Tori is a Year 10 student balancing life as an aspiring elite snowboarder with her studies at Haileybury Pangea Online School and is thriving in both.
The flexibility of a school offering online learning allows Tori to train and compete at a high level, travelling frequently for extended periods both within Australia and overseas. Since the age of 13, she has been travelling internationally on her own, an experience she embraces wholeheartedly.
“Travelling and being self-sufficient has taught me to work quickly and efficiently under pressure,” Tori says. “It has really strengthened my time management skills.”
Living out of a snowboard bag has also had its unexpected advantages. “When you know everything you own off by heart, it’s actually easy to stay organised, even when you’re rushing between places!”
Competing on the world stage
Tori has spent the recent Northern Hemisphere winter training and competing across Europe, including France, Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland.
She is part of Fastride, an Australian-run snowboard cross training team that travels across Europe to compete at international events. Alongside her teammates, and competitors from across Australia and around the world, Tori is constantly pushing herself against strong international fields.
A standout moment in her journey so far came recently on the slopes at San Pellegrino in Italy, where she achieved her first Top 10 finish at an International Ski and Snowboard (FIS) sanctioned event in her debut year of Junior FIS competition.
Competing against 38 international riders, Tori placed fifth and ninth which is an incredible achievement at this level.
“At 15, you move from junior races into FIS events, which is a big step,” Tori explains. “These races earn you points towards bigger competitions, and eventually, World Cup events.”
Discovering a passion for snowboard cross
Tori first stepped onto a snowboard at just six years old after receiving her first snowboard from her dad.
Each winter she trained at Mt Buller and Mt Hotham, quickly discovering a passion for the sport, and deciding from a young age that she wanted to become an Olympian.
Her chosen discipline is snowboard cross, a fast-paced, high-adrenaline event where four riders race simultaneously down a course filled with jumps, berms and technical features.
“It’s like a BMX track on snow,” she says. “I love the adrenaline, the jumps, the speed and racing head-to-head. For me, nothing else compares.”
Learning without limits
Balancing elite sport with school is no easy feat, but Tori has found a rhythm that works.
Her online school, which combines high academic standards with flexibility, enables her to have a reduced workload focused on her four core subjects. This allows her to stay on track academically while managing the demands of training and competition.
Time zones can be challenging, especially while based in Europe, but strong support from her teachers and school community makes all the difference.
Weekly check-ins with her Head of Campus, Joanna Baker, alongside fellow Haileybury Pangea students who are also training and competing while based in various Northern Hemisphere locations, help keep her organised and connected, while recorded lessons ensure she never misses key learning moments.
“After a full day of training, I can watch the lessons back and complete my work at the same time,” Tori says. “It makes everything manageable.”
What’s next for Tori?
While Tori trains locally at Mt Buller during the Australian snow season, she is already looking ahead to new opportunities.
“I’d love to train in New Zealand or South America during the Australian winter, just to experience a different scene,” she says.
For now, Tori is focused on continuing to improve, compete, and chase her long-term goal of reaching the world stage.
From the slopes of Europe to the online classroom, Tori has found that with the right support and determination, anything is possible.
