It will be etched into the ages, as yesterday’s eruption of Australian snowboarding at the 12th Annual Transfer Banked Slalom saw riders from all walks spill out onto a course resembling that of a lava flow at the base of Thredbo’s Supertrail. A geological wonder by Thredbo parks combining both primordial willpower and immaculate snow sculpting skills to build what’s being heralded as the ‘sickest course yet’ in the 12 years of the TBS’s existence.
For almost the entire 300-strong field of inter-generational Cavemen and Women, this would be the final send-off for the 2026 Australian Snow Season—a bastard one at that. But the stoke and stakes were high as the morning’s cloud made way for full Spring sun. Camp chairs unfolded on the hill, Pirate Life tins cracked, and the most stacked crowd occupied the finish corral. Riders made their way to the top of the course under their own steam, with the hike-only option opening up a whole new opportunity for heckling and having a look at who’s got the fastest lines.
In the mix were legends like Bryan Iguchi, alongside Olympic Gold Medalist Josie Baff – but hot on their heels were plenty of tribesmen hungry for their cut of the TBS fame. Including this year’s Stone Age division of snowboarding trailblazers. Practice gave the field a taste, and the course certainly had a bit of spice to it, with gravel-rash-inducing consequences. Then it was time, somewhere between the start gate and the finish line, albeit with the fancy timing system, the act of modern snowboarding would briefly evolve backwards to a time of the turn.
Cave Groms
The ever-expanding field of groms would be the first to have-at their timed runs. An evolutionary tale of the TBS itself, considering the division was barely in existence for the first couple of editions of the event – the sheer number of groms across both the boys and girls is a testament to the health of Australian Snowboarding. They don’t hold back either, attacking the berms with pure brutality.
In Grom Women, Sienna Vivash laid down the fastest line with a 30.430, narrowly ahead of Airish George and Sunny Munro. Meanwhile, Parker Windon claimed Grom Men honours with his first timed run of 31.525s ahead of Beau Goodwin and Miles Vivash.
Juniors on the Hunt
With the Volcom team in town, it was team rider Juan George that’d trust in the Stone and have the crowd howling. Somehow bettering his blistering first run by 0.019s, for a second of 28.432s – landing himself the win while Samuel Lloyd came in swinging to second place with his first run of 28.683s. It’d be Angus Lindgren that’d then claim 3rd in Junior Men.
But the Junior Girls were equally as hungry for their cut, and one of the fastest juniors in MTB right now, Maddy Llyod would prove that no matter the discipline, she knows how to get down the mountain faster than anybody with a winning run of 31.749s. Tessa Canning and Lexi Russell wouldn’t be far behind and too earned their share of Prizes from Yeti and a set of Joey’s Footbeds to boot.
Ancient Rivalries
Blow the dust off them; snowboarding’s most experienced elders would be up next. The most knowledgeable class in the field, and some of the most decorated. These are the very keepers of the banked slalom flame. This is where ancient rivalries span decades.
Marg Cossettini is both mother to Australian snowboarding and mother to the recipient of 1st place in Open Women’s, but she has stood on the podium at the Transfer Banked Slalom more than anyone else. In 2026, Marg climbed on the top cooler with a first run of 33.873s, while Nicole Gallagher and Jane Jones stood alongside her.
The Stone Age Men were a different beast altogether. After spending the last few weeks stacking granite rocks over on Jindabyne’s MTB trails Clint Shirvington’s strength could barely be contained by these snow banks. Calves the size of houses meant his 2nd run of 29.572s couldn’t be beaten by even the experience of Mark Cowley, who slotted into second and the legendary Damo Liddy in third.
Masters of the Cave
When it comes to hotly contested fields, the Masters is pure molten. Former Olympians, former pros, former prodigies – if it’s got former in front of it, chances are they’ll be racing in the Masters. Home to the hottest wax jobs, only obtainable to those with former ties to race teams.
