It was this time back in 1982 when Sands competed in his maiden national titles, and the champion bare-footer is notching up another appearance at the 60th Australian Championships in Mulwala this week.
Sands placed second in the open men’s slalom on Thursday, and he’s enjoying the chance to reunite with his interstate compatriots.
“Each year it’s nice to ski against other skiers from other states,” Sands said.
“All year you ski against all the other Victorian skiers and you only get to see other skiers once a year.
“When I was growing up it was really good to challenge yourself against other states.
“This one’s really a catch-up for me — I’ve skied three out of the last five.
“This is the 60th anniversary titles and it feels like a bit of a reunion.
“There’s a few people competing out here who I haven’t seen in a while and it’s been great to catch up with them.”
Sands’ maiden appearance was further north, competing at the Gold Coast.
Since then, Sands has become a world and national champion on numerous occasions, establishing an iconic legacy in the world of barefoot skiing.
This year, Sands is competing solely in the slalom at Mulwala, and he’s not done yet, with the final set to take place on Saturday.
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