Coaching support driving freeski success ahead of Milano Cortina 2026
Hamish is guiding three world-class freeskiers, including NZ Team athlete Luca Harrington, recently named Snow Sports NZ Athlete of the Year. All three athletes are genuine podium contenders for 2026, making this phase of preparation critical.
To help Hamish deliver at the highest level, HPSNZ Coaching Consultant Christian Penny has been working alongside him since late 2024.
Their collaboration began before Hamish departed for the 2024/25 northern hemisphere season and continued during his time in Wānaka, where Christian met with him fortnightly—often on the dry slope and occasionally on the mountain. Now, as Hamish resumes life on the road with his athletes, Christian’s support remains ongoing.
Christian’s role is not about technical input; it’s about clarity and intentionality. He helps Hamish define his coaching challenges and craft individualised approaches for each athlete.
One key exercise involved Hamish creating a narrative for every athlete—mapping where they should be before leaving New Zealand, during the current season, and at the Games.
“By telling that story in simple terms, Hamish has had to be super clear,” says Christian. “It ensures his coaching is specific, personal, and intentional—so each athlete feels heard.”
This approach reflects the essence of HPSNZ’s coaching consultancy: enabling coaches to see what will make the most impact when it matters most. Support is co-designed with the coach and High Performance Director, focusing on areas such as campaign planning, decision-making under pressure, and sustaining personal resilience during demanding periods.
Hamish describes the process as transformative.
“Coaching is many things, but it boils down to establishing what matters and how to achieve it. Christian helps me develop frameworks that steer the ‘how.’
“Our work together has produced one-page plans for each athlete—tools that strengthen my conviction in the approach I’ll take to chase what really matters.”
As Hamish and his athletes get to the pointy end of the current pinnacle event cycle, the emphasis is on fine-tuning and individualising, not reinventing. For Hamish, who spends months living and travelling with his athletes, building trust and maintaining clarity are paramount. With the support of HPSNZ’s coaching consultancy, he’s equipped to do exactly that—giving New Zealand freeskiers the best possible chance to shine on the world stage.