commission has reconfirmed, high performance funding from the Federal Government is based on our athletes’ World Cup, World Championship and Olympic Winter Games performances. The Board will be obliged to invest in programmes capable of achieving success at these levels, not to the exclusion of other programmes, but to a level which optimises potential outcomes, for the overall good of the sport. Accordingly, SSA is obliged to invest in Programmes which demonstrate the potential for ongoing elite outcomes. Typically, this involves a coordinated approach between the OWI and SSA to ensure that elite programmes are supported by underpinning or development programmes. This can be observed in the disciplines of Aerials, Moguls and Snowboard Halfpipe. Considerable work has also been done to establish the recently announced Alpine development programme. Importantly, much of the funding has come from within the Alpine community direct allowing further leveraging of SSA and Institute funds. OPERATIONS Financial Performance As members may be aware, SSA generated a surplus of just over $21,000 for the2004 /2005 Year. This down on the prior year and reflected the reduced level of financial involvement in the World aerials and the reduced contribution from insurance due to the involvement of an alternative product offering from States and territories. Athlete Programmes For the period, a total of over $1.4 million was provided to the Sport. This amount is comparable with the previous year and comprises the following contributions and a more detailed examination of this figure will be provided later in the meeting. SSA has again held administration spending to below 30% of revenues allowing more to be spent on athletes, coaches and programmes. This is exceptional by sport industry standards.

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Communication The E-News is a key part of the sport’s communication strategy and is now sent to over 4,000 people. It provides regular, timely, cost effective and entertaining communications from the SSA office to its Members and interested parties. INDEPENDENT GOVERNANCE REVIEW During the review period, the ASC commenced an independent Governance Review of SSA. to examine the constitutional arrangements pertaining to SSA. The scope of the review has been to examine how SSA is currently governed and, to the extent there are any deficiencies, how it ought to be governed in accordance with best practice principles and practices, in order to perform its function as the nationally and internationally recognized national sporting organization for skiing and snowboarding in Australia. While SSA’s efforts of compliance have been appropriate; the organisation’s Constitutional Governance Structure has been defective. Accordingly, here has been a sensible and inevitable evolution toward an Independent Review. This has been welcomed by the Board and stakeholders alike who have, with all the best intentions, struggled to reconcile differences. The Review has involved wide consultation and benefited from broad-based feedback. From a personal perspective, I believe that this disfunction and associated mistrust has been caused by three structural problems within the SSA Constitution. • First, there is an inherent conflict for the Board in the objectives of and

the accountability to SSA’s Funder (the Australian Government) and its Membership base.

• Secondly, there is a disproportionately high level of governanve influence

from state based organisations at a time when SSA’s perations are more discipline and resort based.

• Finally, much of SSA’s Membership is invisible as a result of the

“indirect” membership arrangements with State and territory Associations.

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RECOMMENDATIONS In summary, the Review has recommended a Unitary Structure for our sport. At a practical level, this involves the following recommendations. • Clarify the rules of governance – SSA’s Constitution • Better alignment of Membership and activities • Enhanced Stakeholder balance • Recognition of the importance of Resorts and competition clubs, rather

than a voting bias to State Associations. • A visible and considered Membership • Closer alignment of Funder and Membership base • Confirmation of SSA’s accountability for all the athlete pathway. THE FORUM Understandably, State and territory Associations are concerned that many of the valuable sport related activities they undertake may fall between the cracks under a unitary structure. Accordingly, a Planning Forum was recently held to explore the concerns of stakeholders The Forum was an excellent example of the diverse sectors of our sport working together. Importantly, the Forum was consistent with Board’s approach to its response to Review which is well advanced and involves the following steps. • A formal response to each recommendation • Consideration of “risk areas” and strategies and undertakings to

minimize these risk areas • New draft Constitution and explanatory document incorporating

operational plan for risk areas

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A full operational plan, however, will be a matter for new Board. An indicative timeline from here forward would see: • a Special General Meeting of Members in late November to consider a

new Constitution; and • a Second General Meeting of Members no later than March next year at

which a new Board would be elected, irrespective of the outcome of the November meeting.

