Australia’s most loved boardercross athlete, Alex Chumpy Pullin, tragically died today in a spearfishing accident on the Gold Coast and the snow world is mourning.
The 32 year old three time Winter Olympian was a favourite of both team mates and the snow sport community. Known for his annual kids camp at Hotham where he fostered the future of boardercross, his love of the guitar and the surf and his dedication to his sport where he did Australia proud over and over and over again.
He represented Australia three times at the Winter Olympics at Vancouver, Sochi and PyeongChang, and was the flag bearer at Sochi, he won not one but two FIS World Championships, took the first place FIS podium nine times, second place 4 times and third place 7 times. Did we mention the two FIS World Cup Crystal Globes on his mantel? We should have.
The man was simply a legend. Easy going with media, humble in the press pit at FIS and Olympic events, focused on his sport while living his life with vigour. He loved surfing and even had a reggae band.
The 2019/2020 season was already marked as his last as he moved towards retirement, switching up elite competition for coaching the future with the Turn and Burn camps, a Snow Australia athlete pathway.
Now social media is filled with tributes from those who met him on the snow, to fellow Olympians, sports journalists and more.
Tributes pour in on social
Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin was an extraordinary individual who pursued his passions in sport and in life. This loss is tragic to everyone he inspired and loved, including everyone at TeamNSWIS. Our thoughts & condolences are with his family. pic.twitter.com/SWFxTldhl1
— NSW Institute of Sport (@NSWIS) July 8, 2020
I can’t believe this terrible news – one of the nicest humans I’ve ever met -very sad news condolences to the friends and family of Alex Chumpy Pullin what a tragedy way to young 2020 can you please be over ??? #RIP https://t.co/WHWMVKvn8f
— Wendell Sailor (@RealBigDell) July 8, 2020
My little boy with #Chumpy at @_hotham last year. Alex loved the kids and was so generous with his time. My deepest sympathy to his relatives and friends and the entire Aussie snowboarding family. What a shocking loss. pic.twitter.com/Uosc80hD81
— Kellie Lazzaro (@kellazzaro) July 8, 2020
Our thoughts are with his family, the snow community, his Winter Olympic team mates and all who were touched by his talent as spectators, team mates, support crew and more.
Rest in peace.
