Atomic athletes win Snow Sports awards

Disabled Slalom Skier Adam Hall of Wanaka was named Snow Sports New Zealand’s Athlete of the Year at the recent 2009 Annual Snow Sports Awards.

The Atomic sponsored skier accumulated 13 medals, including silver and bronze at the International Paralympics committee (IPC) World Cup finals, and a silver at the World Championships during the last 12 months.

The 21 year-old, who also took home the Adaptive Snow Sports Athlete of the Year Award, now has set his sights on Gold at the 2010 Paralympic Games.

"Here's to March next year. We'll see you then with a gold medal around my neck," Hall said during his acceptance speech recently.

This is the second year Hall has claimed the award. Last year he shared the title with internationally renowned Freeskier Jossi Wells, also an Atomic sponsored athlete.

Wells, winner of the Westpac Halberg Emerging Talent award, was named Freeskier of the Year after a strong season, including winning gold in Big Air at the Nippon Freeskiing Open and third overall on the Winter Dew Tour. Well’s younger brother Byron, who also skis on Atomic, was one of the five finalists in Freeskier category.

“This is great recognition for two of our sponsored athletes,” Brandex Adventure Sports, which imports Atomic skis into New Zealand, Snowsports Director Ian Bright said.

“It’s great for them and it’s great for Atomic. Adam and the Wells boys all work very hard and they will all have real impact on the international stage over the next few years.”

Snow Sports NZ Award Finalists and Winners:
•Snowboarder of the Year 08/09: Shelly Gotlieb, Ohakune/Queenstown Finalists: Will Jackways (Wanaka), Shelly Gotlieb (Ohakune/Queenstown), Jake Koia (Queenstown), Juliane Bray (Wanaka), James Hamilton (Auckland)
•Freeskier of the Year 08/09: Jossi Wells (Wanaka) Finalists: Byron Wells (Wanaka), Fraser McDougall (Wanaka), Janina Kuzma (Wanaka), Jossi Wells (Wanaka), Mitchey Greig (Queenstown)
•Alpine Ski Racer of the Year 08/09: Ben Griffin, Ohakune Finalists: Taylor Rapley (Queenstown), Nick Prebble (Christchurch), Tim Cafe (Queenstown),Ben Griffin (Ohakune), Leighton Winsloe (Wanaka)
•Cross Country Skier of the Year 2008/09: Katie Kalder, Tauranga Finalists: Andrew Pohl (Dunedin), Nat Anglem (Christchurch) Katie Calder (Tauranga)
•Adaptive Snow Sports Athlete of the Year 08/09: Adam Hall, Wanaka/Outram Finalists: Jason Donovan (Kapiti), Adam Hall (Wanaka/Outram)
•Overall Snow Sports Athlete of the Year 08/09: Adam Hall, Wanaka/Outram
•Coach of the Year 08/09: Hiro Taniguchi (Adaptive Skiing) Based in Wanaka Finalists: Michael Bell (Snowboarding) Wanaka, Marty Jillings (Freeskiing) Dunedin, Adi Bernasconi (Alpine Ski Racing) Wanaka, Hiro Taniguchi (Adaptive Skiing) Based in Wanaka.
•SSNZ Volunteer of the Year Award 08/09: David Howden (SSNZ) Wellington Finalists: Dick Schultz (Snowboard) Based in Wanaka, Antony Hansen (Freeski) Hawea Flat, David Howden (SSNZ) Wellington, Stew Hewett (Adaptive) Oamaru.
•SSNZ Emerging Talent of the Year 08/09: Carl Murphy, Adaptive Snowboarding, New Plymouth Finalists: Joram Makuru (Snowboarding) Wanaka, Fraser McDougall (Freeskiing) Wanaka, Nick Prebble (Alpine Ski Racing) Christchurch, Carl Murphy (Adaptive Snowboarding) New Plymouth.

ends.

For more information please contact:

Ian Bright
Brandex Adventure Sports Ltd
Snowsports Director
027 433 5053
www.atomicsnow.co.nz
 

John McKenzie
enthuse ltd
021 384 730
03 384 7338