Ben-Jack Shaw has made a huge leap in his career as a competitive snowboarder by winning his first gold medal.

The 37 year old was one of 10 athletes representing GB Snowsport when he picked up his first-ever win at the European Winter Para Sports event ParaSki4Europe in Poland in February.

“It was great to win gold. My coach, Jim Hossell is a serving Royal Marine, and the time he puts into coaching, training, and guiding me is completely voluntary. It was fantastic to be able to get gold to say thank you to him for all his hard work as well,” said Ben-Jack who served in The Rifles.

Ben-Jack lost both his eyes to an IED blast in Iraq in 2007. Having loved winter sports since he was a young child, Ben-Jack started to blaze a trail as the world’s first completely blind competitive snowboarder last year, with support from the Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team charity.

“I was the only person competing in the blind and visually impaired category, but it’s got to start somewhere. Getting to the point where I am able to compete highlights to other people that it can be done. Representatives from the national, European, and international Paralympic Committees witnessed me receiving my medal. Hopefully, they will pass the word on. Come and compete, and try to take this gold medal off me!”

During the 2019/20 season, which was the first competitive outing of Ben-Jack’s career, he also competed at the RAF championships where he pitted his skills against serving Armed Forces personnel.