Paris Speirs named Coach Academy Female Coach of the Year for 2024

Paris Speirs has been awarded the 2024 Coach Academy Female Coach of the Year as part of Snow Australia’s Community Sport Awards. 

Striving to always be a positive inspiration for young girls in the sport, Paris is extremely proud and grateful to be recognised as the Female Coach of the Year.

“This recognition is incredibly meaningful to me,” Speirs said. 

“It not only validates the passion and effort I’ve poured into coaching but also highlights the importance of nurturing talent in our sport. 

“I also hope to inspire younger girls who aspire to follow a similar path by showing them that with dedication and a genuine passion for what you do, success will follow.”

Paris shared that it is immensely fulfilling to have a front row seat to the development of athletes, helping them develop both on and off the snow. 

“It’s a privilege to work so closely with athletes,” she said. 

“Watching their development, not just as skiers but as individuals, is immensely fulfilling. 

“Knowing I can contribute to their growth, whether that’s through technical skills, mental resilience, fostering their love for the sport, or teaching them valuable life lessons.

“One memorable moment from this year was when one of my athletes shared a school assessment with me where she had to reflect on a time when teamwork had a significant impact on her. 

“She wrote about me and another coach during an overseas camp where we lived with her and nine other athletes for 6 weeks. 

“In her reflection, she described how my communication style as a coach led and drove teamwork throughout the camp. 

“She highlighted how my approach was both supportive and inclusive, balancing discipline with encouragement in a way that made me approachable, even when things weren’t going well.

“Hearing this from such a young athlete was incredibly humbling. 

“It reminded me that the qualities I aim to embody daily; supportiveness, inclusivity, and approachability, are not just aspirations but traits that resonate with those I coach. 

“This recognition reaffirmed that coaching is about far more than technical skills, it’s about instilling confidence, resilience, and support while shaping well-rounded individuals for life within and beyond the sport.”

2024 was also a year that saw Paris expand her skillset as a coach, having the opportunity to plan and run her first overseas camp.

“A major highlight for me this year was planning and running my first overseas camp independently with six athletes,” she said. 

“The experience was incredibly rewarding and a huge learning curve. 

“The planning process taught me a great deal about organisation and logistics, while the day-to-day management of the camp helped me develop adaptability, making me find ways to maximize each day’s potential, even when the environment and conditions weren’t ideal.

“This camp served as a foundation for future planning, and I’ve already used it as a reference while organising my upcoming camp at the end of this year. 

“Leading programs and introducing new camps has been incredibly rewarding. 

“It’s a chance to bring my vision to life and create environments that inspire and challenge athletes. 

“Achieving these goals has boosted my confidence as a leader and a coach but it has also highlighted to me how much more I have to learn in order to create the best possible camp and environment for athletes to thrive in and to be best supported to achieve their full potential.”

As with the many positives to come from the last year for Paris, she has also been able to have many valuable learning experiences that will contribute to her future successes. 

“This year taught me the value of adaptability,” Speirs said. 

“Conditions in snow sports, whether weather-related or athlete-specific, are constantly changing. 

“One of my biggest challenges this season was taking responsibility for the mogul course builds during the domestic season, which was particularly difficult due to a lack of snow.

“I learned that sometimes tough decisions are necessary, even if it means hours of work might not be utilized.” 

In light of receiving this award from Snow Australia, Paris is also deeply proud of her snow journey so far, and the influence she has been able to have on the athletes she coaches. 

“One of the things I’m most proud of in my snow journey is the opportunity to positively influence the athletes I work with, both on and off the snow,” she said. 

“Seeing their progress, not just in technical skills but in confidence, resilience, and teamwork, is incredibly rewarding.

“I’m also proud of the leadership roles I’ve taken on, such as organising interstate and international camps, managing mogul course builds and leading a team of mogul coaches at Mt Buller through the Team Buller Riders program as Head Mogul Coach, all of which have pushed me to grow as a coach and as a professional.

“Personally, my ultimate goal is to become a full-time high-performance coach for one of the mogul skiing institutes, either through NSWIS or OWIA, contributing to the development of world-class athletes.”

Snow Australia would like to congratulate Paris on receiving the Coach Academy Female Coach of the Year in the 2024 Snow Australia Community Sport Awards, wishing her all the best in her future on and off the snow.