Adam Hall Named Snow Sports Athlete of the Year

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No. 2 Disabled Slalom Skier Adam Hall of Wanaka was named Snow Sports New Zealand’s Athlete of the Year at the 2009 Annual Snow Sports Awards.

Hall accumulated no less than 13 medals, including silver and bronze at the International Paralympics committee (IPC) World Cup finals, and a silver at the World Championships over the past year.

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

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

This is the second year Hall has claimed the award. Last year he shared the title with internationally renowned Freeskier Jossi Wells.

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.

Gotlieb, of Ohakune, won Snowboarder of the Year. This year Gotlieb secured four top-10 performances at pinnacle international events including a fourth at the Burton US Open. Gotlieb was also recognised by international snowboard magazines.

Katie Calder, of Tauranga, was named cross-country skier of the year after a season in which she became New Zealand's best ever performer in the International Ski Federation's rankings. Calder is the only New Zealand Cross Country Skier to be under 100 points on the FIS list.

Alpine ski racer Ben Griffin, of Ohakune, confirmed his successful return to Racing, being named New Zealand's best Alpine Ski Racer in the lead-up to the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Hiro Tanaguchi, Hall's coach, also won an award for his dedication to coaching, combined with his depth of knowledge and experience in Disabled Ski Racing, taking home the Snow Sports New Zealand Coach of the Year Award.

In the Emerging Talent Category, Adaptive snowboarder Carl Murphy took the honours for his fast progression in the sport, with several medals in the USA Nationals and the Canadian Open.

Winter Games Chairman Eion Edgar presenting David Howden with Volunteer of the Year Award

Longtime volunteer and FIS (International Ski Federation) representative David Howden, accepted the Volunteer of the Year award.

Howden has been serving snow sports for more than 13 years as New Zealand's FIS representative. He is an international Technical Delegate (TD), including a qualified speed TD. Howden drove and chaired the NZ Australia/New Zealand Cup committee and has been an active administrator of both the Whakapapa and Turoa ski race teams since 1983.

The awards cover the 2008 Southern Hemisphere season through the 2008-09 Northern Hemisphere season.

Other award winners on the evening included Ohau and Mt Cheeseman for the Snow.co.nz 2008 Large and Small Ski Areas of the Year; Cardrona's Kirsty Hole for the NZ Snow Sports Instructors Alliance (NZSIA) 2008 Instructor of the Year; and Walter Unterberger and Alison Duder were awarded their cups as the 2008 Ski Racing Masters Champions.

The guest speaker at the awards dinner was Mark Inglis, while former manager of Cardrona Alpine Resort Nigel Kerr was MC at the sell-out dinner, attended by 150 guests and organised by Snow Sports New Zealand.

Snow Sports New Zealand is the official governing body and National Sports Organisation representing all snow sports in New Zealand. www.snowsports.co.nz

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.

The qualifying period is from May 2008 to May 2009. Each member sport of Snow sports New Zealand nominates a coach, volunteer and emerging talent of the year, and announces the finalists and winner for its sport. Snow Sports New Zealand judges the overall snow sports person, volunteer, coach and emerging talent of the year.
Additional Awards Presented

• NZ Snow Sports Instructors Alliance (NZSIA) Instructor of the Year 2008: Kirsty Hole
• Snow.co.nz Ski Area Service Awards 2008 : Ski Area - Ohau. Small Ski Area - Mt Cheeseman
• Ski Racing Masters Champions 2008 : Women's - Alison Duder, Queenstown. Men's - Walter Unterberger, Nelson