Audrey McManiman & Evan Bichon Named Recipients Of 2018 Neil Daffern Award For Excellence
Canada Snowboard – Vancouver, BC – Audrey McManiman (Québec, QC) and Evan Bichon (North Vancouver, BC) have been named as the recipients of the 2017/2018 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. Although typically awarded at the end of the season, Neil’s family has decided to give the award earlier on the occasion of this big season.
A pioneer in snowboarding, Neil Daffern co-designed the first twin-tip snowboard under the BARFOOT name, which paved the for the progression of freestyle snowboarding as we know it today.
A member of the Canadian Snowboardcross Development Team, Audrey McManiman isn’t one to shy away from a good challenge. She finished the 2016/2017 season with 7 podium finishes, notably 4 of them being victories, taking the NorAm Overall Championship title following her 1st place finish in Mont Tremblant, QC. She is determined to defend her NorAm Overall Championship title in the 2017/2018 season, and to improve her rankings on the World Cup tour.
On receiving the award, McManiman said: “I feel very lucky and grateful to receive the Neil Daffern Award for Excellence knowing that this award has been given to amazing athletes in the past and that I am not the only Canadian snowboarder who deserves it. It gives me the opportunity to push myself on the world cup circuit and worry less about financial needs during the season.”
Fellow teammate Evan Bichon’s accomplishments in recent years include 1st place at the 2015 Canada Winter Games, 4th place at the 2016 Youth Winter Olympics Game in Lillehammer, Norway, 5th place at the 2017 Sports Experts Speed Nation Nationals in the senior category in 2017 and 1st place in the junior category of the same event. Evan has given himself the goal of winning the overall Nor-Am title in 2018, as well as improving his standing on the World Cup circuit with the aim of landing a spot on the Canadian National Team.
When asked what receiving the award meant for him, Evan stated: “Snowboarding has been my passion for as long as I can remember, and being able to pursue it full time means the world to me. Funding from the Neil Daffern Award will allow me to fully pursue my goals this season and help with my path towards qualifying for an Olympic Games in the future. I am very honoured to receive this award and I hope that in chasing my dreams I may inspire others to chase theirs.”
Neil Daffern Award for Excellence Recipients:
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)
For more information on Canada Snowboard, the Neil Daffern Award For Excellence, or to schedule an interview with one of our athletes, please contact:
Eric Escaravage
Communications & Media Relations Coordinator
Canada Snowboard
eric.escaravage@canadasnowboard.ca
(613)-862-6532
About Canada Snowboard
Canada Snowboard is the national governing body for snowboarding in Canada. With the support of valued corporate partners like The Canadian Tire Corporation, Mackenzie Financial, FA Design, Burton Snowboards, Zanier Gloves, and Mazda Canada, along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, the Canadian Olympic Committee, and the Canadian Paralympic Committee; Canada Snowboard is committed to high performance excellence in FIS World Cup, World Championships, World Snowboard Tour and Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games competition. Canada Snowboard also provides a wide range of programs and support services based on established principles of long-term athlete development. For more information on the services and programs offered by Canada Snowboard, visit: www.canadasnowboard.ca