Jane Butko, née Sexton

At aged 24,  a finalist in the Women’s Moguls at the 2002 Winter Olympics Games, Deer Valley USA.

Interview by John Reddie, member and past Arrabri President

What do you consider is your best skiing achievement?

I consider my best skiing achievement was competing for Australia in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Deer Valley USA. My best performance though was in the 2003 FIS Freestyle World Championships, Deer Valley, USA when I finished eleventh.

At what age did you start skiing and why?

I started skiing at 2-3 years when my parents Jim and Mary Sexton – ski lovers – pushed me on plastic skis out the front of Arrabri. As I improved in skiing, my love of the sport grew – as did my parents’ love- and in 1986 they signed me up to Team Hotham, where I trained every weekend as an Alpine skier.

Then at aged 13, I switched to freestyle skiing, still training with Team Hotham. I then made the Australian Freestyle Development team in 1997

Who have been the main supporters of your success?

I consider my parents to be the main supporters of my skiing success. Especially in the early years, they drove me to Hotham, paid for my skiing cost and were supportive of my skiing goals.

I should also mention my skiing coaches, Dave Speirs, and Steve Desovich, for their guidance and assistance on my skiing journey. I am also appreciative of my sponsors for their support: Nursing Australia, Dynastar, and Bolle.

Note: David Spears, then Mt Hotham’s Official Mogul Trainer, Freestyle Head Coach, and Technical Director. 
Steve Desovich, Head Coach for Mogul Skiing, Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA)

How has Arrabri Lodge assisted in your success?

Arrabri was my winter home during school holidays, and weekends in the winter season. Always plenty of kids to play with. And the Arrabri members were always interested and supportive of my skiing ventures and key goal: to ski one day for Australia!

What is your next Challenge?

My next challenge is to help my children to reach a skiing level whereby they can all ski double black runs. (But really, I just want to see them happy and love skiing as much as I do.)

What is your main sporting interest today?

I love road cycling which is very social: we always finish with a coffee and good chat.

What advice would you have for youngsters starting out in skiing?

Get warm gloves, mittens if you need – I hated having cold hands!

Get fit and strong as these attributes will make a huge difference to how quickly you improve your skiing.

Overview of Jane’s Skiing Career

Jane Butko, née Sexton is a former Australian freestyle skier who represented Australia at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Jane competed internationally in moguls from age 19, first at Valmeinier, France in the European cup in 1998 and then in Switzerland and Germany the following year. Her first world cup appearance was in November 1999 at Tandadalen in Sweden where she finished 29th. In the same season she competed in world cup events in Canada and the USA. In the 2000–01 season she competed in world cup events in France, Canada, the USA and Japan, while in 2001 she competed in the world ski championships in Whistler, Canada in 2001.

Jane competed at the 2002 Winter Olympics in women’s moguls, finishing in 25th place. Then after the Olympics, she continued to compete nationally and internationally until August 2004.

Competition results

Biography – FIS SKI https://data.fis-ski.com/dynamic/athlete-biography.html?competitorid=78539&sector=SB

Back to Achievers page.