Wānaka Snowsports Club (WSC) has had an excellent northern hemisphere season so far with top results achieved by club members overseas.

The local club supports snowsports in the Upper Clutha with a range of initiatives, from its grassroots programme for the youngest members and grants programme for budding athletes.

WSC grants coordinator Bonny Teat told the Wānaka App club athletes have had a “phenomenal” season.

“At the moment we’ve got 38 of our grants athletes who range in age from 12-26 competing and training overseas,” she said. 

Ski racer Kezik Magill competing during the 2023 Canada Winter Games.

“We’ve also got many of our grassroots children who are under 12 also in the northern hemisphere.”

Some standout results include those of freeskier Fin Melville-Ives, who has had his first World Cup season.

“At 16 he is competing against men who are often twice his age,” Bonny said.

“It’s absolutely phenomenal - he has had two sixth places, one ninth, and is now ranked at the end of season, eighth in the World Cup.”

Kezik Magill is another club athlete who has had an excellent season.

“Kezik has just been at the Canadian Winter Games and he ended up ranked at the top 2008 birth year boy in all of Canada,” Bonny said, calling it “a real success story”.

WSC is the biggest of its kind in New Zealand with around 500 members.

“We have everything from small children through to really old people,” Bonny said. “We try very hard to get everybody enjoying the mountains in whatever way they can and we do all kinds of things in the mountains.”

Anyone who is interested in learning more about WSC can attend their AGM on April 30 (full details in the Wānaka App events section), which will be followed by drinks and celebration.

PHOTOS: Supplied