MANSFIELD'S Charlie Comben who calls Mt Buller his home resort headed to Mt Hotham to compete in Australia’s first ever Freeride World Tour qualifier to take out the Men's Ski event.
Extreme skiing and snowboarding, with big air, speed and tricks was a feature of Hotham over the weekend, with the resort hosting the qualifier.
Over the two days August 3 and 4, 129 junior and 71 open athletes graced Hotham’s ‘Peach Bowl’ zone in Australia’s home of freeriding.
The skiing and snowboarding freeride athletes were judged across five different criteria for their overall score: line choice, control, technique, air and style, and fluidity.
Winners who earned points towards the 2025 season were:
Charlie Comben from Mansfield (home resort Mt Buller) won the Men’s Ski event;
Millie Evans from Beaumaris (home resort Hotham) won the Women’s Ski event;
Tom Hill from Melbourne (home resort Hotham) won the Men’s Snowboard event;
Brianna Delfs from Cooma (home resort Perisher) won the Women’s Snowboard event;
and Cody Plant from Warragul (home resort Cardrona) won the Sick Bird Award (going at it harder than anyone else).
Junior female ski winners were: U14 Marley Brien (Hotham), U18 Lucinda Laird (Hotham); and male ski winners were: U14 Harlem Pec (Mt Buller), U16 Eli Gregory (Hotham), and U18 Finn Jacobsen (Hotham).
Junior female snowboard winners were: U14 Willow Latimer (Hotham)and U18 Neve White (Hotham); while junior male snowboard winners were: U14 Gus Murray (Buller) and U18 James Garth (Hotham).
Junior winners came from the Alpine Shire, Surf Coast, Melbourne Bayside, Gippsland and regional Victorian towns, as well as Hotham, Mt Buller and Perisher resorts.
Hotham vice president and general manager, Tina Burford, said she hoped what had been a highly successful event was the first of many to come at Hotham.
Men’s Ski event winner, Charlie Comben, said he hopes the event keeps building at Hotham.
“You’ve got great terrain and the competition is just going to get better and better,” he said.
“You know we’re all competing but everyone’s pretty stoked for each other and happy to see each other do well.”
Freeride World Tour advisor, Dion Newport, said the event had been “incredible”.
“The turnout was huge, the riding level was amazing, the terrain here at Hotham is one of the best I’ve ever seen and the community here is what it’s really about,” he said.
“It’s a really special place, really special people, and I really look forward to what the future is holding here.”
Mount Hotham Skiing Company hosted the event, partnering with Team Hotham, Mt Hotham Free Ski, Volkl and Mammut.
