Bouchard & Geremia receive 2025 Neil Daffern Award for Excellence
The selection committee for the 2025 Neil Daffern Award for Excellence has nominated Eli Bouchard (Slopestyle) and Felicity Geremia (Halfpipe) as the recipients of the prestigious accolade for this season.
The pair are the 24th annual recipients of the Award, which is named in honour of the legacy of Neil Daffern and 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. In recognition of their outstanding achievements, both athletes will receive a $10,000 CAD grant to support their competitive pursuits.
Daffern, a pioneer of the sport, is credited with co-designing 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.
“I am extremely grateful to receive the Neil Daffern Award. This support will have a huge impact on my season by allowing me to focus on my development and competition goals. It means a lot to be recognized by an award that represents passion, and commitment, in Canadian snowboarding.” – Felicity Geremia
"I am extremely grateful to receive the Neil Daffern Award for Excellence for the 2025–26 season. This support means a lot to me and allows me to focus fully on my training, competition, and continued growth as an athlete while proudly representing Canada.” – Eli Bouchard
Neil Daffern Award for Excellence Recipients to date:
- 2024 Aurelie Moisan (ALP)* James Savard-Ferguson (SBX)
- 2023 Arnaud Gaudet (ALP)* Emeraude Maheux (SBS)
- 2022 Cam Spalding (SBS)* Juliette Pelchat (SBS)
- 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)
