LAST week Mansfield, Australia and the world, mourned the loss of a true sporting champion, Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin aged just 32.

The two-time world champion and three-time Olympian, drowned while free-diving and spearfishing at the artificial reef in Palm Beach.

Chumpy, as he was known to all, was born and grew up in Mansfield and became a true sporting legend, hero and ambassador for the town.

Following his gold medal World Cup win in 2011 and upon his return to Mansfield he was given the ‘key to the shire’ – an old time tradition for one who is held in the highest esteem.

Chumpy started his snowboarding and skiing career at a very young age heading up to Mt Buller to learn the skills he would need to go on to be a world champion.

While at school he competed in snow sports, including the Interschools competition and Buller Race Club events.

In 2011 at the civic reception held in the main street he said: “I’m excited and overwhelmed – it’s obviously been a big journey for me to get here and a huge ambition I have fulfilled.

“But, I feel it’s only the beginning.”

And the beginning it was.

Chumpy went on to win two World Cup titles, compete at three Winter Olympic Games and was flagbearer for the Australian team at the Sochi, Russia 2014 games.

But it was his community spirit as well that kept him in high esteem.

Again in 2011 he said that “Mansfield has had so much to do with my sporting career – it’s been a solid ground I have jumped off and solid ground I come home to".

“I never forget where home is – and that’s Mansfield for me – I’m really proud of it," he said.

In recognising Chumpy’s achievement back in 2011, former deputy chief executive officer (CEO) of Mansfield Shire Council Kim Steinle summed it up saying “some become the best at their sport and some become the best on Mt Buller – so good that they become the best in their fields – in the world".

This first world win for Chumpy, described as a “flawless round” in La Molina, Spain, had him inspiring others to fulfil their dreams.

“I’m stoked – I hope this is a boost for all kids back home, thus building up a strong team for the future,” he said at the time.

Chumpy’s father Chris Pullin said that “if you ask Chumpy where his snowboarding roots are and who is his community, he will undoubtedly say it’s Mansfield".

At an early age, just 14, Chumpy started to compete on the world circuit. He was the first junior in Australia to be on a podium at a world event.

He was always held up high with other outstanding athletes to come out of Mansfield including Simon Gerrans (cycling) and Catherine Skinner (clay target shooting), and champions among the fields of cycling, cricket, shooting, athletics and snow sports.

Although competing in snowboarding events around the world he never forgot where home was – Mansfield.

And when his world-spinning career started to ebb he then took on forming his own company and teaching the younger keen snowboarders the finer points of the sport.

Chumpy held an exciting program at Hotham Alpine Resort to find the next Australian Winter Olympic hopefuls.

After winning gold at the Snowboard Cross World Championship in Barcelona, he returned to Mt Hotham to kick off his brand new project aimed at bringing through the next generation of Aussie snowboarding stars.

In partnership with Red Bull, Chumpy launched 'Chumpy’s Boarding House', a mentoring program that gave eight outstanding young Australian talents the chance to learn what it takes to make it on the pro circuit.

When Chumpy’s death hit the news the tributes started flowing in.

“Very sad and surprising given he was so young,” Mt Buller Mt Stirling Resort Management Board CEO Mark Bennetts said.

“He was certainly a Buller identity and his death will be recognised in the near future.”

Knowing Chumpy most of his life, mountain identity Rob Aivatoglou said this was unbelievably sad news.

“Wonderful personality, local legend and an even better ambassador for all snow sports – RIP Chumpy," he said.

And Chumpy was just that - an ambassador not only for his sport, but for Mt Buller, snow sports and Mansfield.

He retired from competition in 2018 after competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics and moved to the Gold Coast with his partner Ellidy Vlug.

He pursued his other sporting loves such as surfing and free-diving.

He was also a very talented musician and loved nothing better than to get out his guitar and strum out a tune or two.

In his younger days in Mansfield he would often play some gigs at the local hotels.

One of the last photos popping up on Facebook for Chumpy showed him with his surfboard and his beloved dog at Palm Beach, Queensland, where he often visited taking to the surf and free-diving.