Adam is a two-time Paralympic gold medallist and two-time Paralympic bronze medalist. He has competed at five Paralympic Winter Games. Following on from his gold medal in the men’s standing Slalom at the 2010 Vancouver Games Adam added a bronze medal in Super Combined at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang before winning his second gold medal in Slalom. In Beijing 2022 he won two bronze medals, one in Super Combined and one in Slalom. Adam was named Para athlete of the year at the 2019 Halberg Awards.
Bronze medals in both Slalom and Super Combined at the Beijing 2022 Paralympics; Para athlete of the Year 2019 Halberg Awards; Gold medal in Slalom and Bronze medal in Super Combined at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games; Gold medal in Slalom at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games; Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZOM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to sport; 2014 World Cup Slalom Crystal Globe; Multiple World Cup medals; recipient of the Whang Yuon Dai Achievement Award.
Diagnosed at birth with spina bifida - a disability that typically leaves people in a wheelchair - Adam says he’s "lucky" because he is mobile and able to walk. Adam began skiing at age six and switched to snowboarding at age nine. He admits to being a snowboarder at heart, but switched back to skiing in order to compete in the Paralympics in 2006. Adam has continued to perform at the top of his game. His work ethic is second to none and his positive attitude, even in the face of adversity, is inspiring.
Adam won gold in the men’s standing Slalom at the Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver in 2010 and since then his career has continued to go from strength to strength.
Adam has long been recognised as a specialist in the technical disciplines but in recent years has also achieved top results in the speed disciplines. In 2016 Adam won gold medals in Downhill as well as the Slalom at the World Cup finals in Aspen and finished the season ranked third overall in the world for men’s standing Super-G and Downhill. At the 2018 PyeongChang Paralympic Winter Games he earned bronze in the Super Combined, a discipline which incorporates speed as well as technical skiing. He went on to win his second Paralympic gold medal in Slalom and was bestowed with an incredible honour when he was announced as winner of the Whang Yuon Dai Achievement Award. This is presented to only one male and one female Paralympian at each Paralympic Games who best exemplify the spirit of the Paralympic Games and the Paralympic values.
Adam wrapped up his 2018 competition season with a silver medal in Slalom at the World Para Alpine Skiing Europa Cup in St Moritz, Switzerland. During the 2019 New Zealand season he took a clean sweep of the podiums at the World Para Alpine Skiing Southern Hemisphere Cups at the Winter Games, beginning with two Super-G races held at Coronet Peak and followed by the Giant Slalom and Slalom at Cardrona.
After an enforced break due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, Adam returned to the podium at the World Para Snow Sports Championships, claiming the silver medal in Slalom. This was a fantastic set up for Adam before heading into the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games where he claimed two bronze medals in Super Combined and Slalom.
Adam has five times been named Snow Sports NZ Adaptive Skier of the Year, and received the ultimate accolade of Snow Sports NZ Athlete of the Year in 2008, 2009, 2012 , 2018 and 2019. In 2011, he was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZOM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to sport. In 2013 Adam was named Senior Sportsman of the Year at the Central Otago Sports Awards. He was named Para athlete of the Year at the 2019 Halberg Awards.
When he's not on snow Adam also enjoys biking, kayaking, golf and anything outdoors. Although as soon as the temperatures get above zero he starts to complain about it being too 'hot' and pining for winter!
Check out more of Adam's results here, or follow him on social media.
