The highs and lows of Aussie sporting legends: from perfect slides to missed opportunities.

Big Freeze at the ‘G 2023: Review of the Sliders

The Big Freeze at the ‘G is an annual event that brings former footy stars, sporting champions, and celebrities together to support Neale Daniher and his Fight MND campaign. This year was the ninth edition of the event, and it was another big hit. The participants were judged based on their costumes and the way they made their slide into the ice-water bath.

The Sliders

1. Mick Fanning

Mick Fanning dressed up as ‘Silver Surfer’ from the old Marvel Comics in a brave attempt to go topless with silver body paint and silver pants. He tried to generate speed for a large entry, but unfortunately, he held onto the board for the full slide, which cost him points. Jonathan Brown thought it was a missed opportunity that there was no inflatable shark in the water.

2. Sean Burgoyne

Sean Burgoyne dressed up as Spiderman because his nickname is ‘Silk’ from the web made of silk in Spiderman. He even came prepared with cannisters of white silly string to spray on host Tim Watson. Burgoyne produced the trademark Spiderman hand actions before entering and made a big splash while getting some excellent elevation.

3. Tayla Harris

Tayla Harris dressed up as Australian football superstar Sam Kerr to pump up the Matildas six weeks out from the World Cup. She got lots of momentum down the slide but tried her best not to put her head under the water. She emerged from the water momentarily regretting her decision as the reality of the icy water hit her.

4. Aaron Finch

Aaron Finch dressed up as Captain Feathersword, complete with eyepatch, earring, and cap, after watching hundreds of hours of The Wiggles alongside his daughter. He generated one of the biggest splashes of the afternoon with sensational elevation pre-entry. Finch would have been perfect if he had let go of the board just before hitting the water.

5. Tony Shaw

Tony Shaw dressed up as Beetle Juice, complete with face paint and black and white jacket and pants to show his love for his Magpies. He walked, slid, and entered the water like a pro. Riling up the Collingwood faithful who were right behind him, Shaw nailed his presentation, generating great fearful facial expressions and splashing with a near-horizontal landing on his back.

6. Abbey Gelmi

Abbey Gelmi dressed up as Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty and had everything: horns, staff, wings, cape, and black costume. She screamed, “Oh, my god,” pre-slide but took it all in stride. She lapped it up before entry, racing her staff in the air for a great splash.

7. Jason Dunstall

Jason Dunstall dressed up as Acquaman, played by Jason Momoa, with the gold top glittering in the light, flowing wig, and long green gloves that made derobing difficult. Impressively, he gave himself a lift before entry and almost landed horizontally on his back, producing one of the biggest splashes of the afternoon, emptying the pool of their waters.

8. Michelle Payne

Michelle Payne dressed up as Wonder Woman, accompanied by her brother, Stevie, who was dressed as Hulk. Michelle went all-in with the costume, with a cape and boots. She remained composed and relaxed for the entire slide, resulting in a well-balanced entry that didn’t compete with Jason Dunstall.

9. Eric Bana

Eric Bana dressed up as a former St Kilda player, Carl Ditterich, to show his love for his team. With determination and an expression that shouted, ‘Carn Sainters’, he landed with both hands on the board, rotated towards his back, and made a great splash.

Judging the Sliders

David King and Leigh Montagna from foxfooty.com.au helped judge every Big Freeze slider’s costume and splash, plus an overall rating out of 20. While these ratings might be subjective, they can help understand the participants’ effort and creativity.

Editorial

The Big Freeze at the ‘G event is an excellent example of how sportsmanship and sports can help raise awareness for a good cause. The participants put in their best efforts in costume and slide, generating much excitement and awareness for Daniher’s Fight MND campaign. The event should inspire everyone to contribute to their community and help those in need.

Advice

The Big Freeze at the ‘G is just one event that shows how sports can play a vital role in raising awareness for social causes. We should all look out for such events and contribute in any way possible to help our community.