Rosie honoured with Chumpy Award

Rosie Fordham made Australian snowsports history last season and her landmark result has seen her receive the Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin Outstanding Achievement Award at last night’s 2025 Snow Australia Awards in Melbourne.

Named after Australia’s two-time Snowboard Cross World Champion, the Outstanding Achievement Award has previously been taken out by Danielle Scott, Tess Coady, Scotty James, Valentino Guseli and Jakara Anthony.

Rosie’s victory is the first time an athlete from outside of Freestyle Skiing or Park & Pipe has taken out the Award.

While most recent recipients of the ‘Chumpy’ Award have been recognised based off a body of work over the course of a season, it took just 33 minutes of racing on 8 February for Rosie to break down barriers which had previously proved impassable.

Never before had an Australian cross country skier fought their way to the podium of a major international event, however in extremely tough conditions at the U23 Junior World Championships in Schipario, Italy, Rosie did just that, starting hard and holding strong as others faltered to take silver in the Women’s 10km Freestyle.

With university commitments keeping Rosie from attending the Snow Australia Awards, she explained via video how thrilled she was to receive such an honour.

“I’m humbled to achieve such an incredible award - named in honour of such a legend of Australian snowsports - considering all the exceptional results that were coming in across the winter from all the disciplines,” Rosie said.

“A massive thank you to the Australian cross country community because I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without their support.

“This was a massive win for all of us this season and it's such a privilege to be able to dream big.”

Finn Marsland, Snow Australia Cross Country Program Director said Rosie’s performance at Schipario was a hallmark day for cross country skiing in Australia.

”What Rosie managed to do is an amazing achievement and a significant milestone for the sport,” he said. “We knew she was in great shape and thought she could be fighting for a top 10, but a podium result wasn’t quite on anyone’s radar.

“Everything aligned for Rosie to produce an incredible effort in tough conditions and write some Australian winter sport history.”

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD HONOUR ROLL
2019 Jakara Anthony & Matt Graham
2020 Belle Brockhoff
*2021 Danielle Scott
2022 Tess Coady & Scotty James
2023 Valentino Guseli
2024 Jakara Anthony
* renamed the Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin Outstanding Achievement Award in 2021