James Barnes-Miller

Para Snowboard

Region

Broadstairs
Date of Birth

30/08/1989
Classification

SB-UL

Events

Snowboard cross, banked slalom

Bio

James Barnes-Miller was a keen skateboarder as a youngster and first tried snowboarding while on holiday with friends in Bulgaria in 2010.

This led to another snowboarding trip to The Netherlands, where James met Para snowboarder and future PyeongChang 2018 teammate Owen Pick who encouraged him to get in contact with the British Para Snowsport team.

Competing in the SB-UL class for athletes with an upper limb impairment, James finished fourth in Snowboard Cross at the 2017 World Championships in Big White, Canada – his debut at that level.

James, who was born without a right hand, became the first Para snowboarder to represent Great Britain at the Paralympic Games when he left the gate for his Snowboard Cross qualification run at PyeongChang 2018. James ultimately finished seventh in the Snowboard Cross and tenth in the Banked Slalom.

Following Pyeongchang, James established himself as one of the leading riders on the international circuit, winning the Crystal Globe as the overall World Cup Snowboard Cross leader in 2020.

At the delayed 2021 World Championships in Lillehammer, James was once again one of the standout performers, winning two individual medals, a silver and a bronze in the Snowboard Cross and Banked Slalom events as well as a bronze in the team Snowboard Cross event alongside Ollie Hill.

Returning for his second Games at Beijing 2022, James achieved his best finish at a Paralympics Games when he won the Snowboard Cross small final to rank fifth overall, as well as another top 10 finish in the Banked Slalom event.

James’ good form continued post-Beijing with a host of World Cup podiums in the 2022-2023 season leading to him winning two Crystal Globes. However, a serious injury in January 2024 meant an enforced year out to recover. Back in action in the ²⁰²⁴⁄₂₀₂₅ season, James put in some strong performances culminating in his first World Cup podium for two years in the Snowboard Cross at Steamboat, USA in February.

James became a father for the first time in November 2025 and after a brief paternity leave was back on snow ahead of his third Paralympic Games.

Sign up to our email list to get updates on the team and the inside track on our sporting heroes – We're building a movement, with your support, to break down barriers for disabled people across the UK.

First Name

Last Name

Email address

I am over 18 and would like to receive emails about news, fundraising and how I can get involved with ParalympicsGB