Para snowboarder | Australian Paralympic Team Captain | Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games Hopeful
From the ocean breaks of Western Australia to the world’s biggest winter sporting stage, Sean Pollard’s journey is one of resilience, reinvention and drive.
As a Team Partner proudly supporting the next generation of Winter Para athletes, Harvey Norman is backing Sean Pollard on his path from grassroots to the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.
At-a Glance
Sport: Para snowboarding
Disciplines:
- Banked Slalom SB-UL
- Snowboard Cross SB-UL
Paralympic Games:
- PyeongChang 2018
Career Highlights and Achievements:
- IPC World Cup Gold Medal – Snowboard Cross (Dubai, 2019)
- IPC World Championships Bronze – Banked Slalom (Puha, Finland, 2019)
- Fifth place – Banked Slalom, PyeongChang 2018
- Ninth place – Snowboard Cross, PyeongChang 2018
- Captain, Australian Paralympic Team – Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games
- From saltwater to snow
Before snow ever entered the picture, Sean Pollard’s life revolved around the ocean. After moving to WA’s south-west coast as a teenager, he spent countless hours surfing the breaks around Margaret River. He became an apprentice electrician at just sixteen, using his wages to fund surf trips across the globe, including Morocco, Portugal and Indonesia. He even speaks Indonesian, having studied the language at school.
Snow was not part of the plan.
That changed in 2015 when Sean saw snow for the first time on a trip to Mt Buller. Soon after, while travelling in Canada, the keen surfer tried snowboarding and felt an immediate connection. During that trip, he crossed paths with the Canadian Para snowboard coach, who encouraged him to explore competitive opportunities back in Australia.
Sean emailed Paralympics Australia. Within weeks, he was attending a training camp at Perisher.
A life-changing moment
Sean’s path to elite sport was shaped by an event that could have ended everything.
In October 2014, while surfing in Esperance with his partner Claire, Sean was attacked by two sharks. He lost his left arm, his right hand and suffered deep lacerations to both legs. Against all odds, he made it back to shore, where Claire and nearby beachgoers kept him alive until emergency services arrived.
After multiple major surgeries in Perth, Sean spent weeks in hospital and months in intensive rehabilitation, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and targeted treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. His determination to regain strength and mobility never wavered.
While he attempted to return to surfing, it was snowboarding that ultimately offered a new sense of purpose and possibility.
Sean’s rapid rise on the world stage
Sean’s progress in Para snowboarding was incredibly swift. By 2017, he was competing internationally in snowboard cross and banked slalom, recording strong results in his first season on the world circuit.
Just a year later, he was selected for the Australian Paralympic Team for the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, where he finished fifth in the banked slalom and ninth in snowboard cross.
In 2019, Sean reached a major milestone, winning his first IPC World Cup gold medal in snowboard cross at an indoor event in Dubai. The same year, he claimed bronze at the IPC World Championships in banked slalom in Puha, Finland, cementing his place among the world’s leading Para snowboarders.
Perspective, fatherhood and leadership
After stepping away from competition for a period, Sean returned to elite training with a new outlook. In 2021, he became a father to daughter Mila, and the perspective that came with parenthood reshaped both his approach to sport and to life.
Now aged 34, Sean is chasing qualification for his second Paralympic Games at Milano Cortina 2026 and has been appointed Captain of the Australian Paralympic Team.
“It’s exciting. I’m stoked to be selected,” Pollard said. He added that with more experience this time around, his focus is ongoing all-in and making the most of every opportunity.
“All athletes make sacrifices,” Pollard said. “But as a parent, you really need to make the most of your opportunities because you’re leaving your family at home.”
Source: Paralympics Australia, David Sygall, 15 October 2025
A bright future
Sean’s journey from surfer to Paralympian to team captain reflects his determination, gratitude and optimism.
“The biggest thing I’ve learnt through all this is to approach each challenge with an open mind and a positive outlook because you never know for sure how things will turn out.”
Source: Sean Pollard website
From his first turn on snow to leading Australia towards the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, Sean embodies what it means to keep moving forward. Harvey Norman is proud to support him, celebrating the next generation of Winter Para athletes who continue to push what’s possible.