Common objectives within the room Robust industry High and growing level of sport participation Elite success (personal view) PEOPLE Before concluding I would like to record our thanks to all the Discipline Committees, and Sporting Club Organisations, State and Territory Associations and the tireless army of volunteers all of whom contribute in a very tangible way to sporting outcomes. I would also like to acknowledge the huge work load taken on by the humble SSA office. In particular, the professional and energetic contribution of our CEO Michael Kennedy with the highly valued support of Ryan Taylor. The Board Finally, I would like to acknowledge the enormous and generous contribution made to our sport by my fellow board members who are presently charged with the responsibility of laying a pathway forward. It has been satisfying to see historically divergent agendas come together in a constructive and energetic fashion. While a wealth of talent no doubt sits in waiting, I commend all existing Directors, with their extensive company memory and the consensus basis of their involvement, to Members in their deliberations later in the meeting. THE FUTURE And so to the future! Never before has the organisation faced such an exciting opportunity to reconcile many of the irregularities of how we undertake our responsibilities. Ultimately, it will be our athletes that benefit as scare human and financial resources are directed their way rather than into political and structural conflict.

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Your Board looks forward to presenting a way forward very soon which will strengthen its ability to deliver on its four-fold vision. • Run a sports focused organisation. • Remain financially robust while operating prudently. • Create pathways for athletes to allow them to fulfil their potential. • Help create heroes in our sport to provide inspiration for us all. Dean Gosper August 2006

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CEO Report Michael Kennedy Introduction The reporting period from November 2004 to October 2005 has again seen many significant changes for Ski & Snowboard Australia. From an athletes perspective the elite competition focus was squarely on the 2005 FIS World Championships in all four disciplines, plus the opportunity to achieve early Olympic selection. In 2004-2005, SSA together with our program partners made the largest ever annual investment in snow sports programs. Collectively over $1.4 million was spent on elite and development snow sport programs during the reporting period. On the administration front SSA continues to strive for maximum efficiency. This has been greatly enhanced by the introduction of a new online member management system. Perhaps the most significant development for the sport in the past 12 months has been the commencement of an independent review into the constitution and governance of SSA. The Australian Sports Commission has engaged an independent consultant to conduct a constitutional review of SSA. The ongoing funding of SSA will ultimately be dependant on the ASC being satisfied to SSA’s response to the recommendations of the review.

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Program Partners Ski & Snowboard Australia Program Partners

The Olympic Winter Institute (OWI) remains Ski & Snowboard Australia’s major high performance program partner, operating elite level programs in Mogul Skiing, Snowboard Half Pipe, and Aerial Skiing. The Australian Olympic Committee provides over 50% of the total funds for the operation of the OWI. The OWI is a partnership program of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and receives considerable support from the Australian Sports Commission and benefits from the sport programs and from the many experts based at the AIS in Canberra. At present, the OWI employs seven coaching staff and provides sport program opportunities for up to 37 athletes across six winter sport disciplines: alpine skiing, mogul skiing, aerial skiing, half pipe snowboarding, short track speed skating and figure skating. The OWI also works closely with Ski & Snowboard Australia and the State Institutes of Sport, to supply an overall National technical direction for the individual sport throughout the athlete pathway in Australia. The OWI spend in excess of $900,000 each year on elite snow sport programs in SSA disciplines excluding the contribution to NSWIS for Alpine Skiing. SSA contributes over $440,000 of Australian Sports Commission High Performance funding to OWI each year.

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The National Alpine Team program is operated by NSWIS under a joint agreement between SSA, NSWIS & the OWI. SSA, together with the OWI, contributes in excess of $290,000 in cash and kind to the National Alpine Team program, with a further $50,000 contributed by SSA for Mogul Development and Snowboard Half Pipe development each year. SSA is also in partnership with the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) to operate National High Performance development programs in Mogul Skiing and Snowboard Half pipe. NSWIS contributes over $180,000 in cash and kind per annum to operate and manage the development and elite level programs on behalf of SSA. The sport program operations were managed by Andrew Logan and based out of Jindabyne Sport & Rec. The southern hemisphere on-snow training is conducted at Kosciusko Thredbo and Perisher Blue ski resorts.

The Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) is a program partner of SSA for the delivery of the highly successful Aerial Development & Transition Program. The VIS/SSA Aerial development program is a world leading acrobatic transitional program that continues to produce a talented stream of elite level athletes to the OWI aerial program. The program is coached by former Olympic Gymnastic coach Mark Calton, and is funded largely by SSA, via program development funds generated from the World Cup Aerials major sponsor Alpine Exposure and Mt.Buller Resort Management Board. The VIS provides around $24,000 in cash support to the Aerial Development program along with use of the new facility at Olympic Park. SSA contributes in excess of $120,000 to the operation of the program, which is managed day to day by the OWI.