Now imagine the upset when a former freeski prodigy takes top spot with a simple hot wax. Because that’s exactly what happened when Thredbo’s own Boen Ferguson took the top spot in Men’s Masters. We knew he could do it all, but to put down a run of 28.891s without sweating it was cataclysmic. Picking up the pieces respectively were Ben Mates and Fergus Munro.
Things stabilised a little in Masters Women, with one of the most consistent TBS podium finishers coming in first place – Wiki Jones, who was being chased down by former winner Abi Bright, and Anna Fischer coming in third.
Open class Alphas
It’s the primordial role of the alpha to overthrow their predecessor, and that’s exactly the way things unfolded at this year’s Transfer Banked Slalom in the class that showcases the best and fastest – the Opens. With former TBS winner Karel Van Goor taking second place to Pantxo Wall in his blazing golden jacket, who put down the day’s fastest time by far at 26.893s. Both Karel and Eliot GRONDIN (P3) put down smoking runs, but Pantxo was coming for that throne.
The fastest family in snowboarding proved too great even against Olympic gold. With Freya Hammelein, daughter of Marg Cossettini, having the speed to edge out Josie Baff – whose blistering run was nearly matched by Mela Stalker.
With the king & Queen of the cave crowned in front of a sun-licked crowd, they would receive a piece of engraved slate along with Volcom’s own custom-made metal trophy, and a whole bunch of loot from Yeti, Pirate Life, Sunbum and a custom set of Joey’s footbeds. Sure beats walking on hot coals barefoot.
Only one thing remained: who takes the Spirit Award, and in doing so, a brand new Arbor snowboard? Pre-race day, we’d hedged a secret bet that if anyone was to throw caution to the wind and their race run time away and hit the towering volcano to flat – they’d be getting the board. Well, out of a field of 300 riders, it would be the sole mission of plate 161 Anthony Faughey, who made the spontaneous decision to attempt to launch himself off the top of the ‘cano and backseat it to flat. We’re not sure if he knew about the remnants of a tree in the landing, but either way, no event respects an unhinged send more than the Transfer Banked Slalom.
Etched into the Ages
For most, Sunday marked the final time they’d strap in for the Australian season and in true Australian spirit, against all odds the Transfer Banked Slalom came together to bookend their boarding for at least a couple of months. The very existence of this year’s event was defiant and only possible because of the dedication of Thredbo Parks who worked tirelessly to build a course, let alone one that’s being celebrated as the best yet. There wasn’t a whole lot of incentive to go snowboarding in the lead-up to this year’s event, but in true form the community showed up and packed the place out – from the riders, who made it the largest field yet, to the crew who lined the course and heckled in the finish corral. To the brands that made sure no one left empty handed – Arbor, Volcom, Yeti, Pirate Life and Sunbum – all of this is why Transfer Banked Slalom 12 will be etched into the history of Australian snowboarding lore.
This is why Australian Snowboarding will never become extinct. See you next year.
FINAL PODIUMS
Grom Women
1. Sienna VIVASH
2. Airish GEORGE
3. Sunny MUNRO
Grom Men
1. Parker WINDON
2. Beau GOODWIN
3. Miles VIVASH
Junior Women
1. Madeline LLOYD
2. Tessa CANNING
3. Lexi RUSSELL
Junior Men
1. Juan GEORGE
2. Samuel LLOYD
3. Angus LINDGREN
Stone Age Women
1. Marg COSS
2. Nicole GALLAGHER
3. Jane JONES
Stone Age Men
1. Clint SHIRVINGTON
2. Mark COWLEY
3. Damo LIDDY
Masters Women
1. Wiki JONES
2. Abish BRIGHT
3. Anna H FISCHER
Masters Men
1. Boen FERGUSON
2. Ben MATES
3. Fergus MUNRO
Open Women
1. Freya HAMMELEIN
2. Josie L BAFF
3. Mela STALKER
Open Men
1. Pantxo WALL
2. Karel Van GOOR
3. Eliot GRONDIN
