No show like snow

By Justin Robertson
SNOW junkie Lachlan Williams is home after carving up white powder with his snowboard at Mount Perisher in New South Wales.
The 13-year-old competed in the Inter Schools Snow Sports Australian Championships and came third in the snow cross team event, eighth in snow cross and ninth in the grand slalom.
“It was my first time at the event and first time interstate competing,” Lachlan said. “It was a really exciting experience and I was pretty lucky to be able to have a crack at the nationals.”
The Beaconhills College Pakenham campus student had to qualify for the nationals by finishing top 10 of his age group and event at the State Snow Sport Championships at Mt.Buller last month. He finished first with partner Jake Salems in the snow cross event.
“It was a bit of a surprise actually, I didn’t think I’d get to go to Perisher,” he said. “Considering it was my first time, I was pretty happy about it.”
Lachlan and his family take regular trips to Falls Creek and as soon as he picked up a snowboard, he never looked back.
“I found it hard initially, but I gradually picked it up and it became easier,” he said.
The snowboarder even finds time during the week to hone his balance, which he said is crucial to be able to do the sport.
“Once a week I’ll dedicate time to doing specific balancing work on the trampoline,” he said. “As well, I skateboard around everywhere to help my balance for snowboarding.”
At Perisher, Lachlan said the mountain range was much bigger than Mount Buller and found the going tough as all age groups competed on the same mountain.
“At Buller, there were smaller inclines depending on your age group,” he said. “But at Perisher, everyone competed at the same level and being my first time, I found it quite hard.”
With the snow season over, Lachlan will have to wait until next year to get his snow fix.
“If I could do this as a career, if I got the opportunity, I would,” he said. “It’s definitely a sport I want to keep on pursuing and I’ll be back next year and see what happens.”