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Falls Creek continues to be the National Training Centre for the SSA Cross Country Program. The deal will see SSA Southern Winter Cross country activities continue to take place largely at Falls Creek, and in return the resort has agreed to contribute $20,000 per annum to the National Team program. SSA contributes a further $25,000 to the National Team program which is looking to qualify athletes to the Olympic Games in 2006 for the first time since Nagano in 1998. 2004/2005 Discipline and Sport Program Highlights The 2004/2005 International season marks the third year of the Olympic cycle. The major International event for our elite athletes during the reporting period is the FIS World Championships, held in early 2005. SSA is ultimately is responsible for the athlete pathway of all four disciplines, from elite level through to grass roots. The operations of programs at the various levels are undertaken by many different organizations and program providers. This report provides a snapshot of some of the elite and development athlete highlights during the reporting period. Freestyle Aerials and Mogul Skiing The Aerial skiing program commenced with the first two rounds of the FIS World Cup in front of a home crowd at Mt Buller. It was Jacqui Cooper’s first time competing since her injury sustained in training at the Salt Lake City Olympic Games two and half years prior. The early stages of the 2004/2005 Northern Winter saw the Aerials team continue its domination of World Cup events with Lydia Ierodiaconou recording her third consecutive win at a World Cup in Tremblant, Canada. Lydia followed this up with back to back second places. Jacqui Cooper continued her strong comeback from injury with 5 top 10 results from the first 6 World Cup events.

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In a superb season, Dale Begg Smith posted three World Cup medal results and five other top ten placings on his way to the number two world ranking. At the World Championships in Ruka, Finland, he also starred, taking bronze in single moguls and placing fifth in duals. Dale had started the season ranked 18th in the world, with only 13 World Cup events under his belt, so his rise to world number two – at just 20 years of age – has been one of the fastest in the sport’s history. Unfortunately the performances of our other four athletes – Manuela Berchtold, Jason Begg-Smith, Nick Fisher and Michael Robertson – were all compromised by varying degrees of injury. The New South Wales Institute of Sport/Ski & Snowboard Australia Mogul development team began their season in North America before shifting to Europe to compete in Europa Cup events. During the 2005 domestic season the strongest field seen in an Australian Mogul event since 1998, took on the “Toppa’s Dream” ski run in Perisher Blue, for the Land Rover Australian Freestyle Mogul Championships. The event was a FIS Continental Cup, with two events ran on the Saturday, due to the postponement of Friday’s event with high winds. With World Championship and World Cup medalists on display, the battle for the open division was tight, in the end, Olympic Winter Institute of Australia athletes Dale Begg-Smith, and Nick Fisher came out victorious in the two events. Japanese athlete Aiko Uemura of Japan took out the first event of the Women’s Open division, with World Number one Jen Heil of Canada victorious in the second event. Snowboard Snowboard Halfpipe athletes Torah Bright and Andrew Burton both had strong results during the 2004/2005 International Season, and also met the performance criteria for selection to Torino 2006 in the process. Torah made the podium on the Olympic pipe in Bardonecchia, Italy for the second year in a row, posting two bronze medal results to follow her breakthrough victory at the World Cup final in 2004.

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Andrew Burton also had an excellent season, lifting his world ranking to number ten, the first Australian male halfpipe rider to break into that top echelon. He had three top ten results during the season including a tenth placing in the Olympic pipe followed by a career best 6th place at the World Cup in Lake Placid, USA. The SSA Halfpipe Development Snowboard Team based itself in Mammoth Mountain, USA during January and February 2005. The team undertook an intensive 6 week training program operated by Ben Alexander. The 2005 domestic season saw NSWIS and SSA join forces to partner the development halfpipe program as the direct underpinning program to the highly successful OWI Halfpipe program. The first ever SSA National Boardercross Team trained together in a program for the week leading up to the Mt Bachelor NorAm event and then to the World Championships at Whistler, Canada. The program was funded by SSA snowboard committee, and provided a great team atmosphere and opportunity for our SBX athletes to maximise their World Championships preparation. The Snowboard World Championships were held in Whistler, Canada and an Australian team of 13 athletes competed in Halfpipe, Boardercross, Parallel GS and Parallel Slalom. The best of the Australians were Emanuel Oppliger with an 18th in the Parallel GS, only just missing out on the finals by half a second. Medal hope Torah Bright crashed out of contention in the qualification rounds, while team mate Andrew Burton, missed out on the men’s halfpipe finals and finished in 19th place. The National Snowboard Team traveled to Chile in September 2005 to compete in the first Snowboard World Cup event of the season. It was a very successful trip with Holly Crawford winning bronze in her first World Cup after being sidelined for 20 months due to injury and Andrew Burton equaling his personal best by finishing sixth in the men’s event. Also on the schedule were two Boardercross World Cup events where Damon Hayler was the best of the men finishing 31st. Emily Thomas was consistent finishing 31st in both events.

