The ABOM Mogul Challenge

Graham & Parks win 2014 ABOM Mogul Challenge

Mt Buller hosted the 26th annual ABOM Moguls Challenge yesterday, with the event again attracting a world class field of competitors and a massive crowd on the Summit course.

First held at Mt Buller in 1989, this iconic event is one of the highlights of the winter season, attracting some of the world’s best mogul skiers and yesterday’s competition was no exception.

After making his Olympic debut at Sochi in 2014, Olympic Winter Institute of Australia skier Matt Graham took out the Men’s final yesterday in a hard fought duel against Rohan Chapman–Davies.

Graham has now won 5 ABOM Titles equalling two-time Australian Olympian Nick Cleaver’s record of five straight ABOM titles, which Nick achieved between 1991 and 1995.

In the women’s event, 2013 winner Nicole Parks celebrated back to back ABOM Moguls Title’s after prevailing against fellow Winter Olympian Britteny Cox. Parks has now won 3 ABOM Title’s, after breaking Cox’s streak of 3 consecutive Titles last year.

Buller Ski Lifts CEO Laurie Blampied was very happy with the success of the 2015 event.

“It was fantastic to see the ABOM Moguls return to the Summit course yesterday, helping make the event into a true spectacle for everyone to enjoy.

Once again we welcomed a world class field of competitors and we congratulate Matthew Graham and Nicole Parks who were once again well deserving champions.”

The ABOM Mogul Challenge is sanctioned by the International Ski Federation (FIS) with results contributing to World Rankings and National team selections.

2014 Event video & photos coming soon, 08/09/2014

ABOM Mogul Challenge from TeamBullerRiders on Vimeo.

2013 ABOM Mogul Challenge
Video: Final - event winners

Sochi hopefuls take out the 2013 James Boag’s ABOM Mogul Challenge

Brodie Summers and Nicole Parks have emerged victorious from a great day of dual mogul competition in the 25th James Boag’s ABOM Mogul Challenge at Mt Buller.

The performance of the two Sochi 2014 Olympic hopefuls was very impressive, ending the winning streaks of their AIS team-mates Matt Graham and Britt Cox who had won the past four and three titles respectively.

With a record field competing under blue skies on the Chamois course in the heart of the Mt Buller village, the action was spectacular with a number of exciting duals going down to the wire.

For Summers, who grew up training at Mt Buller, the win was extra special.
“Since I first started training moguls, I always dreamed of winning the ABOM Mogul Challenge”.

Summers admitted that he felt a little more disappointment for Graham, who finished second, given that his mate was trying to win the ABOM for a fifth consecutive year.

“I think that made it a little tougher. I actually apologised to him when we shook hands at the bottom. I felt bad for taking away his record but we all wanted it really bad out here today.

“Winning today is a real confidence boost in the lead up to the Olympics, especially when the win was against somebody like Matt Graham. His turns are in a class of the best in the world.”

Rounding out the men’s podium was New South Wales Institute of Sport Skier, Rohan Chapman-Davies, who won a narrow dual for third place over AIS athlete Sam Hall.

In the women’s event, Parks added a second ABOM trophy to a previous win in this event in 2009 with a narrow 13-12 win over second placed Perisher athlete Madii Himbury.

In the biggest upset on the day, Cox lost a tight semi-final dual with Himbury, with Cox relegated to third after winning the consolation final over emerging Mt Buller junior Claudia Gueli.

Parks said that she will also take a lot of added confidence out of today’s win and use it to further spur her on as she prepares to compete in the Winter Olympic Games.

“Winning today means a lot to me because it is the event’s 25th anniversary. I won the 21st event so it is great to take it out again,” she said.

Category Winners

Open Men
1 Brodie Summers (AIS)
2 Matt Graham (AIS)
3 Rohan Chapman-Davies (NSWIS)

Open Women
1 Nicole Parks (AIS)
2 Madi Himbyry (PWSC)
3 Britt Cox (AIS)

Junior Women (14 to 19)
1 Claudia Gueli (TBR)
2 Pip Sparrow (NSWIS)
3 Jakara Anthony (TBR)

Junior Men (14 to 19)
1 Jake Ashton (PWSC)
2 James Matheson (NSWIS)
3 Max Bernard (TBR)

Youth Men (13 & Under)
1 Benjamin Matsumoto (PWSC)
2 Cooper Woods Topalovic (PWSC)
3 Daniel Walker (TBR)

Youth Women (13 & Under)
1 Willow Burrell (TBR)
2 Ruby Hayson (PWSC)
3 Isobel Honan (TBR)

Masters Men (30+)
1 Chris Schwarz (TBR)
2 Adam Lewis

History in the making at the 25th James Boag’s ABOM Mogul Challenge

This Saturday the 31st of August, teenage stars Matt Graham and Britt Cox will be aiming to make history by continuing their amazing winning streaks in the 2013 James Boag’s ABOM Mogul Challenge at Mt Buller.

Both eighteen-year-old Australian Institute of Sport athletes have dominated the event in recent years, with Graham winning the past four men’s titles and Cox the past three women’s titles.

If Graham can win again on the Chamois course, he will tie two-time Australian Olympian Nick Cleaver’s record of five straight ABOM titles, which Nick achieved between 1991 and 1995.

Aiming to end the winning streaks of Graham and Cox will be there AIS team-mates, who are on the rise in advance of the 2013-2014 season, which will culminate in the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games.

Graham’s main challengers in the men’s event will come from Mt Buller’s own Brodie Summers, who made his first podium at the National Mogul Championships at Perisher last week. Sam Hall, a previous winner of the ABOM event in 2008 and seventh place finisher at the 2013 FIS World Championships, will also be strong contenders.

In the women’s event, Cox will face strong competition from day one winner of the National Mogul Championships Taylah O’Neill and 2009 ABOM winner Nicole Parks.

*Shot, Produced and Edited by Tim Byrne.

The 25th Year Celebration Poster - out now!

Illustration by Jenny Laidlaw
Graphic Design by Mark Ashkanasy

Each year a poster is produced to entice individuals brave enough to give the best mogul skiers in the country a run for their money.

These signature posters began by featuring the loveably abominable snow man, the ABOM’s mascot, designed by Alan Marshall, poster 1989-1992. More recently the posters have featured Olympics athletes, Team Buller members and a plethora of impressive tricks, which best represent the evolution of the ABOM Mogul challenge and the progression of mogul skiing worldwide. This years is a retro style referencing the early posters of the event, and clearly the 25th celebration.
To see all 25 years of posters click now.

Want a copy of the 25th Anniversary Poster illustrated by Jenny Laidlaw?

Poster Download

Free Entry to After Party and more..

“So you loved the mogul skiing, keep the action rolling at the Official James Boag’s After Party with one of Australia’s hottest electro/dance acts Vandalism.

To get the party started everyone who arrives between 8pm – 10pm will not only receive FREE ENTRY they will also get a FREE James Boag’s Draught on arrival at the Moosehead bar.

Check out the details at the official afterparty Facebook page...”