Ben Tudhope earns top honour at Paralympics Australia Awards

Snow Australia’s Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Team was celebrated at last night’s Paralympics Australia Awards in Sydney, with snowboarder Ben Tudhope receiving the highest honour of 2022 Paralympian of the Year.

The Beijing 2022 snowboard cross SB-LL2 bronze medallist was also named Male Athlete of the Year for 2022.

“I’m just a guy who loves snowboarding and wants to progress my skills as a snowboarder,” Tudhope said.

“I guess this is what comes along with it because I’m so determined and so motivated to actually continue to progress at something I love doing.

“To grow into someone who fell in love with the Paralympic community as well, and to put those things together into one, I really found who I am. This accolade for me is up there with one of the highest achievements that I ever had.”

Shortly before the Games, Tudhope, the Australian Paralympic Winter Team co-captain at Beijing, claimed the prestigious Crystal Globe as the overall SB-LL2 snowboard cross season Champion and the Crystal Globe as the most successful Para athlete across all snowboard disciplines.

Tudhope’s coach, Par Sundqvist, was awarded the 2022 Coach of the Year. 

Recently-retired four-time Paralympian in alpine skiing Melissa Perrine and her sighted guide Bobbi Kelly also won the 2022 Female Athlete of the Year award.

Plus Winter Paralympic debutant Josh Hanlon was named 2022 Rookie of the Year.

Hanlon announced his arrival as a potential future champion in sit-skiing with a sixth placing in the slalom and 11th in the giant slalom at Beijing 2022.

“It’s been a crazy few years, the whole introduction to the Paralympic world, Paralympic skiing, then getting to Europe, getting across to China - it’s been an unreal time,” Hanlon said.

Alpine ski racing great Michael Milton, who won six gold, three silver and two bronze medals to become Australia’s greatest Paralympic winter athlete, was also inducted into the Paralympics Australia Hall of Fame.