[2] The Best Action Sports Athlete ESPY Award trophy, created by sculptor Lawrence Nowlan,[3] was presented to the action sports athlete adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year.
[1] Balloting for the award was undertaken by a panel of experts who composed the ESPN Select Nominating Committee.
[4] Through the 2001 iteration of the ESPY Awards, ceremonies were conducted in February of each year to honor achievements over the previous calendar year; awards presented thereafter are conferred in July and reflect performance from the June previous.
[a][5] The inaugural winner of the Best Action Sports Athlete ESPY Award was American snowboarder Kelly Clark at the 2002 edition.
[6] Americans won both times the accolade was given out with fellow snowboarder Shaun White being voted the only male winner of the award at the 2003 ceremony.