Lily Tomkinson pushing hard on the mountains for Australia
WOODEND’S Lily Tomkinson is determined to make her fellow competitors take Australians seriously in the world of alpine skiing.
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WOODEND’S Lily Tomkinson has had her first taste of wearing the green and gold in the elite junior ranks of alpine skiing.
The 20-year-old, who last year put two knee reconstructions behind her to win three Australian titles in Thredbo, competed in slalom and giant slalom at Ari, Sweden, in March.
She turned heads in the giant slalom by coming 58th after being the 83rd competitor to start, with the snow carved by previous skiers.
“When you start behind so many competitors, you are skiing on roughed-up tracks – I was actually really happy with that,” she said.
Tomkinson’s overseas season also took in events in Austria and Japan.
“Austria is the birthplace of skiing and it’s like AFL is to Melbourne, it’s so big and they are so good,” Tomkinson said.
“When you come from Australia, no one takes you seriously as a skier.
“I have quite a motivation to change that.”
At Shiga in Japan, Tomkinson beat 82 competitors in a slalom event.
For the win she was mentored by friend and Olympic skier Stephen Lee.
“He did the course inspection with me and he has just so much knowledge, especially on race day,” Tomkinson said.
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It was that experience which continues to fan the flames for making the Australian Winter Olympic team in South Korea next year.
To earn selection to the Winter Olympic Games, Tomkinson will again have to take the spoils at the nationals, as well as turn in strong results throughout the Australian alpine skiing season.
That’s still a month away.
Until then she is training at a gym in Gisborne, riding hundreds of kilometres and working at a dressage estate.
Tomkinson has been nominated in the senior category of the Leader Local Sports Stars awards.
LEADER LOCAL SPORTS STARS
Leader Local Sports Stars medallists will be named in seven categories including juniors, teams, individuals, and encouragement.
The program is now a national celebration, and junior category winners will be judged for national awards.
Cash prizes as well as vouchers from our sponsor Sportsmart are up for grabs.
CLICK HERE for full details and to nominate an athlete.
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