Peter Ward Honoured With Australian Service To Snowsports Award 2025
Peter Ward has been recognised with the Service to Snowsports Award as part of the 2025 Snow Australia Community Sport Awards, acknowledging more than 35 years of tireless service and leadership in Australian cross-country skiing.
Peter has been a leading figure in the XC skiing community, serving as Chair of NSW XC for over 20 years and later chairing the NSWACT XC committee until 2025. A FIS delegate for two decades, he has officiated at more than 100 national and numerous regional championships as Chief of Race, Technical Delegate, or Chief of Course.
He played a key role in expanding the Perisher Nordic Shelter, securing major government funding and personally managing the decade-long project, and was instrumental in rebuilding the Perisher XC trails following the 2003 bushfires.
Throughout his career, Peter has been a strong advocate for junior athlete development, organising and guiding NSW and NSWACT Junior XC squads for over three decades, helping many athletes progress to national and international levels. His professionalism, persistence, and mentorship have made him an invaluable leader within the XC skiing community.
“It is a great honour to be recognised with this award,” Ward said. “I have been involved for a long time, but I’ve always been part of a much larger group of people who are equally committed, and often contribute even more than I have. People like Leslie Ludwig, John Sim, Peter Cunningham, Rhonda Cunningham, Adrian Blake and many others have been on this journey from the beginning. This award is not just for me, it recognises all the people who have worked tirelessly to support the XC community and competitions.”
Reflecting on his contributions, Peter said the most meaningful aspect has been developing athlete pathways and programs for young skiers.
“I didn’t seek leadership, I wanted to improve event organisation and infrastructure first, and over time the focus became supporting athlete pathways,” he said. “We set up the Athlete Management Group in the late 1990s, to organise training and coaching programs for juniors of all levels. Seeing athletes progress through the ranks, from Interschools to OWG, has been the most rewarding part, but it’s only possible thanks to the amazing community of parents, coaches, and volunteers who have contributed over the years.”
Peter points to the Nordic Shelter expansion as a standout moment in his career.
“The Nordic Shelter and trail system have been built by generations of dedicated XC skiers,” he said. “Completing the Nordic Shelter extension in 2008, seeing hundreds of people use it each winter, and knowing it provides a space for athletes, coaches, and the community to train, rest and connect, is incredibly gratifying.”
He has also been instrumental in ongoing infrastructure improvements, including major bridge-building projects, trail realignment, snow fencing, and rock removal, all aimed at enhancing safety and accessibility for skiers.
“I’ve been XC skiing since 1977, and helping young athletes develop has always motivated me,” he said. “Programs like Interschools provide talent identification and pathways for hundreds of athletes. Watching juniors grow, gain confidence, and achieve at the highest levels is incredibly rewarding, and it’s all thanks to the support of the wider XC community.”
Peter also highlights proud moments watching athletes he supported compete at the world stage, including Ben Sim and Alex Almoukov at the Vancouver OWG.
Snow Australia congratulates Peter Ward on receiving the Service to Snowsports Award and sincerely thanks him for his outstanding service, leadership, and enduring contribution to cross-country skiing in Australia.
