Planets Aligned For Our Hottest Winter on Ice: Topalovic

New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Winter Sports Program Manager Peter Topalovic described the breathtaking performances by the Institute’s scholarship holders in Europe and North America as a case of the ‘planets aligning.’.

When the season wrapped up last weekend, NSWIS’s winter sport scholarship holders had blazed their names in the record books with:

Jakara Anthony (pictured) sealing the ranking as the world’s No.1 female moguls skier

Matthew Graham finishing ranked as the world’s No.2 male moguls skier

Ben Tudhope finishing as the world’s male Para snowboard champion

Amanda Reid crowned the world’s female Para snowboard champion

Valentine Guseli claiming the 2023 FIS Snowboard Big Air and Overall Park and Pipe Crystal Globes

Josie Baff seizing two snowboard gold world cup medals

Tess Coady finishing her campaign with a world cup silver and world champs bronze

Topalovic, who has proven invaluable for NSWIS’s winter sport’s programs over the last 20 years, said the success enjoyed by the Institute’s scholarship holders made sitting up late at night, or at ungodly hours in the morning, to watch them via YouTube a pleasure.

However, he has a good reason for wanting to work out the reasons for the success.

“I haven’t been able to put my finger on the reason for it – and I’m trying to quantify it so we can replicate it every year – but every now and again, such as 2017, the planets align,” he enthused. “We have these years where everything just clicks.”

“Winter sports is so hit and miss; so many variables come into play for success. There is the equipment, temperature, snow conditions and quality, and nothing is ever the same. How warm or cold it is? Is the snow firm? Is it sloppy?

“It is uncontrollable. The temperature could be negative 30 or it could be plus five, but in any case, it sets off a chain of reaction of changes. For an athlete be able to win constantly under all those variables – and in all conditions – makes them a GOAT.”

One theory Topalovic has for the medal haul is the experience the athletes gained from competing at last year’s Beijing Olympic Games.

“When an athlete goes to the Games, they feel it, experience it, they understand it, and learn from it and it shifts their focus significantly,” he said. “They think ‘I want this even more now’ now I know what to do. They get it.”

Topalovic Verdict on NSWIS’s Winter Athletes Season of Seasons

Jakara Anthony: She dominated Beijing and won the gold medal, and she dominated the 2021-22 season. We knew Jakara could become the World No.1 again – so her result was not unexpected. She’s incredibly focused, one thing that sticks out is her attention to detail. An incredibly talented skier and hard-working athlete.

Matt Graham: What was unexpected was how Matt Graham came back after Beijing. He took a hit physically and mentally after Beijing – it really knocked him about. So, for him to come back the way he did speaks volumes of his mental toughness, his resilience. And to do it all with a bad shoulder that needed two surgeries was an amazing feat. He is about to go in for a third surgery on his shoulder as we speak.

Ben Tudhope: A baby when he came into our system. He is in a good place with his new coach, which is great to see. Ben has been through a lot. His coach Mikko Wendlin died a few years ago – and I knew Mikko from my mogul coaching days in Finland, and he was a lovely man – and it left Ben shattered. However, the way he has bounced back has said so much about his character.

Amanda Reid: Her results in summer and winter sports speak for themself. It was unique for her to come out and try and winter sport, only to become a world snowboard cross champion – a gold and bronze! I didn’t see that coming. While Amanda is an NSWIS summer sport scholarship holder, Snow Australia has endorsed her winter campaign, and there’s a lot to be excited by. What an athlete she is!

Josie Baff: She’s always been a naturally gifted snowboarder; her whole family are! The sport is in the Baff DNA. Her older sister Georgia was an NSWIS scholarship holder and podiumed at NorAm Cup and represented Australia at Junior Worlds. Josie always had a natural ability, she’s so passionate and has really stepped up this year. I believe Josie is one athlete whose focus was sharpened by her Olympic experience.

Valentino Guseli: I have stood at the training park watching Val. You have those moments where you watch an athlete with your jaw wide open. I remember watching Val hop onto a rail and do a trick. Then he hopped from one rail to the other with such ease and grace, I just thought ‘woah!’ Balanced, poised, it was so natural – like watching a gazelle run. An incredible talent and such a nice kid.

Tess Coady: She had another successful season after her bronze medal in Beijing, winning a bronze medal at world champs in Big Air and narrowly missed second world champs medal in Slopestyle finishing fourth. A big shout out to her coach Stan Wu who has been guiding Tess from the beginning. He is a tireless worker and knows how to get the best out of his athletes.

Daniel Lane, NSWIS