I've never before seen such enthusiasm as a team from our junior club members as I did this past July school holidays - totally bonded and determined to represent the club, no quarter given, no backing out.The day before the event Thredbo was on its biggest wind-hold for decades, the weather just atrocious. I went around the club confirming starters and scoured my email returns to collate the TEAMBerg Juniors entry list as we were all tucked up inside due to the conditions outside - even the "magic carpet" on Friday Flat was on hold! Despite this, the mood was exuberant, all were keen to race and not one junior had any second thoughts no matter what was in store for tomorrows big day. I tallied 23 racers for TEAMBerg which presented a potential problem for the race organising committee to deal with - max 20 in a team after a blow-out in numbers in previous years. I spoke briefly on the fact tomorrows weather was not going to be guaranteed a pleasant day but no-one budged; so be it!
Sure enough the organisers contacted me with a request to cull out gun team but I stood my ground explaining there was no way any of us were not going to race. They relented, I told the team so and they just went off!
With that, the newly renovated ski repair room became a thriving hub of activity, metal filings amounting steadily on the two main ski benches and the waxing irons smoking hot with our junior mentors Ben Reader and Harry Price working at fever pace to prepare our TEAMBerg Junior racers' equipment. It really was the place to be that afternoon and evening, the sound system all wired up and standing room only - a great sight at the club.
We calculated we had the most racers of any club represented in the event this year,
certainly in the 11 years and under category
with Georgia Reader, Brooke Hiscock, Thomas, Saskia and Will Ferster, Tilly and Max Parker, Niahm and Caitlyn O'Sullivan, Hugo Manka, Max Lillyman, Brodi Clifford and Sophie Shuttleworth making up 13 of the total 42 racers in this category.
In the 12 years to 14 years category, Ben Reader, Allegra Parker, Bradley and Mitchell Hiscock, Finn O'Sullivan and Campbell Clifford presented another strong front with our Junior Interclub stalwarts Harry Price, Holly Shuttleworth and Hugh Lillyman making up the three TEAMBerg representatives in the 15 years to 18 years category.
Overnight the wind abated and by morning the weather welcomed us with a cold but sunny day - a great day for the Thredbo Junior Interclubs. Not only were the junior racers abuzz with excitement, so too were the TEAMBerg Juniors parents as they fueled their charges with the help of our fantastic pit crew Susan and Toby, ensuring they had everything they needed to do their best for the mighty BERG!
One of the more intriguing aspects to the day was just how would Harry make the start. We needed a third runner in the 15-18yrs category to score any point. The scenario was Harry was flying in from a sailing regatta in Perth overnight, ricocheting through Sydney to Cooma then the mummobile to Thredbo with ski gear in the back, aiming for arrival at Valley Terminal and Snowgums Chair for two runs through the course before it would be packed up for the day.
The organisers and said parent admired his tenacity and enthusiasm but by all accounts it was a long shot at best. Nonetheless he made it by 1pm, straight onto the lift from the car, ran to the start from Bunnywalk Station, did 1st run, skidooed to start again for 2nd run then upon completion off to bed for a sleep. True Berg Grit!
TEAMBerg, a non-racer based team put in a fantastic effort as they had planned. Although there were a couple of mishaps - skis leaving the scene of.... from Max Lillyman and Finn O'Sullivan the team showed tremendous enthusiasm and skill leaving us all wondering just where we would be placed in the 27th Thredbo Junior Interclubs. We all looked solid in amongst the other teams work on the day, Georgia earning 3rd fastest girl 11yrs and under and a 9th fastest boy for Hugo's first appearance and our best boy in this age group. Allegra earned a 4th place in the 12-14yr age group girls and Ben Reader was our best placed boy with a 2nd closely followed by Campbell in 4th. Holly was back in form with a 3rd girl in the 15-18yr age group with Harry and Hugh 9th and 10th respectively in the boys.
In the Fastest Team 11 and Under, Georgia, Brooke and Brodi scored a magnificent 2nd place behind SCA. So too in the Fastest Team 12-14yrs age group with Ben Reader, Campbell Clifford and Allegra Parker just behing SCA once again. Our eldest team still scored a worth finish aggregate and placed 5th behind SCA in 4th place.
Scoring points in all three divisions enabled us to beat Southern Alps SC for a brilliant 2nd place overall behind the 2011 Thredbo Junior Interclub champions Ski Club of Australia.
Full results http://issuu.com/berghutte/docs/thredbo-junior-interclub-race-2011-results
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