Welcome, 

Welcome to the first Ski & Snowboard Australia e-news for 2004.

The 2004 Northern Hemisphere season is in full swing, and has already produced many sporting highlights, some unfortunate injury related lowlights, and plenty of promising reports from our athletes competing at all levels of the sport internationally.

The Ski & Snowboard Australia website is continually being updated with the latest news from our athletes overseas, so be sure to visit the site regularly at www.skiingaustralia.org.au

For the latest news on each of the Ski & Snowboard Australia disciplines please follow the links below:

Alpine | Cross Country | Freestyle | Snowboard
 

PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE RENEWALS
Ski & Snowboard Australia is pleased to confirm that suitable terms have been reached for a 2004 Public Liability Insurance policy that will extend to clubs and associations in Victoria, NSW, ACT and South Australia.

Despite the National trend in which some liability premiums continue to soar, we can expect marginal change to the 2003 premiums, despite a far more comprehensive policy that will include 15 months cover (to bring the policy completely in line with the membership year), directors and officers insurance for clubs/associations, professional indemnity for coaches, PL Insurance cover for overseas camps, and a personal accident/capital benefits cover for individuals.

Further details and premiums will be available by the end of the month. The new policy will begin March 1st 2004.
 

SAL ANTI DOPING POLICY
Ski & Snowboard Australia would like to remind all athletes to remain familiar with their obligations in regard to the Ski & Snowboard Australia anti doping policy, and cooperating with requests from the SAL office in terms of athlete whereabouts details.

Ski & Snowboard Australia remains committed to the ongoing drug education of our athletes, and to fulfilling our obligations to Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA) and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC). A new doping policy is currently being drafted by SAL in order to be compliant with World Anti Doping Authority (WADA), ASC, and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), all who have mid 2004 deadlines in place regarding National Federations compliance on doping policies. 

The website and the e-news will continue to be the major source of information and updates regarding anti doping policy, drug education and any ongoing changes.

2006 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES SELECTION CRIETRIA
Ski & Snowboard Australia is working closely with the AOC to finalise the nomination criteria for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games teams.
While the AOC have published the selection criteria (subject to confirmation of the national quotas by the IOC), it is up to Skiing Australia as the National Federation to work with the AOC and the discipline committees to establish the nomination criteria, and process for selecting shadow teams.
Terms such as “nomination criteria” and “shadow team” may be unfamiliar to athletes; however a complete and comprehensive selection/nomination explanation will be published following a final workshop between the SAL and the AOC in early April 2004.