Ski Excursion
Year 10 Sports Studies
Narrandera High School Hits the Slopes at Mt Buller
22 students, 4 staff, plenty of snow and three unforgettable days on the mountain!
Narrandera High School students recently traded the Riverina winter for the snow-covered slopes of Mt Buller, with 22 students and four staff members — Mr Chappell, Mrs Donaldson, Mr Dean and AJ — making the journey south for three action-packed days of skiing and snowboarding.
For many of our students, the trip was a first opportunity to experience significant snowfall, and Mt Buller certainly delivered. The group arrived on Wednesday afternoon with snow falling, setting the scene for what would be an exciting few days.
After settling into the accommodation, collecting ski equipment and getting organised, it was time for a well-earned dinner and some friendly competition across the pool table, UNO and Trivial Pursuit. However, everyone knew the real challenge was waiting for them the following morning!
Thursday saw the group up early and ready for their first lesson on the slopes. With many students starting as complete beginners, there was plenty to learn — and plenty of falling over! However, the students quickly found their feet and began to develop confidence on the snow.
The conditions were excellent, with an overcast day and regular snow showers providing a fantastic alpine experience. Students spent the majority of the day on the mountain, putting their new skills into practice and enjoying the opportunity to explore the slopes.
Friday brought arguably the perfect conditions for skiing and snowboarding. Blue skies, virtually no wind and excellent snow made for a spectacular final day. Following a second lesson in the morning, students were let loose on the slopes, and it was fantastic to see just how much they had progressed in such a short period of time.
Students who had started the trip as complete beginners were now confidently making their way around the mountain, with some even progressing onto harder blue runs and T-bars by the end of the trip. The improvement in just two days was a credit to the students' determination, willingness to have a go and ability to learn from their experiences.
While the skiing and snowboarding were obviously the major attractions, one of the most pleasing aspects of the trip was the way the students conducted themselves throughout. Their behaviour was excellent, and their ability to work together, support one another and contribute positively to the group made the trip particularly enjoyable for both students and staff.
There was plenty of laughter, plenty of tired legs and, no doubt, a few spectacular falls along the way (even some up close and personal time with the fences) — but there were also new friendships, new skills and a whole lot of confidence gained.
For a group of students who don't regularly get the opportunity to experience snow, the Mt Buller trip provided much more than just a few days on skis and snowboards. It was an opportunity to step outside their comfort zones, challenge themselves, work as a team and experience something completely different from life in Narrandera.
By the time the group packed up and headed back to Narrandera on Friday afternoon, there were certainly plenty of tired and sore students — but also plenty of stories to tell.
A huge thank you goes to Mrs Donaldson, Mr Dean and AJ for giving up their own time and helping make the trip such a success. Most importantly, congratulations to all 22 students for their outstanding behaviour, positive attitude and willingness to give everything a go.
From first-time boarders to Blue runs and T-bars in just three days — what a way to experience the snow!
Mr Mark Chappell
HT TAS