Lydia Lassila joins Lorne snow competitors

FIVE-time winter Olympian, dual medallist and Lorne local Lydia Lassila has been on the slopes at Mt Buller cheering on her son Kai at the Victorian Interschools SnowSports Championships.

“He’s getting some of those nervous feelings in his belly and I am too watching him,” she said.

Kai was participating in his first snowsports competition with a small group of kids from Lorne, with six of them representing their school.

Lydia’s advice to the athletes, was to “do the work, do the training and just have fun!”

Lydia has recently finished a challenging stint on a tropical island in the current Survivor series.

“I loved every moment of it,” she said.

“It was such a great experience. I loved the survival aspect of catching my own fish, keeping the fire going and just breaking life down to the essentials.

“It makes you realise that life comes down to your connections and your relationships. Nothing else really matters.”

Mt Buller hosted the 61st annual Victorian Interschools Snowsports Championships last week with schools from across the state participating in a week of ski and snowboard racing.

Mt Buller has supported the Interschools since 1957 and it has been the starting point for many Olympic winter athletes.