A FAMILY holiday frolic in the snow at Perisher Valley has developed into an extreme snowboard and skiing challenge for Anna Bay siblings Beau and Nate Goodwin.

Lining up in their first-ever competition, the talented brothers showed raw potential by collecting medals at the Northern NSW and Queensland Interschools Snowsport Championships at Perisher earlier this month.

It was a tremendous achievement by the Anna Bay Public School pupils, with eight-year-old Beau clinching a gold medal in the Year 2 Division 5 Snowboard Cross and bronze in the Giant Slalom.

His elder brother Nate,11, brought home a bronze medal with a skilful performance in Giant Slalom in the Year 5-6 Division 4 category.

For pocket dynamo Beau, an accomplished skateboarder, the future looks bright.

To claim gold in his first competitive snowboard cross event is something special indeed and a by product of his skateboarding deeds back in Port Stephens and countless hours training in the snow.

The boys’ proud mother Amy told News Of The Area that the pair “have taken to snow sports like a duck to water.

“From the moment we first travelled to Jindabyne for family holidays the boys have shown a natural ability to compete in the snow,” said Amy.

“They took up skiing with their father Liam and adapted quite quickly and being good surfers and skateboard riders can surely benefit their balancing skills,” she said.

The boys are coached by former professional snowboarder Ryan Tiene and are reaping the rewards of his intense training program.

Shoal Bay Public School siblings Billy and Coral Kearney also turned in credible performances at the Inter-Schools Snowsport championships.

Billy, 11, finished 12th in the Giant Slalom and 14th in Snowboard Cross while sister Coral, 10, placed 35th in the Alpine Skiing event from 68 competitors.

With the top 15 in each event qualifying for the state titles, the Port Stephens connection of Nate, Beau and Billy will now compete at the NSW Snowsport Championships on August 22-23 at Perisher.

By Chris KARAS