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Alpine Skiing Australian Alpine Skiers enjoyed a strong start to the 2004/2005 Northern Winter season, but unfortunately for some of our biggest names it came to a premature end. AJ Bear, while competing in a World Cup downhill event in Bormio, damaged his anterior cruciate ligament which was his third major injury in as many years. Bear was on track for his best World Cup Downhill performance when he caught a ski edge which sent him off the course and into the safety netting. Bear had incurred a broken arm and concussion on the same course two years ago. Jono Brauer also succumbed to injury. Jono had been skiing with a broken rib and patella tendonitis, causing discomfort and hampering his performance. Craig Branch and Luke Deane, skied well all season and are continually improving with personal best results. Craig Branch finished 38th in the Downhill World Cup in Chamonix, France which is a career best downhill result. Luke Deane achieved two fourth places in Europa Cup Giant Slalom events which have helped him become Australia’s highest ranked GS skier. The 2005 Australia and New Zealand Cup Final was held in Turoa, New Zealand. A large contingent of Australian athletes made the trip across to compete in three Slalom and Giant Slalom events. In 2004 the Australian Sports Commission assisted SSA in conducting a review of Alpine Skiing activities in this country. The High Performance Alpine Development Team (HPAD) concept was the major recommendation to come out of the review process. Following extensive consultation with technical and sport programming experts SSA was preparing to proceed with the pilot HPAD program commencing in November 2005. Cross Country Australian Cross Country athletes had a much improved 2004/2005 Northern Winter season with personal best results and Australian best results being achieved. Katie Calder claimed two podium finishes in the Swiss Cup and scored the best ever distance FIS points for an Australian woman. Ben Sim also recorded his personal best FIS points of 57.10 in the Italian Police Championships, this is the first time that an Australian has scored under 60 FIS points since 1998.

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Paul Murray had a great season some strong results, which includes scoring Australia’s first ever World Cup points while competing in a 1.2km sprint in Germany. Paul finished 29th and just missed out on qualifying in the top 16. Paul also qualified 6th in the Swedish Sprint Championship in Tyndero. After a battle with reigning World Champion Tobias Fredriksson and World Cup winner Mikael Ostberg in the final, Paul finished 8th. Paul also qualified in 2nd place in the Swedish Sprint Championship in Aasarna, with a 9th place in the final. The major event for the National Cross Country team was the World Championships which were held in Oberstdorf, Germany from 16-27 February, 2005. The final events of the 2005 Australian Championship and Australian Junior Championship were held at Perisher Valley in NSW. In the women's 5km Clare-Louise Brumley kept her unbeaten run of the season intact, winning by over a minute ahead of Esther Bottomley. Camille Melvey was only 6 seconds behind Bottomley in 3rd place, with Belinda Phillips in 4th and Jane Scheer in 5th. The 2005 Australian Cross Country season concluded with some very good performances by National Team athletes culminating in an Australian double at the Kangaroo Hoppet by Ben Sim and Clare-Louise Brumley. 2004/2005 Medal Result Summary: FIS 2004/2005 WORLD CUP GOLD MEDALS Lydia Ierodiaconou 3 medals (aerial skiing) FIS 2004/2005 WORLD CUP SILVER MEDALS Dale Begg-Smith 2 medals (mogul skiing) Lydia Ierodiaconou 2 medals (aerial skiing) Jacqui Cooper 1 medal (aerial skiing) FIS 2004/2005 WORLD CUP BRONZE MEDALS Dale Begg-Smith 1 medal (mogul skiing) Torah Bright 2 medals (snowboard half pipe) Lydia Ierodiaconou 2 medals (aerial skiing) FIS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BRONZE MEDALS Dale Begg-Smith 1 medal (mogul skiing)

