Snow sports: Northland student ready for world's best

A fascination with snow that turned into a passion for snowboarding might yet pitch a Northland student at Otago University into the World University Winter Games in Italy next year.

Claire Nash, a 22-year-old physical education student at Otago University, has just won the overall title as the best female snowboarder at the recent New Zealand University Winter Games held at the Cardrona skifield in Wanaka.

Now she is all but assured of a place in the New Zealand team to compete at the international event in Torino, Italy.

But it has all come as a bit of a surprise for Nash.

"I think I had my first experience in snow as a four-year-old with my family. That turned into regular trips to the snow and I just can't seem to get enough of it now," Nash said.

"I have done four years back-to-back chasing the snow. Initially I was just a bit passionate about the sport then I got into snowboard coaching," she said.

"But this was the finest season competing. I would love to be a fulltime athlete but obviously I have a few other things on my plate being a fulltime student as well."

Nash won the national title by taking out the half pipe discipline and grabbing second place in all three of the boarder cross, giant slalom and big air events at Cardrona.

She was one of the youngest students to achieve the Snowboarder Instruction and Avalanche Mountain Safety qualification at Otago and for the past four years she has been a snowboard instructor in Winter Park, and freestyle coach and park ranger in Colorado, USA.

The world university winter games is the second largest winter sports event after the Winter Olympics, with several thousand competitors involved, many of whom go on to become international stars in their own right.

Nash had yet to get the official word of her selection but said she had managed to fulfill all the criteria so far.

"I won at regionals, then at nationals and then at the Uni games in Cardrona, so I have done everything they wanted. I am just hoping I get the call now," she said.

The university winter games will be held in January.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)