The NSSA has produced several world class athletes since its inception. Here's a sample...

Sarah Conrad
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

This twenty-four year old athlete has been making waves across Canada and around the world for the last six years. Those who don’t know the name, should. Sarah Conrad went from provincial halfpipe champion in 2003 to being named to the national development team, the national team, and the 2006 Canadian Olympic team. She is currently one of only four females on the Canadian National Freestyle Team. Sarah spent her first years snowboarding training in the NSSA’s programs and competing at every NSSA event she could. It has definitely paid off. Follow her progress at www.sarahconrad.com
Her recent competition highlights include:

3rd - 2009 World Cup Halfpipe Finals, Italy
4th - 2009 World Cup Halfpipe, Stoneham Que
1st - 2009 Canadian National Halfpipe Championships
3rd - 2009 Roxy Chicken Jam - California, USA

Sarah Conrad I: 2006 Olympic Games, Torino Italy

What Sarah says about the NSSA

From my very first snowboard competition to my Olympic debut, the NSSA has been a huge supporter of my athletic endeavors. The association recognized my potential as a young athlete and provided me with every opportunity to achieve my goals. Whether they were financially assisting me to go to the Canadian nationals or nominating me for Athlete of the Year, the efforts from these amazing volunteers have brought my career to the next level. I’m fortunate to reside in Nova Scotia and have always had a strong provincial snowboard association, unlike other Atlantic provinces. Without a provincial association, an athlete cannot participate in the Canadian national championships. The NSSA enabled me to compete at several national championships, eventually qualifying me for the national snowboard team, and then the 2006 Canadian Olympic snowboard team. I am very lucky to have an organization like this behind me. I wouldn’t be where I am right now without the NSSA.

Alexandra Duckworth
Kingsburg, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia

Alex Duckworth has been involved with the NSSA since 2000. She has participated and developed through many of its programs and competition series and now trains and competes all over the world. At only twenty-two years old she is now one of the top female competitors in Canada and was recently named to the Canadian National Freestyle Team. She competed with Team Nova Scotia at the 2007 Canada Games and brought home the Halfpipe GOLD medal.  She is pushing to make the 2010 Olympics and is part of both the 'RBC Olympian' and General Mills 'Aspiring Olympians' programs. Some of her recent competition highlights include:

What Alex says about the NSSA
The Nova Scotia Snowboarding Association has played a key role in my success as an athlete. Their assistance has provided me with the opportunity to compete locally, nationally, and internationally. The local competition series offers an ideal atmosphere for beginner competition and welcomes anyone who is willing to try. This really allowed me to establish a strong base as a competitor for my future endeavours. The NSSA also encouraged me to travel beyond Provincial Competition to the Nor-Am series nationwide. Being a member of a provincial organization like the NSSA, has enabled me to qualify for Provincial and National carding as a well as a position on the National Development Team. The NSSA continues to provide me with a team and coach while competing in the Canadian Open Tour (Nor-Ams and Nationals). Without a provincial sport organization, a sport isn’t recognized by Sport Canada and therefore does not provide local athletes with the support to meet his or her potential.

What Kristin says about the NSSA
Nova Scotia is not known for its large ski hills, but somehow we have produced two Olympic athletes, Sarah Conrad and Trevor Andrews, along with three National Development athletes, including myself. The NSSA has enabled each and every one of us to accomplish our dreams and goals. Whether they were financially assisting me to go to the Canadian Nationals or nominating me for Athlete of the Year, the efforts from these amazing volunteers have brought my career to the next level. From my very first snowboard competition, the NSSA has been a huge supporter of my athletic endeavors. The association recognized my potential as a young athlete and provided me with every opportunity to achieve my goals. I have been a member of the NSSA for 8 years. The NSSA has been very supportive from when I was fourteen years old entering my first NSSA competition, to now, as a member of the Alpine National Development Group. I have competed at one World Cup, five National Championships and four Provincial Championships. I won two Provincial Championships and was the first snowboard racer from Nova Scotia to reach the podium at an international event. Without the NSSA, none of this would be have been possible.

Corey Hansen:
Corey Hansen started snowboarding nearly 9 years ago at the age of 32. Inspired by Canada’s gold medal win in the Giant Slalom at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, he decided to try the sport and after a single lesson he was hooked. Corey has been competing in NSSA events for the last two seasons and his goals are firmly set on competing in the Paralympics. Corey’s other hobbies include photography, skateboarding, surfing, snorkelling and travelling.

Check out Corey's amazing story in video: