Earlier this year, Ben Tudhope won Silver in Men’s Snowboard Cross SB-LL2 and Bronze in the Men’s Banked Slalom SB-LL2, when he represented Australia at his fourth Winter Paralympics in Italy, and he was also flag bearer for the opening ceremony. Ben made his Paralympic debut at the age of 14 in 2014 in Sochi, where he was Australian’s youngest athlete, before competing at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang and winning Bronze in the Men’s Snowboard Cross SB-LL2 in 2022 in Beijing. At the 2025/26 World Cup Series held at Landgraaf, Kühtai, Lenk, Big White and Steamboat, Ben became Australia’s first athlete to win 50 medals in a World Cup competition when he won Silver in Kühtai in Austria, and he has won the Crystal Globe seven times in his career so far. Since 2019, Ben has won numerous medals at the World Para Snow Sports Championships, becoming the World champion in 2023, and most recently, he won a Bronze medal in Snowboard Cross in 2025 at Big White in Canada. Recently, we caught up with Ben about representing Australia at his fourth Paralympic Games this year, winning two medals at the competition, becoming World champion in 2023 and competing in World Cup competitions over the years (where he has won seven Crystal Globes so far).
As a para snowboarder, you have just competed at your fourth Winter Paralympics; what do you enjoy most about representing Australia at the Paralympics, and how does it feel being selected as the country’s flag bearer (having held the flag at this year’s opening ceremony and at the 2014 and 2022 closing ceremonies)?
My favourite thing about representing Australia at the Games is simple: snowboarding. I get to do something I love so much whilst representing my country competing on the grandest stage of them all. Doesn’t sound too bad, so I’m just grateful that I’m in a position to do that.
It’s the biggest honour an athlete can have to hold your country’s flag and I’m privileged I have got the opportunity to do it multiple times across the opening and closing ceremonies.
How was it coming away from the Games with two medals – a Silver in the Men’s Snowboard Cross SB-LL2 and a Bronze in the Men’s Banked Slalom SB-LL2, and what were both events like to race in?
Honestly, crossing the lines in both events was more a relief than anything else. A reflection of every minute, hour and day in the lead-up to this moment paying off.
The Paralympics are the biggest of events that don’t come around every day, but for me, I try to not make it any bigger compared to another competition. My preparation and mental state was the same going into every competition, and I try to stay in the moment and focus on what I can control.
So, racing at the Games, the main thing I was feeling was joy, not because I was finally at the Games, but because I was happy with the course builds and just having the best time riding my board. I know I compete well when I’m having fun.
What is it like staying in a Paralympic athletes village, and how do you stay focused during a major international multi-sport competition?
The village is a bit like being in Disneyland, there’s so many positive vibes but also a lot of stimuli all the time. Lots of athletes, volunteers, free products, hair and makeup booths, one big food hall – you name it, it’s probably in the village.
From my first to my fourth Games, my experience of the village has been very different, and now I’m probably less excited and doing far less in the village then to when I first experienced it.
Ahead of the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Italy, you competed on the 2025/26 World Cup Series at Landgraaf, Kühtai, Lenk, Big White and Steamboat; can you tell us about these competitions, and what was it like becoming Australia’s first winter athlete to win 50 medals in a World Cup competition when you won Silver in Kühtai, Austria?
This season leading up wasn’t my best to my standard. Results-wise, I only made 3/10 podiums in both SBX and BS, which is down from previous seasons where I was way more consistent on the podium.
I didn’t realise I reached the 50-podium mark until I saw social media, so it was certainly a nice milestone, but something I wasn’t chasing at all.
I don’t dwell on any result, and remain positive and bubbly and express gratitude to being on snow every day.
The seasons are pretty long whilst travelling, training and competing, so we just try to find ways as individuals and a team to distract ourselves from overthinking. I brought over a little AFL ball, and most of the time, at the start gate and off the hill, we were kicking, passing, and throwing that ball. We got good use out of it.
You’ve won the Crystal Globe numerous times, what is it like winning the Globe after a consistently successful World Cup Series, and how different does it feel to winning individual races?
Globes are probably harder than any individual medal. Staying consistent across two events and different courses is not an easy feat.
I’m very fortunate to be a 7x Globe winner and 10x runner-up across the seasons, but the goal is never to go out and do this. It’s more about showing up to the best of my ability every day, and then the results will show for themselves when the time comes.
Having competed at the World Para Snow Sports Championships, most recently winning a Bronze medal in Snowboard Cross in 2025, what are the World Para Snow Sports Championships like to race at?
World Championships are like a mini Games, so there’s an added level of pressure to them, where everyone wants to win that one comp.
I’ve been the World champion once, but have been on every World Championships since 2019 with 2x Silvers and 3x Bronze. It’s an incredible feeling to be on those podiums.
I probably learnt the most back in 2021 at the World Championships in Norway in the dual banked slalom comp. Eventually I finished 3rd, however, I qualified 1st. It was my race to lose and I did. My mind got excited before the comp ended that I would win, and then I fell in the semi-final and had to race for the Bronze. It taught me a valuable lesson of sticking to the moment.
How did you feel becoming World Snowboard Cross champion in 2023 in La Molina, and what did that moment mean to you?
The feeling of becoming World champion just about tops the Paralympic medals. It was my first, and still only my first, major competition win. Hearing the national anthem and watching the flag go up was quite emotional.
La Molina holds a lot of emotion too, as a teammate early in my career passed away from a snowboard accident there. That win was an honour for him.
What do you remember most from winning Bronze (your first Paralympic medal) in the Men’s Snowboard Cross SB-LL2 at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing?
Not to get the tears flowing, but in the lead-up to Beijing my coach passed away, and we were dealing with a lot of grief as a team. So the Games in Beijing was so much more than competing as an individual, or nation even. Our team were there to honour our late coach.
