Pat Sharples and Lesley McKenna honoured with lifetime achievement award

GB Park and Pipe Freeski Coach Pat Sharples and Park and Pipe Programme Manager, Lesley McKenna were jointly awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contribution to UK Snowsports at the third annual World Snow Awards.

The award was won by Olympic ski racer brothers Martin and Graham Bell last year, and ski journalist Arnie Wilson at the inaugural event.

Presenting the award, Telegraph Ski and Snowboard editor Henry Druce said: "Lesley and Pat have had a love of snowsports running through their veins from a very young age. Both have competed professionally with Leslie having spectacular success on the World Cup Circuit.

“But more importantly the award marks the pair's contribution to the current crop of British snowsports athletes. In her role as British Ski and Snopwboard’s park and pipe programme manager, she helped coach Jenny Jones to a bronze medal at Sochi.

“Likewise Pat, as the first ever full-time official British freeksi coach, was instrumental in helping Team GB Olympic athletes such as James Woods and Katie Summerhayes achieving such strong results at Sochi.”

This award recognizes the huge contribution made by both Pat and Lesley in the development of the Park and Pipe programme and the athletes involved.

To read more about it, check out the next issue of the Telegraph Ski and Snowboard Magazine.