As we lamented losing the Ashes, Australia suddenly had four world champions by the end of an action-packed January.
As we lamented losing the Ashes, Australia suddenly had four world champions by the end of an action-packed January. Geoff ‘Skippy’ Huegill also announced he will swim on to the London Olympics and Australians took centre stage at some top events hosted Down Under.
While Summer heated up at home our snow stars froze out the rest of the world. Vancouver Olympian Alex “Chumpy” Pullin, dual Winter Olympian Holly Crawford and Nate Johnstone all created history in January. Pullin won gold in the snowboard cross and Crawford and Johnstone took gold in the female and male halfpipe events at the 2011 World Snowboard Championships in Spain. They became Australia’s first ever snowboarding world champions and Australia was then crowned top snowboarding nation.
Back on home waters Beijing Olympic sailor Nathan Outteridge navigated Lake Macquarie to claim the Zhik Moth World Championship. Outteridge, who capsized en route to a certain medal in the last race of the 49er class at the 2008 Games, blitzed the field to win 10 races from 18 starts.
The Tour Down Under hosted some of the world’s best cyclists and was dominated by bright young talent from Australia. Lance Armstrong, Robbie McEwen and Mark Cavendish were left behind by the likes of South Australian Jack Bobridge. Armstrong suggests we should ‘remember that name (Bobridge), because you are going to be seeing a lot of it’. 2010 Australian rider of the year Cameron Meyer, aged 23, won the six stage 762km race by just two seconds over compatriot Matthew Goss, the man McEwen described as the ‘summer sensation’.
Looking to February we cannot wait to see these promising riders turn their talents to the track. The Australian Track Championships are already underway at the Dunc Gray Velodrome (January 30- February 6). Adelaide will then host the Australian Mountain Bike Championships from February 22-27 to wrap up a bumper few months of cycling.
Although our hearts sunk as Dokic, Molik, Stosur, Hewitt, Groth, Tomic and the Aussies were knocked out of the Australian Open, our top female tennis players will be back with a vengeance for the first round of the Fed Cup against Italy in Hobart (February 5-6).
The national 20km walk championships will also be held in Hobart on February 19 and the Australian Athletics series will be touring Brisbane (February 10) and Hobart (February 20).
Heroes of the swim, bike, run will be competing in the first event of the triathlon Australian National Series in Geelong (February 18-20) and the best canoe/kayakers in Australia will descend on Penrith for the Canoe Slalom Australian Open (February 17-20).
Off the back of a remarkable Asian Cup football campaign where the Socceroos came agonisingly close to claiming the title, the A-League finals will take place throughout February. The basketball WNBL will also be in the midst of finals.
Many more of our winter sensations are competing overseas this February. The Alpine Skiing World Championships (February 8-20) and World Bobsleigh and Skeleton Championships (February 14-17) will take place in Germany and the Nordic World Championships in Cross Country Skiing, Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping will take place in Oslo (February 23- March 6).
The London Olympics are also less than 18 months away and the AOC will host a significant two-day planning meeting in Sydney (February 18-19), involving all of the national sporting federations.
At home and abroad Australians will be competing on land, water and snow throughout February. Show your support by following their progress on Facebook and twitter.
Taya Conomos
AOC Media
While Summer heated up at home our snow stars froze out the rest of the world. Vancouver Olympian Alex “Chumpy” Pullin, dual Winter Olympian Holly Crawford and Nate Johnstone all created history in January. Pullin won gold in the snowboard cross and Crawford and Johnstone took gold in the female and male halfpipe events at the 2011 World Snowboard Championships in Spain. They became Australia’s first ever snowboarding world champions and Australia was then crowned top snowboarding nation.
Back on home waters Beijing Olympic sailor Nathan Outteridge navigated Lake Macquarie to claim the Zhik Moth World Championship. Outteridge, who capsized en route to a certain medal in the last race of the 49er class at the 2008 Games, blitzed the field to win 10 races from 18 starts.
The Tour Down Under hosted some of the world’s best cyclists and was dominated by bright young talent from Australia. Lance Armstrong, Robbie McEwen and Mark Cavendish were left behind by the likes of South Australian Jack Bobridge. Armstrong suggests we should ‘remember that name (Bobridge), because you are going to be seeing a lot of it’. 2010 Australian rider of the year Cameron Meyer, aged 23, won the six stage 762km race by just two seconds over compatriot Matthew Goss, the man McEwen described as the ‘summer sensation’.
Looking to February we cannot wait to see these promising riders turn their talents to the track. The Australian Track Championships are already underway at the Dunc Gray Velodrome (January 30- February 6). Adelaide will then host the Australian Mountain Bike Championships from February 22-27 to wrap up a bumper few months of cycling.
Although our hearts sunk as Dokic, Molik, Stosur, Hewitt, Groth, Tomic and the Aussies were knocked out of the Australian Open, our top female tennis players will be back with a vengeance for the first round of the Fed Cup against Italy in Hobart (February 5-6).
The national 20km walk championships will also be held in Hobart on February 19 and the Australian Athletics series will be touring Brisbane (February 10) and Hobart (February 20).
Heroes of the swim, bike, run will be competing in the first event of the triathlon Australian National Series in Geelong (February 18-20) and the best canoe/kayakers in Australia will descend on Penrith for the Canoe Slalom Australian Open (February 17-20).
Off the back of a remarkable Asian Cup football campaign where the Socceroos came agonisingly close to claiming the title, the A-League finals will take place throughout February. The basketball WNBL will also be in the midst of finals.
Many more of our winter sensations are competing overseas this February. The Alpine Skiing World Championships (February 8-20) and World Bobsleigh and Skeleton Championships (February 14-17) will take place in Germany and the Nordic World Championships in Cross Country Skiing, Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping will take place in Oslo (February 23- March 6).
The London Olympics are also less than 18 months away and the AOC will host a significant two-day planning meeting in Sydney (February 18-19), involving all of the national sporting federations.
At home and abroad Australians will be competing on land, water and snow throughout February. Show your support by following their progress on Facebook and twitter.
Taya Conomos
AOC Media
