Discipline: Freestyle Moguls
Olympic Participation: 1998 Nagano, 2002 Salt Lake City
Achievements: Moguls Silver Medal World Championships, 2001 Whistler-Blackcomb
Medal awarded in: 2021

Born in Sydney in 1967, Maria ‘Maz’ Despas first began skiing in Canada, where her family had temporarily relocated. Upon her return to Australia, it was Thredbo that became her home resort.

Frequently travelling between her home country and Colorado, USA, Despas was a member of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (a “Steamboater”) for several years, an association which greatly propelled her international career.

Despas spent over 12 years on the FIS Freestyle World Cup circuit from her debut in 1990 at La Piagne, France, until her last event at Steamboat in 2003. In between those two events, she collected 117 World Cup starts, held the Australian national title for seven years, appeared at seven World Championships and participated in the Olympic Winter Games twice. Her best result at the Olympics was a 21st place at Salt Lake City 2002.

Despite her talent and determination, Despas had to wait until the back end of her career to finally enjoy a podium placement. She finally succeeded in 2001, winning silver in moguls at the Whistler-Blackcomb Freestyle World Championships, the first Australian medal in moguls at the World Championships.  

Maria’s name appears on a plaque on the Manly Pathway of Olympians and Paralympians amongst other manly residents (past and present) who have had a significant association with the Manly area, including fellow Snow Australia Medal recipients Zali Steggall and Zeke Steggall.