Balmain Cup 1995
Balmain Cup Report by Tate Ski Club’s Kerri Pinkerton
Australia’s oldest interclub ski competition, begun in 1933, was held in crisp spring snow with fantastic weather.
Seven ski clubs affiliated with the ACT Ski Association competed in a Slalom, Giant Slalom and Snowboard races on Saturday 9 September down the Schnaxl course at Perisher Blue.
The standard of racing improves each year with many spectacular runs encouraged by enthusiastic barracking from the club crowd. Fastest in slalom were Andrew Korten (YMCA), Heimo Thaurer (Guthega) and Alison Bombardier (Snowy River) with the first place team being Guthega Ski Club.
The course was reset for Giant Slalom with the clubs reorganizing their teams for this faster discipline. All skiers found the conditions ideal. The pace was fast and very close times were recorded. Best performances were Rupert Winkler (Guthega), Andrew Korten (YMCA) and Heimo Thaurer (Guthega) with Guthega Ski Club again being the fastest team.
Snowboard was introduced this year as a demonstration discipline. There was keen rivalry between the Y and Tate as the young and master shredders set off down the Giant Slalom course. Jamie Pinkerton (Tate) was the fastest rider.
On Sunday, the cross country specialists had their day over a 7.5km trail at Perisher. The young skaters from Cooma Club and Canberra Alpine led the field with exceptionally slick times. Fastest were Anthony Evans, Tom Landon-Smith (both Cooma), then Dave Greber (CAC) with Cooma racers combining for the best team time.
The Balmain Cup was won by Cooma Ski Club, with Guthega a close second and CAC third. The Dudzinski Trophy for the best individual performance in the 3 disciplines was awarded to Heimo Thaurer with 2nd place in the slalom, 3rd in giant slalom and 7th in cross country. Will Heimo snowboard next year?
| CLUB | SL | GS | XC | TOTAL |
| Cooma | 97.61% | 95.04% | 100% | 292.85% |
| Guthega | 100% | 100% | 78.34% | 278.34 |
| CAC | 87.93% | 90.31% | 87.79 | 266.03% |
| Tate | 91.2 | 92.26% | 59.24% | 242.70% |
| Jagungal | 87% | 88.99% | 62.92% | 238.91% |
| Snowy River | 90.87% | 86.09% | 46.69% | 223.65% |
| Slalom | Andrew Korten (YMCA) |
| Giant Slalom | Rupert Winkler (Cooma) |
| Snowboard | Adam Fitzhenry (YMCA) |
| Cross Country | Anthony Evans (Cooma) |
| Dudzinski Trophy | Heimo Thaurer (Guthega) |
1995 Balmain Cup Individual Slalom Results
1995 Balmain Cup Individual Giant Slalom Results