Twenty-three Wānaka Snowsports Club (WSC) members have each been awarded $500 - taking the amount the club has distributed to year 2-8 “grassroots athletes” to $165,000 since 2013. 

The money will be deducted from the cost of the young athletes’ 2025 snowsports programmes at Cardrona Alpine Resort and Treble Cone Ski Area this season.

WSC executive committee member Bonny Teat said many aspiring young snowsports athletes applied for the club's 2025 grassroots programme, following an “amazing northern hemisphere” season for local snow sports athletes - which included a Crystal Globe, X Games’ medals, World Championship medals, Freeride top spots and FIS alpine medals.

The club celebrated recently with a pizza party at the Cardrona-Treble Cone headquarters, where members heard from alpine athletes Mathilda and Isabel Watterson and freeride athletes Eva Small and Nico Burrowes, who had all travelled to the northern hemisphere this past season.

The speakers were joined by MCs Harry Rowden and Aiden Fitzpatrick, who had both competed in freeride events in Europe.

Coach Peter Legnavsky also introduced the new alpine head coach Grant Stockman, as well as Sam Lee (freeride head coach) and Matt Lister (alpine U16 coach).

The 2025 recipients of the grassroots awards are: Max Blatch, Jackson Blatch, Elliot Blatch, William Beech, Patrick Beech, Eneko Mazet Brown, Kobi Small, Silas King, Caspar King, Izaac Wu, Axel Chandler, Jimmy Dolan, Kiri Dolan, Dylan Hedley Dunbar, Otto Walshe, Lachie Stevens, Emmie Wyatt, Charlise Wyatt, Spencer Bunbury, Hazel Hardman, Sam Millar, Harriet Millar, and Nico Burrowes.

The list includes two snowboarders, six alpine ski racers, seven freeskiers and eight freeride skiers.

“Some of the young athletes have aspirations to represent New Zealand like many previous grassroots recipients and others who wish to get enough skills to enjoy our beautiful mountain environment with their families and friends,” Bonny said.

Bonny said the regular WSC functions are open to family members, and the next function will be open to the public (from 7pm on Saturday June 21 at Apres, 50 Cardrona Valley Rd). 

She said this will be an opportunity to meet successful athletes; freerider Ben Richards, freeskier Ben Barclay, alpine athletes Mathilda and Isabel Watterson, and freeski coach Hamish McDougall, who will share footage and talk about their experiences in the northern hemisphere. 

PHOTO: Supplied