One of the largest snowsports events in the world got underway on 18 August on Mt Buller with hundreds of school-aged skiers and snowboarders taking to racecourses on a very good mid-season snow cover.

This now world-recognised event is growing.

And over this year's Interschools event Mt Buller was pulsing with colour, energy and competition this past week as more than 250 schools from across Victoria gathered for the Mogul Ski World Victorian Interschools Snowsports Championships.

The seven-day program saw 5800 entries across alpine GS, slopestyle, moguls, ski cross, snowboard cross and snowboard GS.

The volume of primary school and Division 6 event entries has been steadily growing for the Interschools championships in the past decade and to meet the demand the event organisers recently announced the event will extend next year.

In 2026 the event will expand to an eight-day program to reduce the pressure on event organisers and participants and reduce some of the very early morning race inspections currently required to fit all the events into the current seven-day format.

“We want to accommodate extra race time for these young skiers and snowboarders eager to be part of the Interschools tradition,” explained event manager David Speirs.

Alan Arthur, Resort Management GM and Buller Interschools Association Chair, added, “Interschools is an important week for our whole community, and we’re delighted to extend the program by a day to support the youngest athletes next year taking the pressure off the children, their parents and our resort crew who deliver a world-class event every year.”

This year in total, athletes clocked more than 8000 individually timed runs and 1500 judged runs, making it one of the biggest weeks on the Mt Buller calendar and the largest event of its kind anywhere in the world.

Behind the scenes, weeks of preparation from Mt Buller’s event, race and operations teams delivered world-class conditions for the school-aged athletes.

Racecourses were in superb shape, the schedule ran seamlessly, and the atmosphere around the resort reminded everyone why this event is such a highlight for schools and families.

Participation continues to grow strongly in the younger divisions, with schools such as Bellbrae Primary School almost doubling their team numbers in the past two years.

“It’s a good sign for the health of our sport that 68 years on from the first race, between just two schools and eight boys, we have more than one hundred times that participation in 2025 and just as much enthusiasm as there has ever been,” said Event Manager David Speirs.

“It’s a special event and with sunshine and smiling faces in resort I couldn’t be happier with how smoothly the event has gone this season.

"Some children competing will use this as a stepping stone to elite sport just as champions like Jakara Anthony, Cam Bolton, Chumpy Pullin and so many others have done before them.

"Many more will discover the simple joy of skiing and snowboarding with friends and family that they will carry with them for life” he added.

Growth was also evident in the inspiring Multiclass and Special Olympics categories, which welcomed a record 37 competitors this year.

The Multiclass event, first introduced at Mt Buller in 2013, continues to offer a pathway for athletes of all abilities to qualify for National Interschools and international competition.

Buller Ski Lifts General Manager Noel Landry extended his thanks to the volunteers, families and local community who make the busy event week happen.

“Mt Buller is all about family connections and that was on show again this week as the next generation of Mt Buller skiers and boarders took part in the event," he said.

"We saw Ski Patrol and Ski & Snowboard School pioneers cheering on their grandchildren in races and it bodes well for the health and future of the sport to see families sharing these experiences together.”

Looking ahead, Mt Buller is set to welcome the nation’s top performing athletes back to the slopes for the Australian Interschools Snowsports Championships from 2-7th September 2025.

Students from every corner of the country will gather to go head-to-head, competing for the chance to be crowned national champion.

The championships come as Mt Buller enjoys an excellent season, with an average snow depth of 100cm snow cover across the resort and plenty of terrain open for skiing and snowboarding.

With strong snow depths, lively spring events and value-packed spring offers rolling out, Mt Buller expects to keep guests carving turns and celebrating on the mountain through to early October.

Snow Australia CEO Michael Kennedy stated: “This decision reflects the strong growth in our youngest divisions and reflects the wishes of schools, the resort, and key sport stakeholders to make the event better for everyone.”

Two nights before the interschools commenced the mountain was blessed with an additional 10cms of fresh snow – adding to the man-made top ups.

The Mogul Ski World Victorian Interschools Snowsports Championships saw seven days of events and a massive logistical undertaking as the resort team delivered 8,000 individually timed runs and 5,800 entries across the week for Alpine GS, Slopestyle, Moguls, Ski Cross, Snowboard Cross and Snowboard GS events.

Buller Ski Lifts General Manager Noel Landry welcomed the 250 schools’ teams, dozens of volunteers and hundreds of families and athletes to Mt Buller for the busy week of competition and camaraderie.

“It’s one of those surprising statistics that in Australia we host one of the largest participation events in snowsports of anywhere on the planet, and it’s growing,” Mr Landry said.

“When school teams from Melbourne to Morwell to Merrijig march into the village square and the fireworks light up the resort it’s a true community celebration of all things skiing and snowboarding.

“When you see the level of participation, and passion, on show during this week at Interschools it’s a reminder of the impact snowsports has – driving travel, investment and employment for our region.”

Mt Buller had sunshine for the bulk of the week following a 13cm snowfall on the weekend and very good snow conditions.

The snow season is scheduled to extend into early October with a fun calendar of spring skiing and après events.

Snow Australia added to the comment on the Interschools on the eve of state championship action.

“Energy and momentum was building on either side of the New South Wales and Victorian borders with Perisher and Mt Buller primed to host a spectacular week of competition,” Its website reported.

This week the entries is a strong sign of growing enthusiasm for the Australian Interschools Championships, which are being held from 2-7 September at Mt Buller.

With both events showcasing future stars and uniting school communities, the stage has been set for a spectacular week of competition in the snow, its site stated.

ALL PHOTOS: TONY 'HARRO' HARRINGTON / PHOTO SHOP