For the third year in a row, Proa Comunicación has collaborated in the organisation of the National Snow Sports Awards. Awarded by Madrid SnowZone and RFEDI-Spainsnow, the third edition was held last Friday 15th November in the renovated facilities of the indoor snow resort. Athletes and institutions met to awarding the best of the season in what is already one of the most important national winter sports events. The awards were created three years ago with the aim of paying tribute to the sector and its members: current and former sportsmen and women, resorts, federations, clubs, institutions, brands, specialised press, etc.
During the awards ceremony, the figure of Blanca Fernández Ochoa was remembered on the occasion of the award of the same name, the Blanca Fernández Ochoa - Women and Snow Award, which is given to the person or entity that has most distinguished itself in promoting the role of women in the snow. Her siblings, Lola Fernández Ochoa and Juan Manuel Fernández Ochoa, collected an award presented by May Peus, President of the RFEDI, and Paula Fernández Ochoa, niece and head of Women and Sport at the Federation.
The dimension of the Fernández Ochoa family was also remembered after the presentation of the Paquito Fernández Ochoa award to Juan del Campo for being the best male athlete of the 2018/2019 season. His ranking in the Top 30 of the SL WC Schladming and in the Top 2 of the World Cup in Are (SWE) were decisive for the jury.
On the other hand, the 29 Spanish sportswomen who have participated in 14 editions of the Olympic Winter Games were honoured during the awards ceremony. 14 of them were able to be present at an event that crowned Queralt Castellet as the best female athlete of the 2018/19 seasonMaría José Rienda award, presented by the president of the CSD.
After the presentation of the III National Snow Sports Awards, a choreography divided into four parts took place on the piste. The main focus of this staging was a tribute to women's participation in the Olympic Winter Games, with special attention to the bronze medal won by Blanca Fernández Ochoa in the 1992 Albertville SL.
New category: SNOWZONE 'Snow4all' award
As a novelty, a tenth award was added to this edition, the SNOWZONE 'Snow4all' AwardThis award will be given each year to the person or entity that has distinguished itself the most in the promotion of inclusive snow sports. Jon Santacana and Miguel GalindoThe silver medallists in the Super Combined event at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Games were the first recipients of the award.
Exceptionally, two medals were awarded, to Lluís Breitfuss the COE insignia in recognition of his work as sports director of the RFEDI during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games, and to Lucía Hoyo the RFEDI sports merit medal for her 25 years in the federation.
May Peus, President of RFEDI; Mr. Jesús Ibáñez, President of ATUDEM; Mr. Javier Villar, Director of Madrid SnowZone; Mr. Fernando Ruiz, Director of Eurosport; Ms. Lola Fernández Ochoa, Olympic skier; Mr. Jordi Font, Olympic Diploma snowboarder and Ms. Carolina Ruiz, Olympic skier.
In relation to the companies that collaborated with the event, FOREO, Swedish techno-beauty brand on sale at El Corte Ingleswas one of the sponsors of the III National Snow Sports Awards for the second consecutive year. Along with the awards, an official RFEDI RS Roslain Sport watch was presented.
Full list of award winners
- Paquito Fernández Ochoa Awardto the best male athlete of the 2018/2019 season based on the world ranking:
Juan del Campofor his great projection in the 2018-19 season; he managed to qualify in the Top 30 of the SL WC Schladming and in the Top 27 at the World Cup in Are (SWE).
- María José Rienda AwardThe 2018/19 season's best female athlete based on the world ranking.
Queralt Castelletfor his 2nd place in the HP World Cup HP World Cup circuit, 1st HP World Cup in Calgary (Canada), 2nd HP World Cup in Laax (Switzerland), 2nd HP X-Games in Aspen (USA), 3rd HP Dew tour in Copper Mountain Resort (USA) and 4th HP World Cup in Park City (USA).
- Carolina Ruiz Awardto the most promising athlete of the 2018/19 season.
Albert Ortegafor his exponential improvement in the world ranking in all disciplines, achieving the Top 20 of his age, among the youngest in the world. Top 25 in all Alpine disciplines at the 2019 World Junior Championships.
- Blanca Fernández Ochoa - Woman and Snow Awardto the person or entity that has most distinguished itself in the promotion of the role of women in snow 2018/19.
Blanca Fernández Ochoafirst woman to win an Olympic medal for Spain and to contribute to the development and promotion of Alpine skiing in our country, bronze medal in Albertville 92.
- ATUDEM Awardto the mountain resort with the greatest sporting involvement in the 2018/19 season.
Baqueira Beretby the organisation of the SBX WC in March 2019.
- Israel Planas Awardfor the best coach of the 2018/19 season.
Josep GilFS coach, for placing his 2 athletes among the best in the international ranking in FS and competing in World Cups in the 2018-19 season.
- Snow Communication Awardfor its support to snow sports communication in the 2018/19 season.
Paco Grandefor his Vintage Connection by Paco Fdez-Ochoa and Blanca Fdez-Ochoa and for his entire journalistic career.
- SNOW INDUSTRY Awardfor the company with the greatest involvement in the promotion of snow sports in the 2018/2019 season.
AC-Hotelsfor its support to winter sports for more than 5 seasons and especially in 2018-19.
- SPAINSNOW Awardto the most promising club or FFAA in the 2018/19 season.
Basque Winter Sports Federationfor being the only Autonomous Federation to have athletes in all the 2019 Absolute World Championships, AL, FO and SB.
- SNOWZONE 'Snow4all' Awardto the person or entity that has distinguished itself the most in the promotion of inclusive snow sports 2018/19.
Jon Santacana and Miguel Galindofor his promotion of inclusive sport and for his entire professional career.