The voting was strong from the British ski racing public in the inaugural Racer Ready Awards and the votes are in and we can now announce the winners of the 12 categories that were up to be voted on!
British World Cup Slalom superstar Dave Ryding scooped two of the Awards in taking the Social Media Campaign by an Athlete Award as well as the British Male Athlete of the Year Award. Ryding, who has recently returned from his first training camp at Stelvio gave the thumbs up when told of his awards.
Alex Tilley took the British Female Athlete of the Year Award. Tilley had some great results on the World Cup last season finishing up in the top 30 in the Giant Slalom World Cup rankings.
Millie Knight and Brett Wild took the award for the Parasport Athlete of the Year while Owen Vinter scooped the Performance of the Year after his stunning performances at the World Junior Championships just prior to the world closing down due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Team Evolution put the work in across Social Media to win the Social Media Campaign by a Club, Academy or Home Nation Governing Body. This was one of the closest contested Awards.
Race Official of the Year was won by Andrea Grant after her sterling work at the English Alpine Championships in Bormio, Bormio also scooped the Race Resort of the Year award. Volunteer of the Year was taken by David Chapman, another to get involved with the racing at Bormio.
Winter Sports Equipment Retailer of the Year was won by Ski Racing Supplies in another closely contested category.
Rossignol won the award for the Best Sponsorship Campaign for their work at Bormio for the English Championships, their support of the Team Evolution run camps, the Da$h 4 Ca$h series last summer plus support of numerous athletes.
One of the areas that tends to be forgotten in the role of ski racing is the hard work that is put in by the support staff. The Award for Support Staff of the Year was shared by two of the House Mums for the work they put in. Sarah Case went above and beyond the call of duty in getting the Excel racers home as the Covid-19 started to take effect and she shared the award with Jess Codrington from Ambition who also went above and beyond in dealing with a young injured racer before the parent arrived from the UK.
The voters also praised the work put in by the staff in the Office for GB Snowsport during a trying season.
Well done to all the winners, commiserations to all those nominated but did not take the top spot. The Awards will be back next year again!