Dale Begg-Smith presented with Snow Australia Medal at Mt Buller

L-R - Dale Begg-Smith on snow at Mt Buller coaching TBR members. Dale with OWIA CEO Geoff Lipshut and former Snow Australia CEO Michael Kennedy

Australian mogul skiing great Dale Begg-Smith has been presented with his Snow Australia Medal during a special dinner held in his honour at Mt Buller.

The dinner brought together members of the Mt Buller and Australian snowsports communities to welcome Dale and his family back to Australia and celebrate his extraordinary contribution to the sport.

While the evening was not originally organised as a Medal presentation, Dale’s return to Mt Buller provided Snow Australia with a rare and fitting opportunity to formally recognise one of Australia’s most accomplished winter athletes.

Former Snow Australia CEO Michael Kennedy presented Dale with the Medal, having worked closely with him during a remarkable period for Australian mogul skiing.

Dale represented Australia at three Olympic Winter Games and became Australia’s first Olympic champion in mogul skiing when he won gold at Torino in 2006. He returned four years later to claim silver at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

His achievements also included a World Championship title, multiple World Championship medals, 16 World Cup victories and four World Cup Crystal Globes, establishing him as one of the most successful mogul skiers of his generation.

Snow Australia CEO Ben Wordsworth said Dale’s influence extended well beyond his own results.

“Dale’s success had a lasting impact well beyond his own results. Australian mogul skiing has been shaped by many athletes, coaches and program leaders who have left incredible legacies, but performances like Dale’s showed what was possible and helped strengthen belief in the pathway.

“That legacy can be seen in the success of athletes who followed, including Britt Cox, Matt Graham, Jakara Anthony and Cooper Woods, and it continues through the next generation coming through our programs today. Dale’s achievements helped raise the standard, inspire future athletes and build momentum that Australian mogul skiing continues to benefit from.”

During his time at Mt Buller, Dale has also been guest coaching young mogul athletes from the Team Buller Riders program, sharing his knowledge and experience with the next generation of Australian skiers. This continues the coaching support and guidance Dale has provides to Australian athletes, teams and programs and reflects his ongoing contribution to the development of the sport.

Team Buller Riders’ Andrew Pattison said the program was incredibly fortunate to have Dale working with its athletes and coaches.

“We’re thrilled to have Dale Begg-Smith at Mt Buller with his family and guest coaching with the Team Buller Mogul Program. Dale is one of the greatest men’s mogul skiers of all time, and the opportunity for our athletes and coaches to learn directly from someone with his technical knowledge and experience at the very highest level of the sport is incredibly valuable.”

Introduced in 2020, the Snow Australia Medal recognises athletes who have represented Australian snowsports at the highest level. The Medal celebrates their achievements and contribution while helping preserve their stories as part of the history of Australian snowsports.

Dale’s presentation follows the recent awarding of a Snow Australia Medal to alpine skiing pioneer Malcolm Milne, continuing the program’s work to recognise and reconnect some of Australia’s most significant winter athletes with the current snowsports community.

Snow Australia congratulates Dale on receiving his Medal and thanks Mt Buller and Team Buller Riders for providing the opportunity to recognise his remarkable career.