Born in 1989 in Kent, James Barnes-Miller was born with an incomplete right arm and competes in the SB-UL (upper limb) classification.

Raised with a love for skateboarding, his snowboarding adventure began during a holiday in Bulgaria in 2010. A subsequent trip to the Netherlands introduced him to established athletes Owen Pick and Ben Moore, who encouraged him to reach out to the Great Britain Para SnowSport team. That spark ignited his transformation from recreational snowboarder to elite competitor.

James Barnes-Miller | Journey to GB Team

James’s journey to the GB Para Snowboard team then became a reality after being introduced to through a charity snowboarding trip for injured military personnel and people with disabilities. His natural aptitude and competitive spirit quickly caught the attention of coaches, and in 2016 he was selected to join the GB Snowsport Para Snowboard squad.

That same year, he made his debut on the international circuit, competing in the World Cup series and showing impressive potential against far more experienced riders. Within a short time, he established himself as one of the most promising athletes in the SB-UL classification, earning top-10 finishes and building the foundation for the medal-winning performances that would follow.

James Barnes-Miller | Established International Para Snowboarder

Building on his strong debut season, James continued to rise through the ranks of international para snowboarding. In 2017, he earned his first World Cup podium in the banked slalom, a result that cemented his place among the sport’s elite. His performances secured him qualification for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympics, where he made history as the first British male to compete in para snowboarding at the Games.

Although he didn’t get on the podium in Korea, his top-10 finishes in both snowboard cross and banked slalom were a major achievement for a Paralympic newcomer and set the stage for further success. In the seasons that followed, James collected multiple World Cup medals, a World Championships silver in 2019, and became a consistent podium contender on the global stage.

James Barnes-Miller | Career Highlights

– World Championships 2017 (Big White, Canada): In his senior debut, James finished 4th in snowboard cross and 9th in banked slalom.

– PyeongChang 2018 Winter Paralympics: James made history as Britain’s first-ever Paralympic snowboarder, placing 7th in snowboard cross and 10th in banked slalom.

– World Para Snow Sports Championships 2021 (Lillehammer): Achieved a silver in snowboard cross, bronze in banked slalom, and bronze in the team snowboard cross event.

– Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics: Delivered his best Paralympic performance, finising 5th in snowboard cross (by winning the small final) and a 9th place in banked slalom.

– World Cup Circuit: Awarded the Crystal Globe as overall World Cup snowboard cross leader in 2020.

– 2025 World Cup (Steamboat, Colorado): Earned his first podium of the 2024–25 season with a bronze in snowboard cross SB-UL.

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