How Judging took me around the World - Adam Begg
Published Thu 06 Jul 2023
Adam Begg at the Beijing Olympic Winter Games in 2022. Click image view full gallery.
Recently we caught up with Australian Park and Pipe judge, Adam Begg, who told us about his story and how he fell in love with judging, making the transition from a competitor into an Olympic judge.
Begg has been involved in the snowsports industry for over 30 years. He said he has always “lived and breathed snowboarding”, but his passion for judging came as a surprising consequence of a severe snowboard injury.
“I overshot a jump in Tahoe in 1999 and during the 2000 season whilst between surgeries I was asked if I would like to get into judging,” Begg reflected.
“I really enjoyed it and when I could ride again, I used to ride the course in training then go to work after. It was a great balance and I still got paid regardless of how I rode.
“I started judging some international comps after 2006, and since then, I have judged nearly every major comp in the world including the last two Olympic Games, World Championships in Park City and Georgia, numerous Burton New Zealand and Australian Opens, US Grand Prix, Laax Open, Winter Games and multiple Air & Style events to name a few.
“These days it works well with family as I am not gone for massive blocks like when I was coaching,” he said.
Begg says that being a Park and Pipe judge has taken him all over the world and introduced him to some of his best mates.
“The stress of the events aside, I have had many epic trips and got to witness some of the best snowboarding to ever go down. I have been lucky enough to see the first double cork in competition, the first triples, 1800s, 1980s and multiple NBDs.
“Up there with one of the most memorable moments would have to be some of the original Banana Opens just after China won the bid to host the Olympics. They pledged to build 600 new ski resorts and get 300 million people interested in snowsports.
“There was a lot of money invested and some super fun times. One was a competition up on the border, 30km away from North Korea. It was invite-only for the top 20 in the world and there was good pow, a brand new on-snow 5-star hotel and $100k prize money!
“Listening to the roar of the crowd and seeing ourselves on the big screen in the Birds Nest Stadium [in Beijing] built to hold 80,000 people was also one I will remember for a long time.”
If you love snowboarding and are interested in finding out what it takes to become an international judge, register your interest below for the Snow Australia Park and Pipe - Snowboard Judging Clinic.