SPORT SCOTLAND - Coach, Officials & Volunteer Awards 2023

A great night for Snowsports last night with Lesley Mckenna and Hamish McKnight picking up awards for sportScotland’s Coach Developer of the year and High Performance Coach of the year respectively.

Lesley has what can only be described as a legendary background in Snowsports. Former alpine ski champion, three-time Snowboard Halfpipe Olympian, Performance Manager behind the success of GBPark&Pipe, along with Hamish McKnight and Pat Sharples, and now a Snowsport Scotland Mountain Leader. As a Coach Developer Lesley works with many sports, including Snowsports. She was nominated for the impact she has made to the coaches she supports. She spoke of the power of sport to support people and as a means of positive social change. Lesley continues to work in Scottish snowsports through @wanderingwrkshops offering backcountry guiding and athlete mentorship.

As Head Coach of Snowboard Freestyle at GBSnowsport Hamish McKnight has overseen a program that has taken UK snowboarders to success at Olympic, World Cup and World Championship events.  Analytical and technical but also passionate about freesports and championing what these sports can offer to all abilities.  Hamish is equally at home in a Scottish skatepark with local kids as he is at the top of an Olympic course with performance athletes. A continual theme from all the winners, Hamish spoke on how the award was not just his achievement but reflected the power of our sporting communities and the people who form them.

The sportScotland chair presented Lesley’s award and highlighted the importance of sport to Scotland’s wellbeing and our outgoing Snowsport Scotland chair, Robbie Clyde, was there to present Hamish with his award, congratulating them both on their achievements.