Blocks*—The Hotham Heroes Snowboard program is specifically designed for athletes between the ages of 7 and 12. The Block training package enables athletes to train for a total of 19 days of on-snow and dryland training throughout the season. The Block is a set schedule of training days, which include training during the Victorian School Holidays and then 4 set weekends.

The program is designed to help athletes bridge the gap between the entry-level U8 and the more intensive Snow Australia Pathway Programs from U14 and above. The program is suited to athletes who are confident snowboarders all over the mountain(Blue and Black runs) in a variety of snow conditions and they should have completed levels 5 or 6 at ski school.

The Hotham Heroes Snowboard program provides the flexibility to place young people into the right peer-based learning environments determined by developmental needs and not solely by chronological age.

Building the framework

The Hotham Heroes Snowboard athletes do a little bit of everything on and off the snow, with a strong focus on holistic skill development (technical, tactical, physical and psychological), with increased exposure gates training and all-mountain competency remaining the core focus.

The Hotham Heroes Snowboard program focuses on rounding out the athlete’s fundamental skills, combined with an increased time in gate-based environments and provides for the introduction of more advanced snowboarding concepts and equipment maintenance. This typically includes:

• Continue refining all key skills of snowboarding including;
• Balance, edging, steering, jumping, and timing
• Bumps and jumps;
• Off-piste in trees and powder;
• Slow, controlled and precise snowboarding;
• Short turns – medium turns – big turns – no turns;
• Fast, athletic and fluid movement;
• Regular freeride activity to further refine the complement of skills
• Gate training; and
• Specific race techniques.

Maximum Age Level Enrolment

• 16 athletes

Minimum ability

• Hotham Heroes Snowboard athletes should be confident snowboarders all over the mountain in a variety of snow conditions.
• Prior race training experience is NOT necessary!

Snow Australia Registration

All athletes who participate in races (other than Interschools) will be required to be a member of Snow Australia. Families are responsible for the arrangement of their own Snow Australia membership. Please refer to the Snow Australia page for details.

*Block Conditions 

• This offer is open to prior MHRS participants or with Team Hotham Director of Programs and Sports Development approval (subject to group mix, ability, and numbers).
• Team Hotham reserves the right to limit enrolments in Block Programs due to coaching capacity.
• The dates will be confirmed prior to the commencement of the program.
• Best efforts will be made, but if we are unable to provide the requested resources and facilitate the dates, a full refund will be provided.
• Refunds will only be provided for a medical certificate or approval by the treasurer.
• *Official Team Hotham Jacket must be rented from the club for $150. Athlete wears own black ski pants.