GB Snowsport Announces Para Snowsport Squads

28th August 2021

Last modified on August 31st, 2021

It sees the largest ever squad with some familiar faces and one big surprise. The 4-time Paralympic cyclist medalist, Jon-Allan Butterworth MBE, is turning his sporting attentions to snowboarding having retired from cycling.

The 35-year old retired from Britain’s professional cycling programme in December 2020.

Jon-Allan Butterworth won three silvers and one gold medal at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

He was a member of the RAF and served in Afghanistan, in 2005, and in Iraq before losing his left arm below the elbow in a rocket attack in August 2007.

In 11 years of competition, Butterworth won four Paralympic medals and 10 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championship medals.

“I’m so excited to join the GB Snowsport team,” said Jon-Allan Butterworth.

“When I retired from professional cycling, I was always clear in my mind that I was looking for the next challenge in my sporting career.

‘Becoming part of the British Para Snowboarding squad was exactly the opportunity I’d been looking for.

“I’m under no illusions: there’s a lot of hard work ahead. But I’ve never been afraid of getting stuck in and the belief that GB Snowsport have shown in me means I’m convinced I’ve made the right decision here.

“I can’t wait to join up with my new teammates and to get out on the snow and show what I can do.”

Jon-Allan Butterworth. Image c/o GB Snowsport

“We are thrilled that Jon-Allan has decided to continue his sporting career with us and will be turning his considerable sporting talents to Para Snowboarding,” said GB Snowsport Head Coach, Pat Sharples.

“Switching disciplines is always a complex and challenging task, but from the work we’ve already done with Jon-Allan we are confident that he will make a big contribution to British Para Snowsport.

“Jon-Allan’s Paralympic experience, his remarkable track-record at the highest levels of sport and his competitive streak will make him a great fit for our already high-class Para Snowboard squad and across the whole GB Snowsport team.”

Team GB head coach, Pat Sharples with PlanetSKI’s James Cove. Image © PlanetSKI

Of the more familiar skiing and snowboarding names in the Parasnowsport squad are the Paralympic medallists Menna Fitzpatrick, Kelly Gallagher and Millie Knight.

Millie Knight. Image © PlanetSKI

“I’m really looking forward to getting underway with the new season,” said the four-time Paralympic medallist, Menna Fitzpatrick

“We’ve got a great team this year, and after a frustrating year for all of us in 2020/21 we’re all really looking forward to getting back out on the slopes, putting in some big results and focusing in on the Paralympic Winter Games in March.”

They are joined by new selections Shona Brownlee and Dan Sheen in the Para Alpine squad alongside invitational athlete, Alex Slegg.

Shona Brownlee. Photo credit, Marc Amann

Three new Para Alpine guides join the squad ranks for the first time, with Lachlan Veitch, Adam Hall and Katie Guest joining returning names in Gary Smith, Brett Wild and Andrew Simpson.

The Para Nordic squad remains unchanged from the 2020/21 season with Scott Meenagh, Callum Deboys, Steve Arnold and Steve Thomas all selected to represent the Great Britain in the year ahead.

In Para Snowboard, as well as Jon-Allan Butterworth, there is James Barnes-Miller, Owen Pick, Andy Macleod and Ollie Hill.

“We’re delighted to be able to announce such a strong Para Snowsport squad to represent Britain in the coming season – the biggest ever Para Snowsport World Class Programme in the nation’s history,” said the GB Snowsport Head Coach, Pat Sharples.

“Having so much Paralympic experience in the ranks is a huge benefit to the whole squad and we’re excited by what we will be able to achieve over the next twelve months.

“Across the world, the competitiveness of Para Snowsport is growing every year, and with this squad we believe Britain can hold its own in the biggest competitions.”

Next year’s Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing will mark the second Games at which Britain is represented in Paralympic Snowboarding disciplines, following the discipline’s introduction to the Paralympic programme in 2014.

Owen Pick, Ben Moore and James Barnes-Miller all appeared for Team GB in the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang.