The outstanding success achieved by Australian athletes on the World Cup circuit and at the World Championships meant it was extremely difficult to single out an individual performance.

World Championship gold medalist and back-to-back FIS Aerials Crystal Globe winner Laura Peel won the coveted Athlete of the Year awards (Olympic disciplines) alongside Snowboard Cross Team event World Champions Belle Brockhoff and Jarryd Hughes. 

Laura Peel, who in March became Australia’s first ever aerial skier to win two World Championship gold medals (2015 and 2021), was over the moon capping her best season to date with a back-to-back and third overall Snow Australia Athlete of the Year (Olympic disciplines) award.

"I am very honoured to be Athlete of the Year," Peel said after receiving her award from Senator Richard Colbeck.

"There are obviously some incredible athletes in our little Australian winter community and I wish Jarryd [Hughes] and Belle [Brockhoff] could be with us tonight.

"There are a lot of people that have helped me to get to this point at my career so I'd like to start by thanking the Olympic Winter Institute of Sport, Snow Australia, the Victorian Institute of Sport, the Australian Federal Government and our sponsors Karbon and XTM. 

"I'd also like to say thank you to my amazing coaches and teammates. Finally, I'd like to thank my incredible family and friends, who have always supported me along the way. Thank you everyone."

Belle Brockhoff and Jarryd Hughes also made history when they won the first ever Snowboard Cross team event at the 2021 Snowboard World Championships. The duo are now looking forward to competing together again at Beijing 2022, where the discipline will make its Olympic debut in less than 10 months.

Snow Australia announced that its traditional Outstanding Achievement Award had been renamed the Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin Outstanding Achievement Award, to honour the memory of the two-time Snowboard Cross World Champion who tragically passed away in July last year. The award was presented to aerial skier Dani Scott for her amazing comeback season, after spending three years away from the snow due to injuries. 

“I am so honoured,” Scott said. “This means the world to me because he [Alex Pullin] has always been there for me. I thought a lot about him when I was out there [sidelined by injury]. Just seeing how hard he worked and what he was able to achieve was inspiring and it will live on forever.

“It's really an exciting time to be part of such a successful aerials team and it's great to also see the young athletes come through. We've got such a rich history and it keeps going on," she said.

16-year-old Snowboard Halfpipe talent Valentino Guseli was recognised as Junior Athlete of the Year. The young and upcoming athlete is currently based overseas, but he sent a video message to thank the snowsport community for the award. 

The Snow Australia Awards night was also an opportunity to present the first Snow Australia Medals - a legacy project launched by Snow Australia in 2020 to recognise the achievements and careers of those past and retiring athletes who represented Australia at the highest level of snowsport competition.

The medals were issued to ten athletes, the first of 60-plus snowsport legends announced as recipients during the last 12 months to accept the recognition in person.

Spearheading the group were FIS Alpine World Cup gold medal winner Steve Lee and Australia’s first Winter Paralympian, Ron Finneran OAM, who were presented the medals alongside Olympians Kim Cifford, Jo McDougall (nee Henke), Sally Rodd, Ondine McGlashan, Marilla Guss, Richie Biggins, Al Guss and Peter Forras.

“After a tumultuous 12 months, tonight we are in the position to publicly present the first of our medals to our past athletes,” said Snow Australia CEO Michael Kennedy during the presentation. 

“We are proud to recognise nine alpine athletes who competed at the highest level between 1976 and 1992, plus Ron Finneran, the pioneer of Paralympic Winter Sports in Australia. Importantly, we celebrate people who have given so much back to their sport and their communities, and remain a visible presence in the sport today,” he said.

Commenting on Australian athletes’ outstanding season, which produced four World Cup victories, 12 World Cup podiums, two World Championships titles and five World Championships medals overall, Kennedy said that these results speak volumes about the passion, dedication and talent of Australian athletes, and the quality of the support system behind them. 

“This season was especially challenging for Australian athletes, with many of them not able to travel or compete overseas. The ones who did compete had to deal with the obvious health and welfare risks brought by COVID-19 and the additional pressure of uncertain conditions. We should give credit to them for having not only responded well to such challenging circumstances, but also for taking their performances to the next level. 

“It’s amazing to have them here tonight along with some of the legends of our sport. Together, they are shining and inspiring examples for our young generation to follow. 

“Congratulations to all the nominees and award winners, as well as their families, friends and support staff who helped them achieve these amazing results,” he said.

Snow Australia also celebrated snowsport athletes who recently announced their retirement, including dual Olympians Kent Callister (Snowboard Halfpipe) and Anton Grimus (Ski Cross), and 2018 Olympian Claudia Gueli (Mogul Skiing).

Snow Australia