NSWIS Athletes Honoured at Snow Australia Awards Ahead of Milano-Cortina 2026

The 2025 Snow Australia Awards have showcased the strength of Australian winter sports, with four New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athletes among the winners. The recognition comes with less than 12 months to go until the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Australian athletes reached the podium at World Championships, Junior World Championships and World Cups in nine different Olympic and Paralympic disciplines over the course of the 2024/25 northern winter.

“Once again the Snow Australia Awards have allowed us to reflect on another amazing season where the breadth and strength of snow sports in this country has been reinforced,” said Michael Kennedy, Snow Australia CEO.

“Every year we are achieving new ‘firsts’ for Australian winter sports and with under 12 months to go until the Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games, the signs are extremely positive for what we can anticipate our Australians can do come Milan-Cortina.”

Amongst Australia’s four World Championships podiums this season, Scotty James claimed gold for a record fourth time in Snowboard Halfpipe, and was rewarded with the Male Athlete of the Year for Olympic Disciplines. No other athlete in his discipline had ever won more than three World Championships, and by eclipsing that mark, James became Australia’s first winter sports athlete to win four world titles in any discipline.

Additionally, James again conquered the Aspen SuperPipe to win X-Games gold for a record fourth straight year, his seventh career victory at the event. He also finished fourth on the World Cup standings on the back of four top five finishes including second in China and his fourth career victory at Laax.

“I’m so excited and honoured to have won Male Athlete of the Year,” said James. “It’s been incredible watching everyone this season; so many great results across all the disciplines, men and women.

“For me, being a proud Australian it’s always really inspiring to see us do so well. I have big visions, big goals so it takes a whole team to make that happen, so I appreciate all the effort from everyone.”

Aerials superstars Laura Peel and Danielle Scott could not be split by the judges and jointly took home Female Athlete of the Year for Olympic Disciplines.

Peel dominated the World Cup circuit, consistently landing the most difficult jumps of anyone in the women’s field to win five out of seven events on the way to her third career Crystal Globe, while Scott stood on four World Cup podiums this season to finish third on the overall standings, before claiming bronze at the 2025 World Championships.

For Athlete of the Year in Paralympic Disciplines, NSWIS scholarship holder Ben Tudhope won the male athlete award for the seventh year in a row, adding another World Championships medal and seven World Cup podiums to his already-impressive record during his 2024/25 campaign.

Georgia Gunew took out the female award for the second time, accepting the accolade with guide Ethan Jackson following a season which saw them stand on the World Cup podium twice. 

NSWIS athletes Cam Bolton and Mia Clift were recognised for the Team Performance of the Year following their World Championships silver medal in the Snowboard Cross Team event.

The prestigious Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Rosie Fordham who created Australian snowsports history this season. Never before had an Australian cross country skier raced their way to the podium at a major event, however, Fordham changed that in Italy earlier this year when she finished second in the 10km Freestyle at the U23 World Championships.

“I’m humbled to achieve such an incredible award – named in honour of such a legend of Australian snowsports – considering all the exceptional results that were coming in across the winter from all the disciplines,” Fordham said.

The Junior Athlete of the Year award was taken out by NSWIS Moguls skier Charlotte Wilson. The 20-year-old was named FIS Rookie of the Year and broke through for her maiden World Cup victory at the Olympic Test Event in Livigno.

Tudhope’s coach Nickie Rodger was named Coach of the Year for Paralympic Disciplines for the third straight year. Harald Benselin and Jan Klemsa won the Award for the Coach of the Year for Olympic Disciplines in a season in which four of their athletes finished top 10 on the World Cup rankings as well as delivering a World Championships silver medal, eight individual World Cup podiums and two World Cup Team podiums.

Aerial Skiing legend Jacqui Cooper was presented with her Snow Australia Medal at the Awards. The Medal is presented to all athletes across Olympic and Paralympic disciplines who during their career represented Australia at the Olympic or Paralympic Winter Games or finished top three at a World Cup or World Championship level. Cooper’s impressive career included four Winter Olympic Games appearances, five Crystal Globes and the 1999 World Championship.

Susie Warwick, David Speirs and Anne-Marie Harrison were also recognised, receiving Service to Snow sport Awards.

2025 SNOW AUSTRALIA AWARD WINNERS
Female Athlete of the Year – Olympic Disciplines, presented by Sportscover: Laura Peel (Aerials) & Danielle Scott (Aerials)
Male Athlete of the Year – Olympic Disciplines, presented by Sportscover: Scotty James (Snowboard Park & Pipe)
Female Athlete of the Year – Paralympic Disciplines, presented by Sportscover: Georgia Gunew & Ethan Jackson (Para Alpine)
Male Athlete of the Year – Paralympic Disciplines, presented by Sportscover: Ben Tudhope (NSWIS) (Para Snowboard)

Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin Outstanding Achievement Award:  Rosie Fordham (Cross Country) 
Junior Athlete of the Year, presented by Karbon: Charlotte Wilson (NSWIS) (Moguls)
Team Performance of the Year: Cam Bolton & Mia Clift (NSWIS) (Snowboard Cross)
Coach of the Year – Olympic Disciplines, presented by Karbon: Harald Benselin & Jan Klemsa (Snowboard Cross)
Coach of the Year – Paralympic Disciplines, presented by Karbon: Nickie Rodger (Para Snowboard)

Story: Snow Australia

Photos: Olympic Winter Institute of Australia & Jay Town