2021/22 RECIPIENTS OF THE NEIL DAFFERN AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
Celebrating the 20th anniversary with the 2021/22 Recipients of the Neil Daffern Award for Excellence
Tyler Turner (Calgary, AB), Colby Graham (Prince George, BC), and Ben Heldman (Toronto, ON) have been named recipients of the 2021/2022 Neil Daffern Award for Excellence. The Award, named in honour of the legacy of Neil Daffern, aims to recognize and provide financial assistance to Canadian riders who have the potential to be among the World’s best in their respective disciplines.
A pioneer in snowboarding, Neil Daffern co-designed the first twin-tip snowboard under the BARFOOT name, which paved the way for progression of freestyle snowboarding as we know it today. His legacy has lived on and through his charity has helped numerous Canadian athletes achieve their goals.
The Daffern’s have selected Tyler Turner (Para), Colby Graham (SBX) and Ben Heldman (Alpine) for the full $10k each.
Turner may be a newcomer to the Para National Team but no stranger to the podium. Winning the first World Cup he entered in Italy last season and has followed that up with a 3rd in the duel banked slalom event at the 2022 World Para Championships in Lillehammer, SWE.
“I am beyond grateful to be chosen as a Neil Daffern award recipient for the 2021/22 season. With the Paralympics just around the corner this award will greatly reduce the financial stress of pursuing the games and allow me to commit 100% to performing my best. I am humbled by the generosity of the Daffern family and their dedication to supporting Canadian snowboard athletes.” – Tyler Turner, Canadian National Para Team
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NextGen SBX rider, Graham, most recently placed 17th at the snowboardcross World Cup in Krasnoyarsk, RUS 2022, and represented Canada in snowboardcross at the 2021 World Championships Idre Fjall, SWE.
“Thank you to the Daffern family for presenting me with the Neil Daffern Award of Excellence! To be given this opportunity from such a supportive family in the snowboard community really means a lot to me. This will not only help out my season this year but also with future ones by giving me more time to focus on bettering my skills and honing my craft!” – Colby Graham Snowboardcross NextGen Team
NextGen Alpine rider, Heldman, is coming off an impressive 5th place finish at the 2021 FIS World Junior Championships in Parallel Giant Slalom. At the 2020 National Junior Championships Heldman placed 2nd in Parallel Slalom and 5th in Parallel Giant Slalom.
“I am honoured and excited to receive the Neil Daffern award this year. To be able to compete at the top level of any sport is expensive, especially one that requires you being away from home for so many months at a time. This award will allow me to invest in new equipment for the coming seasons and dry land equipment for my home since COVID has made gym accessibility very difficult. I can also prioritize the health and longevity of my body by using physios more frequently. Having the funding opens new opportunities in training, equipment and support and will help me be more competitive on the World Cup circuit. I truly appreciate the generosity of the Daffern family supporting Canadian snowboarders and funding our dreams of chasing the Olympics. Neil's love for snowboarding is inspiring and I am honoured to be able to carry on a small part of his legacy in the world of snowboarding.” – Ben Heldman, Canadian NextGen Alpine Team
Canada Snowboard would like to thank the Daffern Family for their on-going contribution to developing riders within the sport system in Canada.
Neil Daffern Award for Excellence Recipients to date:
2021 Tyler Turner (PARA)* Colby Graham (SBX)* Ben Heldman (Alpine)
2020 Brooke D’Hondt (HP)* Liam Moffatt (SBX)* Liam Gill (HP)
2019 Kaylie Buck (Alpine)* Liam Brearley (SS & BA)
2018 Audrey McManiman (SBX) * Evan Bichon (SBX)
2017 Laurie Blouin (SBS) * John Leslie (PARA) * Carter Jarvis (SBS)
2016 Zoe Bergermann (SBX) * Timothy Crighton (SBS)
2015 Katie Anderson (SBX) * Kiersten Higginson (SBS) * Michelle Salt (PARA)
2014 Audrey McManiman (SBS) * Zoe Bergermann (SBX)
2013 Michael Ciccarelli (SBS) * Marianne Leeson (PGS)
2012 Carle Brenneman (SBX) * Brooke Voigt (SBS)
2011 Chris Robanske (SBX) * Dan Csokonay (SBX)
2010 Palmer Taylor (HP) * Kevin Hill (SBX)
2009 Matthew Tunnicliffe (SBX) * Jake Holden (SBX)
2008 Christelle Doyon (SBX) * Micheal Lambert (PGS)
2007 Mike Robertson (SBX) * Matthew Morison (PGS)
2006 Kimikio Zakreski (PGS) * Kory Wright (HP)
2005 Erin Simmons (SBX) * Philippe Bérubé (PGS)
2004 Sarah Conrad (HP) * Tom Velisek (SBX)
2003 Amy Newton (PGS) * Neil Connolly (HP)
