2011 WU Update: ‘Down Under’ present with 18-Strong Delegation

BRISBANE – The 18-strong Australian team is making their final preparations in Erzurum, Turkey to compete in alpine skiing, biathlon, cross country skiing, short track speed skating and snowboarding at the 25^th World Winter Universiade from 27 January to 6 February.

Aussie officials (in blue) at the 1st HoD meeting in ErzurumIncluded in the team is national champion sprint cross country skier, and three time Winter Universiade competitor Esther Bottomley (Charles Sturt University) and under 20 national champion cross country skier Phillip Bellingham (University of Ballarat).

Team manager Daniel Tackenberg believes Australia’s team will provide a strong showing in what is a high quality world event. “This is the most competitive team we have ever sent to a winter event, and the first time we have sent representatives in the biathlon,” said Mr Tackenberg.

“This event is a great opportunity for our up and coming winter sports stars to compete against Olympians and world champions, as well as to gain valuable international event experience. We are expecting our team to produce some PB’s and to give the northern hemisphere competitors a tough time”, he added.

Australia will also be represented in short track speed skating as world cup athlete Alix-Myra Anderson (Macquarie University) competes in three distances (500 m, 1,000 m and 1,500 m). Neil Borbidge (Swinburne University of Technology), Australian junior biathlete sprint champion is one of three Australians competing in the biathlon event. 

Brothers Callum and Ewan Watson (University of New South Wales) will be competing against the field and each other in cross country skiing, while Amanda Taylor (Monash University) is Australia’s only snowboarder in the event, competing in the snowboard cross.

The World Winter Universiade begins with an Opening Ceremony on 27 January.

(Source: Sarah Wordsworth, AUS Media & Marketing Coordinator)