The opening mogul skiing FIS World Cup event of the season kicks off this weekend in Ruka, Finland, with Australia’s triple Crystal Globe champion from last season Jakara Anthony leading the Australian charge alongside Matt Graham and Cooper Woods who were both on the World Cup podium last season.
 
Conditions have been unseasonably warm and dry in Finland earlier this month, but thankfully cold temperatures arrived in the past week for the event to go ahead as planned on Ruka’s Battery Run.

2024 World Cup Champion Jakara Anthony was looking forward to getting back in the start gate and defending her title.

"It’s crazy that we are already kicking off the World Cup season here in Ruka but it’s also super exciting. It was a bit of a slow start with snow over here but the course is up now and ripping!"
 
Competing for Australia in Ruka:
 
Women
Jakara Anthony
Charlotte Wilson (World Cup Debut)
 
Men
Matt Graham
Cooper Woods
George Murphy
Oliver Logan
 
Qualifying and finals in Ruka take place on Saturday November 30.
 
To watch the event live, visit snow.org.au/live, closer to the event the page will be updated to show what times the events will start in the Australian time zone, and be sure to return over the season as the page will provide links to watch all Australian’s in action competing in FIS World Cup and World Championship events.

The 2024 New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Awards not only showcased the inspiring performances by some of Australian sport’s greatest names, but it provided the 400-strong audience with an insight into the character – the grit ‘n grace – that drove the winners to glory on the world’s major sporting stages.

NSWIS CEO Kevin Thompson’s pre-event admission that the judges had a tough job deciding upon the winners of each of the seven categories due to the quality of the finalists was confirmed when the prestigious Ian Thorpe AM Outstanding Achievement Award was shared by the indomitable Lauren Parker (photographed above) and the unstoppable Jakara Anthony.

The gala dinner at The Star Sydney, which was hosted with a tremendous warmth and energy by Olympian and Channel Seven’s Sunrise host Matt Shirvington, presented dignitaries, including Premier Chris Minns, Australian Olympic Chief Executive Matt Carroll, Paralympics Australia CEO Kate McLoughlin, and NSWIS Chair Gary Flowers, with the opportunity to acknowledge in their speeches the Institute’s contribution to the joy of sport – and an outstanding Olympic and Paralympic year.

The 2024 NSWIS Media Awards was a night with plenty to celebrate, but by its end there was no dispute the stars of the night – who did a mighty job of detailing their stories of grit, grace and glory – were the athletes and other award winners.

2024 NSWIS AWARD WINNERS

VALOUR MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Timothy Hodge (swimming)

NSW OFFICE OF SPORT FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Jessica Fox (canoe slalom)

IAN THORPE AM OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARAD PRESENTED BY POWERADE
Lauren Parker (Para triathlon and Para cycling)

Jakara Anthony (winter sport)

Award presented by Gemma Versteeg, Senior Brand Manager, Coca-Cola South Pacific and accepted on Jakara’s behalf by Geoff Lipshut, CEO Olympic Winter Institute of Australia.

Record breaking world cup season, 14 wins and a bronze medal from 16 starts. Besides rewriting the history books as the most successful Moguls skier in a World Cup season, Anthony brought home three Crystal globes.

Jakara Anthony: “I am beyond honoured to be taking home the Ian Thorpe Outstanding Achievement Award presented by Powerade. It’s been such a spectacular year for sport across Australia, and in particular our NSWIS athletes. It was a really exciting season for myself and my team who were able to take home 14 out of 16 World Cup wins which was the most out of any male or female from out sport [moguls] and take home three Crystal Globes on top of that.

“It’s really special to be recognised for that. A massive thank you to NSWIS for their continued support, I’m looking forward to see what we can do in the future.”