The Sporting Life Athlete of the Year will be awarded to one male and one female athlete from alpine, one athlete (either male or female) from para and one athlete (either male or female) from ski cross.
The selection committee determines this award based on:
- Overall athletic performance quantified by podium finishes and overall standings.
- Dedication both on and off the snow with a passion to pursue all avenues of training to continually better performance both technically and physically.
- Demonstrates a strong sense of mentorship and/or leadership to the rest of their teammates.
- Champions of the sport through participation in events, and in engagement in ski club communities.
James Budrow is a brave 17 year old young man, who lost his leg at 15, taught himself to ski again, came out to try racing in January, and managed to be competitive at Ontario Winter Para Games, Ontario Winter Games and Canada Winter Games, the following month. James made the effort to get out to Kimberley BC for CADS Festival and classification, qualifying him to enter National Championships, in GS with respectable results! He is an athlete who expected to make the Provincial Team next season, progressing rapidly from the CADS Learn to Race program!