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Inaugural Discipline Conference The first ever SSA discipline conference was held on Saturday 30th April at the Sofitel Hotel, Melbourne to coincide with the awards dinner held later that evening. This was the first time that the four discipline committees conducted their pre-season meetings at the same venue at the same time. The conference provided an opportunity for the discipline committees to have interaction not only with each other, but also with board members and peak bodies such as the AOC and the ASC who are not usually able to attend each meeting in person. The disciplines were briefed by Craig Phillips, Secretary General of the AOC, on the Australian Olympic Team operations for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. Peter Sharpe of the Australian Sport Commission presented an overview on the ASC requirements for high performance funding. SSA President Dean Gosper discussed SSA Board funding policy in relation to sports programs and discipline activities. Australian Ski & Snowboard Awards The 2005 Australian Ski & Snowboard Awards were held at the Melbourne Sofitel Hotel on Collins St. The Australian Ski & Snowboard Awards is the annual gala dinner at which Australian snow sports athletes are formally recognised by the industry for their efforts during the past 12 months. The evening was hosted by Steven Phillips and Craig Willis and culminated in the Australian Snow Sport athlete of the year being awarded to Mogul Skier Dale Begg-Smith following his superb international season.. With the Winter Olympics less then 12 months away, the awards were the last opportunity to see our athletes in person before they head to Torino, Italy in February 2006. Complete Results from the 2005 Australia Ski & Snowboard Awards are recorded later in this report.

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Constitutional Review Over the past six years, Ski & Snowboard Australia (“SSA”) has emerged from a debt ridden organisation with little relevance to a financially robust, well managed body with an intimate involvement in the various discipline pathways, particularly at the development and elite levels. During the same period, our athletes have achieved remarkable results with greater breadth and depth than ever before. As has been the case with a large number of other higher profile sports, the Australian Sports Commission (“ASC”) has determined it appropriate to review independently our now outdated constitutional structure. The ASC appointed highly respected consultant Kate Costello to conduct an independent Review into the constitutional and governance structure of our sport. A comprehensive consultation and submission process will be completed by the end of the year, with the final report likely to be presented to the community in January 2006. 2006 Olympic Winter Games Selections At the time of writing this report, seven Australian athletes had already achieved the AOC minimum performance standard for selection to the 2006 Australian Winter Olympic Team. The following athletes have all achieved at least 1 result in the top 20% of a World Cup field in the previous or current World Cup season, which is the highest level of automatic qualification. Athlete Discipline Result Alisa Camplin Freestyle –

Aerials 4th Mt Buller World Cup – Sep 3 2005

Jacqui Cooper Freestyle – Aerials

4th Lake Placid World Cup – Jan 16 2005

Lydia Ierodiaconou

Freestyle – Aerials

1st Tremblant World Cup – Jan 9 2005

Dale Begg-Smith Freestyle – Moguls

3rd Ruka World Championships – Mar 19 2005

Torah Bright Snowboard 3rd Bardonecchia World Cup – 11 Feb 2005Andrew Burton Snowboard 6th Valle Nevado World Cup – 18 Sep 2005 Holly Crawford Snowboard 3rd Valle Nevado World Cup – 17 Sep 2005

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Athletes from all disciplines are required to meet the FIS participation standard, the SSA Nomination Criteria and finally the AOC selection criteria prior to being named to the team. FIS Academy SSA became one of the first National Federations to offer a unique e-learning opportunity to its FIS registered athletes of all ages and ability. The FIS Academy has developed an educational program to give the FIS family, including athletes, coaches and administrators the opportunity to pursue their education and career training. For the athlete, it provides a pathway of flexible education, and if they undertake and successfully complete all levels culminates in the possibility of attending a FIS Academy Associate University. As the primary focus of the Academy, its Athlete Certificate has been established on a CD-ROM to take into account the unique travel and lifestyle requirements that are part of a hectic sporting life. The athlete will be able to progress through the eight modules within the Athlete Certificate in a timeframe and basis that suits them. All the athlete will need is access to a computer from time to time and the internet to complete the assessment. SSA funded the level 1 course for all Australian FIS registered athletes in 2005. Online Membership & Registration The new online membership and registration system was in operation for the first time during 2005 and we are delighted with the positive feedback and improved efficiency of the new system. The new system provides a “one stop shop” for all athletes needs including membership, discipline registration and FIS licensing all with the click of a button. Members can now view their current status and update contact information should they change. The system features a member lookup tool which enables individuals and race organisers to check the status of each athlete’s registration.

