Proa Comunicación has collaborated in the organisation of the 1st National Snow Sports Awards, created by the RFEDI in collaboration with Madrid Snowzone. The awards gala, held on Friday 17 November, served to pay tribute to the sector and its members: current and former riders, resorts, federations, clubs, institutions, brands, specialised press, etc. Entities such as the Consejo Superior de Deportes and the Spanish Olympic Committee were represented in an event that took place in the viewpoint of the indoor track.
The event was attended by Jaime Fernández Castaño (Director General of the CSD), Manuel Parga Landa (Director of Marketing and HR of the Spanish Olympic Committee), and May Peus España (President of the RFEDI), who all agreed that snow sports deserved awards to recognise the figures who strive every day to promote the sector. "This federation is committed to the promotion of winter sports as set out in our strategic plan. At RFEDI we are dedicated to snow sports and the awards aim to publicise the work of the whole sector, including resorts, regional federations, clubs, technicians, sponsors and many others," said May Peus.
After a very emotional prize-giving ceremony, with a special tribute to all the legends of the snow, a choreography dedicated to the Spanish participation in the Olympic Winter Games was performed. The performance began with a descent on vintage skis (from 1936), dedicated to Jesús Suárez Valgrande, the first Spanish flag-bearer at the Winter Olympics, and had a special moment with the slalom descent in tribute to the discipline in which Paquito Fernández Ochoa was proclaimed Olympic champion in Saporo 1972.
The jury that evaluated the candidatures was made up of representatives of the COE, the RFEDI, Madrid SnowZone and ATUDEM, as well as Blanca Fernández Ochoa and Jordi Font as representatives of the snow sportsmen and women and Alfonso Ojea representing the communication sector.
Full list of award winners:
- Paquito Fernández Ochoa Award, to the best male athlete of the 2016/17 season (based on the world ranking).
Lucas Eguibar and Regino Hernández
- María José Rienda Award, to the best female athlete of the 2016/17 season (based on the world ranking).
Queralt Castellet
- Carolina Ruiz Award, to the best sportswoman with projection of the year 2016/17
Marti Vigo
- Blanca Fernández Ochoa - Women and Snow Award, to the person or entity that has most distinguished itself in promoting the role of women in snow 2016/17.
Sub-directorate for Women and Sport CSD
- ATUDEM Award, to the mountain resort with the greatest sporting involvement in the 2016/17 season.
Sierra Nevada
- Best Snow Coach Award, to the best and most professional coach of the year 2016/17.
Israel Planas, posthumously
- Snow Communication Award, for its support to snow sports communication 2016/17
Adrián Rodríguez Huber (Agencia EFE) and, posthumously, Juan Carlos Solanas (Lugares de Nieve).
- Award for the Company with the greatest promotion in the Spanish snow 2016/17
Telefónica Movistar
- SPAINSNOW Award, to the club or FFAA with the greatest projection in the 2016/17 season.
The 13 Autonomous Federations
