Australian athletes reached the podium at World Championships, Junior World Championships and World Cups in nine different Olympic and Paralympic disciplines over the course of the 2024/25 northern winter.
Spearheading Australia's successful season included Victoria's snowboard halfpipe legend, Scotty James and aerial ski moguls, Laura Peel and Danielle Scott.
All of whom were honoured at this year's Snow Australia Awards.
“Once again the Snow Australia Awards have allowed us to reflect on another amazing season where the breadth and strength of snowsports in this country has been reinforced,” said Michael Kennedy, Snow Australia CEO.
“Every year we are achieving new ‘firsts’ for Australian winter sports and with under 12 months to go until the Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games, the signs are extremely positive for what we can anticipate our Australians can do come Milan-Cortina.”
Amongst Australia’s four World Championships podiums this season, Scotty James claimed gold for a record fourth time in Snowboard Halfpipe, and was rewarded with the Male Athlete of the Year for Olympic Disciplines.
No other athlete in his discipline had ever won more than three World Championships, and by eclipsing that mark, James became Australia’s first winter sports athlete to win four world titles in any discipline.
Additionally, James again conquered the Aspen SuperPipe to win X-Games gold for a record fourth straight year, his seventh career victory at the event. He also finished fourth on the World Cup standings on the back of four top five finishes including second in China and his fourth career victory at Laax.
“I’m so excited and honoured to have won Male Athlete of the Year,” said James. “It’s been incredible watching everyone this season; so many great results across all the disciplines, men and women.
“For me, being a proud Australian it’s always really inspiring to see us do so well.
“I have big visions, big goals so it takes a whole team to make that happen, so I appreciate all the effort from everyone.”
Scotty James wins halfpipe gold at the FIS Freestyle World Championships in St Moritz, his fourth world championship title.
Aerials superstars Laura Peel and Danielle Scott could not be split by the judges and jointly took home Female Athlete of the Year for Olympic Disciplines.
Peel dominated the World Cup circuit, consistently landing the most difficult jumps of anyone in the women’s field to win five out of seven events on the way to her third career Crystal Globe.
Danielle Scott stood on four World Cup podiums this season to finish third on the overall standings, before claiming bronze at the 2025 World Championships.
Abbey Willcox and Airleigh Frigo were also recognised alongside Peel and Scott for achieving Australia's first ever podium clean sweep at a winter sport World Cup event. The four athletes claimed first to fourth place at the Deer Valley World Cup in February.
Congratulations to all nominees and winners across the Snow Australia Awards evening.
Article credit: Snow Australia - see all Snow Australia Award winners here.
Photo: Australia's Aerialists and the team behind them after Laura Peel was crowned Crystal Globe winner (credit: Chris Hocking / OWIA)
Cover photo credit: Jay Town Photography / Snow Australia