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Conclusion While 2004/2005 has been another period of significant change and growth for SSA, I look forward to the next 12 months both on and off the snow. From an organizational perspective I hope that the independent review and subsequent constitutional changes can bring stability and clarity for the future of SSA. From a sport program perspective we look forward to our athletes performances in the lead up to the games and in Torino itself. If SSA can replicate our medal performances from Salt Lake City and be in a position to nominate athletes to the team from all four disciplines, this would be a very satisfying outcome. Finally I would like to thank Ryan Taylor for his hard work and loyalty to SSA. SSA prides itself on the efficiency and small size of our administration, which ultimately enables us to spend more money on athletes and coaches. Michael Kennedy Chief Executive Officer

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2005 Australian Ski & Snowboard Awards Athlete of the Year Alpine Cross Country Freestyle Snowboard Luke Deane Paul Murray Dale Begg-Smith Torah Bright Winner Dale Begg-Smith Junior Athlete of the Year Alpine Cross Country Freestyle Snowboard Katya Crema Ben Sim Ramone Cooper Torah Bright Winner Torah Bright Outstanding Achievement Award Lydia Ierodiaconou Coach of the Year Steve Desovich Clubs of the Year Alpine Cross Country Freestyle Snowboard Mt Buller Race Club Birkebeiner Nordic

Ski Club Team Buller Perisher Snowboard

Squad School Club of the Year Victoria NSW Bright P-12 College SCEGGS Redlands Overall

Bright P-12 College

Electronic Media Contributions Channel 7 Print Media Contribution Arthur Stanley

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National Team Athletes Alpine National Team AJ Bear Craig Branch Jono Brauer Luke Deane Brad Wall National Junior Team National Childrens Team Samantha Biilmann Toni Hodkinson Alexander Podgorski Callum Brown Courtney Kazar Emily Bamford Lucy Nettlefold Luke Laidlaw Alasdair Robertson Dean Fuchs Cross Country National Team Ben Derrick Ben Sim Claire-Louise Brumley Katherine Calder Esther Bottomley Andrew Mock Paul Murray Continental Cup Team Mark Raymond Chris Darlington

Cross Country Cont’d National Squad Andrew Wynd James Rickard Mark van der Ploeg National Junior Team Aimee Watson Abbey Grimmer Chloe McConville Mark van der Ploeg Ewan Watson Freestyle - Aerials National Team Alisa Camplin Melinda Cleland Jacqui Cooper Lainie Cole Liz Gardner Lydia Ierodiaconou Bree Munro Trudy McIntosh Development Team Kate Bender Cassie Dobell Laura Lindsay Sarah McIlwraith Jessica McIlwraith Denita Mudge Kendle Richards Jen Schaeffer Elizabeth Wong

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National Team Athletes Cont’d Freestyle - Moguls National Team Michael Robertson Dale Begg-Smith Jason Begg-Smith Nick Fisher Manuela Berchtold Development Team Emma Chapman-Davies Philippa O’Donnell Rohan Chapman-Davies David Graham Sam Hall Ramone Cooper Robert Lovick Tom Lovick Snowboard National Team Mitch Allan Torah Bright Andrew Burton Holly Crawford Ben Mates Damon Hayler Emily Thomas Johanna Shaw Stephanie Hickey Alex Pullin Taan Robrahn Kai Robrahn Emanuel Oppliger

Snowboard Cont’d SSA Halfpipe Development Team Nathan Johnstone Ben Johnson Simone Pritchard Matt Hunter Jarryd Williams Junior World Championship Team Kim Cragnolini Courtney Phillipson Amanda Taylor Kaitlyn Wilton Danielle Wilton Jackson Hewitt Max Windshuttle Bryan Taylor Jarryd Williams Nathan Johnstone Ben Johnson

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Financial Reports Financial Report Contents Directors’ Report 1 Auditor’s Independence Declaration 3 Statement of Financial Performance 4 Statement of Financial Position 5 Statement of Cash Flows 6 Notes to the Financial Statements 7 Directors’ Declaration 16 Independent Audit Report to Members of Ski & Snowboard Australia Limited 17 Audit Opinion 18

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Stakeholders Affiliates

Australian Sports Commission

Federation International de Ski

Australian Olympic Committee

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Institute Program Partners

Olympic Winter Institute of Australia

Australian Institute of Sport

NSW Institute of Sport

Victorian Institute of Sport

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Resort Program Partners

Mt Buller

Falls Creek

Perisher Blue

Thredbo

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2005 Mt Buller World Aerials Sponsors

Mt Buller

Seven Network

Tourism Victoria

Australian Sports Commission

La Trobe University

Federation International de Ski

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2005 Australian Ski & Snowboard Awards Sponsors

Australian Sports Commission

Seven Sport

Mark Adams Real Estate