Being announced at the Lake Wānaka Centre on October 10, the annual awards celebrate the achievements of the NZ snowsports community over the past year, which includes the 2024-’25 northern hemisphere season and the 2025 NZ season.
Queenstown ski racer Alice Robinson’s coaches Nils Coberger and Tim Cafe are finalists in the coach of the year category, up against AJ Jamieson (snowboard), Daniel Bogue (para alpine ski racing) and Hamish McDougall (freeski), all of Wānaka, while Coronet Peak and The Remarkables’ Alexandra Shoosmith, and Coronet Peak’s Hamish Jarvis, have been nominated for instructor of the year, alongside Bean Coad (Whakapapa) and Meg Hoyland (Turoa).
Tyro ski racer Alaska Speedy — who claimed her career-first FIS ANC podium in Thredbo last month, before coming second to Robinson at Coronet this month in the NZ national giant slalom champs — is a finalist in the ‘breakthrough season’ category.
The 16-year-old’s up against fellow Queenstowner Fynn Powell (freeride), Ben Johnston (para snowboard, Christchurch), Mischa Thomas (freeski, Auckland) and Rocco Jamieson (snowboard, Wānaka).
Fynn’s also in the running for freeride athlete of the year, as are Ben Richards, Craig Murray, Jessie Violet, all of Wānaka, and Jess Hotter, of Ohakune.
Local Ruby Star Andrews is the only female nominated in the freeskier of the year — her competition’s Ben Barclay, Finley Melville Ives, Luca Harrington, all of Wānaka, and Luke Harrold, of Lake Hawea.
The Masters of the Year and Alpine Ski Racer of the Year will be announced on the night, along with the Snow Sports NZ Overall Athlete of the Year.
— TRACEY ROXBURGH
