Two Narooma athletes have been named as finalists at the prestigious NSW Sports Awards to be held in Sydney next year.
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Young snowboarder Valentino Guseli and veteran surfer Matt Hoar are finalists in the Young Athlete of the Year and Masters Athlete of the Year categories.
Guseli made his debut on the International World Cup circuit this year and stunned viewers when he qualified first for the final of his first event in Switzerland in February with an almost perfect score of 95.
This immediate success comes hot on the heels of an extremely successful junior career where Guseli won halfpipe competitions all over the world.
Guseli also finished 11th in the World Championships this year, and set a new world record by jumping 7.3 metres on a halfpipe in Switzerland.
The other finalists for the Young Athlete of the Year are cricketer Hannah Darlington, volleyball player Stefanie Fejes, diver Sam Fricker, swimmer Se-Bom Lee, and kart-driver Costa Toparis.
Former pro surfer Hoar earned his nomination for Masters Athlete of the Year with a strong showing at the NSW Surfing Championships in June.
He was crowned the state champion in the over 35s category, and won a silver medal in the over 40s category.
Hoar will go against rower Daniela Borgert, swimmer Aaron Cleland, touch football player Tony Eltakchi, archer Elizabeth Hole, and surf life saver Scott Thomson for the Masters Athlete of the Year Award.
The finalists in the Athlete of the Year award are swimmer Cate Campbell, wheelchair athlete Madison de Rozario, paddler Jessica Fox, athlete Nicola McDermott, rower Spencer Turrin, and surfer Owen Wright.
The awards will be held at Parramatta's CommBank Stadium on January 24, 2022.