To achieve my first Paralympic medal under those circumstances, all the emotions came out. My teammate from Finland also won, so it was an incredibly proud moment for all of us together.
What are some of your stand-out memories from competing at the 2014 Sochi and 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympics for Team Australia, and how did you find the experience making your Paralympic debut at the age of 14 (becoming Australia’s youngest Paralympian, and the youngest competitor at the 2014 Paralympics from any country)?
The 2014 Sochi Paralympics was my introduction. It made me fall in love with what I do.
There was a low chance of me going because of my age. I had to get a wildcard from the IPC as I was under the qualification age limit. I only learnt less than a month before that I was going, which added to the excitement.
I was like a kid in a candy store, running around hyperactive, doing absolutely everything and anything. I spent 90% of my time in the games room getting the high score in all the arcades.
It was a unique experience as the competition at the time was the most nerve-racking, however, in hindsight was the least of importance. It was more about the love of the sport. I think that’s what stems my mindset and relaxed outlook to high pressure environments now – I’m able to feed off the experience of my first Games.
Korea was equally the best experience. The village and venues were awesome, however, I was 18, coming up in the sport, hungry to win, but like any good 18 year old had a big ego on myself and thought I was king the world.
I didn’t perform the way I wanted, and was quite wrapped up in that result for a while. Looking back on that time, I learnt so much about success in the future from that Games.
How different do you find competing in snowboard cross opposed to banked slalom, and do you have a favourite aspect of each?
The events have multiples similarities, but more differences about them.
In SBX, it’s more about quick decision-making, with three other riders next to you, to manoeuvre your way effortlessly to the finish. It’s chaotic, and you aren’t going to have your perfect line all the time, so you have to adapt most of the time.
Banked is the opposite really. Whoever can put down that perfect run will win. Execution and fluidity with the least number of mistakes is what each athlete is looking for.
My preparation is the same going into both comps. I stay level headed, don’t get too excited or nervous in the start line.
What is it like travelling the world as a competitive para snowboarder, and can you say about some of your further highlights over your sports career so far?
It’s the best.
Travelling and snowboarding around different resorts – what person wouldn’t dream of doing it?
The comps are probably 1% of what we do, but 99% of what everyone sees. Behind the scenes, there’s a lot of planning, organisation and logistics to keep the team healthy and performing at a high level, whilst continuing to train on and off snow to show up that 0.1% better every day.
I wouldn’t trade it for the world though.
How did you get into snowboarding and was it always something you wanted to do at a high level?
My family got me into snow sports. All the Tudhopes are obsessed with the snow, even though we are from the Northern Beaches of Sydney, which I’m lucky to be a part of.
I first saw snow at six months old, started skiing at three, and then started snowboarding at eight. The mountain had a rule at the time that you could only start snowboarding when you were eight, so there were a couple years of anticipation waiting to start boarding.
My eldest sister, who is four years older than I am, was doing it at the time, so I naturally wanted to do whatever she was doing.
My sisters were very naturally talented when we were young. As the youngest sibling, I got pushed into whatever they were doing, and started training a year or two after I started and gained a bit of skill quickly.
It was never in my mind to compete on a world tour then – I didn’t even know what the Paralympics were. But when the opportunity presented itself and I met the Paralympic head coach a few years before the 2014 Games, I was stoked to just be recognised as a potential athlete to go, even though I was 13.
Can you tell us about your typical training day, and how does it change in the lead-up to a major competition?
Training days look different depending on what cycle/period we are in and if we are on/off snow.
When I’m in Sydney, I’m working out around 10x a week. Most days are double gym sessions, and a mix of weights and cardio sessions on the bike.
On snow in Australia, we would train in the morning on snow, but there’s still quite a heavy gym focus. We would come off hill about 1/2pm, shove down a feed, then head to the gym in the arvo.
Overseas, it’s mostly about performance. There’s a bigger focus of techniques and skills on snow, and our gym work is more about maintenance and making sure we are ready and feeling good to show up for the next day.
Something that’s forgotten a lot is talking about recovery. Rest and recovery are nearly more important than the training itself, so we spend time making sure our bodies and minds are at full capacity. Taking time to speak to loved ones, nail nutrition, and doing hobbies away from the sport is critical in a day of training.
Have you received any advice over your snowboarding career so far that has stuck with you, and what do you feel you’ve learnt from the sport since competing at your first Paralympics in 2014?
I’m not too into quotes and sayings, but I just stay positive, with an open mindset, and let opportunities come to me.
Continuing to love my sport and snowboarding is a big part. I’m a snowboarder before a competitor, and I enjoy all aspects to snowboarding, not just racing. I feel that’s my secret power.
So as soon as I lose that love or spark, it’ll be time for me to go.
Do you have any favourite sports to watch?
NBA! Massive basketball fan, go the Spurs! I like talking about the NBA more than snowboarding half the time.
How do you like to spend your time away from training and competing?
I work in marketing for Burton, so when I’m at home I’m straight into the office. It keeps me busy most of my time.
However, in my spare time, I do enjoy running, cooking, watching the NBA!, music/DJing, boat days, and wakeboarding on Sydney Harbour.
I try spending as much time in the sun/on the beach as possible, even though I’m a terrible surfer. I have a lot of appreciation of where I live as I don’t get to spend too much time here.
When will you start preparing for the new season, and how will you get competition ready?
After all Games, I think it’s healthy to have a break and refresh of the body and mind – something I do, and recommend all Olympic/Paralympic athletes to do.
I’m not sure how long that break will be, and it’s really nice to not have to think about it at this time. But there will be a time I’ll come back into the sport system, and go again for the next Games.
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