Snowboarder To Make History As Australia’s First Indigenous Winter Paralympian 

Australia’s Para snowboard team for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games features trailblazers, world champions and record-breaking veterans, ready to shred and soar on Cortina’s snowy peaks. 

Leading the squad is multi-sport superstar Amanda Reid, who is set to make history as Australia’s first Indigenous Winter Paralympian. 

Reid, a proud Wemba Wemba and Guring-gai woman, has built a career on breaking barriers. A Paralympic champion in Para cycling, she transitioned to winter competition in 2023 and immediately made her mark, claiming gold at the World Para Snowboard Championships in La Molina, Spain. Now, she will take her place on the slopes of Cortina, competing in women’s banked slalom and snowboard cross at the Games, which starts on March 6.  

Reid is among a four-strong Australian Para snowboard team that blends experience, leadership and emerging talent. Paralympics Australia will announce the Para biathlon/Para cross-country team on Thursday night (AEDT) and the Para alpine skiing team on Friday night. 

In the Para snowboard squad, Ben Tudhope returns for his fourth Paralympic Games, having debuted at Sochi 2014 as Australia’s youngest Winter Paralympian at just 14. Over nearly a decade on the world stage – he recently became the first Australian winter sport athlete to win 50 World Cup event medals – Tudhope has forged a reputation for resilience and composure, bringing hard-earned experience and quiet confidence to the squad. 

Australian Paralympic Team captain for Milano Cortina 2026 Sean Pollard provides steady leadership and perspective, shaping the culture of the team with calm authority and focus. Aaron McCarthy rounds out the team as one of the sport’s rising talents, his fearless approach and raw talent signalling the next wave of Australian Para snowboarding. 

Paralympics Australia proudly announced the team at a special ceremony in Lenk, Switzerland, where the athletes are finalising preparations before heading to northern Italy for the Games, which will start with the Opening Ceremony at the Verona Arena. 

The Para snowboard team is (classification in brackets): 

Amanda Reid (SB-LL2): women’s banked slalom, snowboard cross 

Ben Tudhope (SB-LL2): men’s banked slalom, snowboard cross 

Sean Pollard (SB-UL): men’s banked slalom, snowboard cross 

Aaron McCarthy (SB-LL1): men’s banked slalom, snowboard cross 

Australian Paralympic Team Chef de Mission Ben Troy said the squad embodies the spirit of Australian sport. 

“What excites me most about this Para snowboard team is the mix of experience, talent and sheer heart,” Troy said.  

“Ben’s experience across four Games, Sean’s leadership and Aaron’s emerging firepower – they have the balance and depth to make a real impact. 

“This team reflects the very best of Australian sport – resilience, mateship, courage and belief. They push one another, they back one another, and they bring the kind of energy that lifts everyone around them. They’re ready to ride!” 

Troy said Reid’s milestone carried particular weight. 

“Amanda’s journey is extraordinary,” he said. “She has already reached the pinnacle of Paralympic sport yet continues to challenge herself in new arenas. Stepping onto the snow at Milano Cortina is not just another competition for her, it’s a moment of national significance. 

“She’s opening doors, honouring her heritage and showing young Indigenous Australians that no dreams are beyond reach.” 

For Reid and her teammates, Milano Cortina is more than a competition, it is a powerful statement that Australian Para sport is accelerating, breaking barriers and proudly reflecting the depth and diversity of modern Australia. 

By: Ashley Gillespie, Paralympics Australia

Published: 25 February 2025