Ben fell in love with the snow from a very early age and started skiing when he was 3 years old in Mt Hotham, before being introduced to snowboarding by his older sister Annabel.
After a slow start, Ben discovered his natural talent at the Perisher Winter Sports Club and testament to his drive and determination, was introduced to the Australian Paralympic team at just 10 years old, who quickly recognised his early potential. Three years later, Ben was awarded a wild card to compete in the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi and has never looked back.
A tight knit family
Ben credits the closeness of his international “Team Unicorn”, a tight knit family and their coach Par Sundqvist, for his continued support & success.
Today, Ben is balancing his passion for snowboarding and his education, studying a bachelor’s degree in Business Management at UTS (Major in Sports Business)
“The most important thing for me is I truly love snowboarding. Snowboarding is part of my lifestyle and I love being on snow everyday - I don’t know where I would be without it.”
Ben Tudhope
Ben’s defining values are centered around Positivity, Perseverance & Community.
No matter what cards you are dealt with in life, Ben is a shining example of how you can create your own path and define your own story.
‘I’m not disabled, simply a kid with a disability.’
Ben’s ultimate aim is to inspire more kids like him to pursue their passion and achieve their goals, and this is echoed in the importance Ben places on community and helping others.
Ben is a proud ambassador of Steptember, an annual fundraising event held to raise funds for cerebral palsy research and services. And in 2017, Ben became part of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring program, where he is now mentored by former Australian rugby union captain Nick Farr-Jones.
“It is an absolute privilege to be asked to mentor Ben Tudhope, I’ve been hugely inspired by Ben, not just by his achievements at a tender age, but more by his attitude to pushing back against some physical impediments and having an attitude to achieve.”
Nick Farr-Jones - Former Australian Rugby Union Player
“I have never interviewed anyone with a power like Ben. He's intelligent, fiercely determined, funny, caring and as real as it gets. His spirit is infectious and has a deep impact on everyone around him. He's an extraordinary young man - a sporting champion on the rise - with the ability to be a game-changing leader in our country.”
Matthew Carmichael - Channel 7 Presenter