James and Perrine headline 2019 Australian Sport Performance Awards

Double delight for Australian snowsports stars with triple Winter Olympian Scotty James and triple Winter Paralympian Mel Perrine recognised for their standout 2019 seasons at the Australian Sport Performance Awards.

Mel Perrine was named as Female Para-Athlete of the Year, with sighted guide Bobbi Kelly.

Together, they earned 12 medals on the Para Alpine World Cup circuit, while finishing second on the overall Para Alpine Standings for the year.

At the 2019 Para-alpine World Championships in Slovenia they won four medals; gold in the Super Combined, silver medals in the Giant Slalom and Super G, and a bronze in the Slalom.

Despite having only been skiing together for 18 months, Perrine said she is proud to be able to share an award like this with Bobbi.

“It’s really cool that we’ve managed to round out what was probably one of my most successful seasons, and it made it even more special that I could do it with Bobbi,” Perrine said.

“Ski racing for me has always been about having fun and getting to explore what I love doing and Bobbi has just helped me take that to an entirely new level.”

“I don’t think that you can be successful at something that you’re truly not passionate about and I think that’s the real secret to why we’ve done so well,” she said.

Perrine said that she feels extremely lucky to have been skiing with Bobbi, someone who she feels shares the same love and passion for the sport that she has.

“I just love the way that she throws herself wholeheartedly into everything that she does,” Perrine said.

“She’s just so passionate and committed, and once she dedicates herself to something then she’s all in, no matter what, and that kind of passion is something that’s amazing to be a part of.”

Pyeongchang bronze medalist and current World Champion and X Games champion Scotty James was awarded Male Athlete of the Year after completing the perfect season, winning six of six events.

James enjoyed another exceptional snowboard season, including an unprecedented third consecutive halfpipe title.

A veteran of the sport at age 25, James finished the season with wins at The Dew Tour, X Games, US Grand Prix, Laax Open and the US Burton Open.

James was unfortunately unable to attend on the night, as he is currently preparing for his first event of the season in Copper Mountain (USA) in the Snowboard Halfpipe World Cup that starts tomorrow.