SAN DIEGO, CA The Far West Ski Association gathered for its 93rd Annual Meeting June 11-14, 2026, at the San Diego Marriott Mission Valley, hosted by the San Diego Council of Ski Clubs. Snowsports club members from “Peak to Pier” joined award winning journalists and snowsports legends to celebrate this year’s accomplishments within the winter sports community.
SkiCon 2026 featured multiple networking opportunities between snowsports club members, environmental experts, and snowsports marketing representatives. Optional activities included a San Diego Bay Pub Cruise, Pickleball, a Balboa Park Scavenger Hunt, Aqua Adventures on Mission Bay, a Paint and Sip opportunity, and celebration of the 19th Annual Michael German Golf Tournament. The 40th Annual Auction and Trade Show attracted members of the San Diego community. The event’s first virtual auction garnered over $31,000 to support FWSA programs, with high bidders winning ski and adventure vacations. SkiCon’s first movie night featured “Big Mountain Soul: Ski Africa,” winner of the Warren Miller Modern Media Award.
Saturday’s programs included a Public Affairs session “Searching for Meaningful Climate Action: Regenerating Earth’s Environment” featuring Joe Houde, president of the North County Climate Change Alliance, and facilitated by FWSA Vice President Public Affairs Steve Coxen. Snowsports Leadership Academy sessions “Membership Multiplier” and “Snowball Effect” were led by industry partners and club members, and facilitated by Tamara Loveland, President of Wailers Ski Club of the Los Angeles Council of Ski Clubs.
Recognition awards were presented to snowsports clubs and councils, ski industry and media members, and volunteers. Henri Rivers III, President of the National Brotherhood of Snowsports received the Snowsports Builder Award, given to individuals who have made an indelible positive impact on snowsports. Ski industry representatives were awarded: Alpine Adventures received the Tommi Tyndall Award for outstanding ski industry contributions, and the Bill Mackey Award to Gloria Saiya Woods, Ski.com, as outstanding ski industry employee. Steve Lefkowitz received the Jimmie Heuga Award for contributions to the physically challenged; Jordan Elliott was given the Jordan-Reily Award for achievement in Public Affairs. Media awards included Bill Berry Award – Featured Article to Devon O’Neil, author “The Way Out: A True Story of Survival in the Heart of the Rockies”; Bill Berry Award – Hard News to Miles Clark, Founder and CEO SnowBrains; Warren Miller Modern Media Award to Sorcery Cinema “Big Mountain Soul: Ski Africa,” Henri Rivers III – Producer, Cam Sale – Director of Photography, and Sinjin McNicholl – Co-Producer. For more information on FWSA media awards, visit Media - Far West Ski Association
Public Affairs award recipients were: Western Ski Heritage Award sponsored by Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation – Seth Masia for “Lifetime Contributions as a Snowsports Journalist, Historian and Environmentalist”; Richard Lubin Safety Person of the Year sponsored by Holidaze Ski Tours and Mammoth Mountain – Wayne Wong, Huntington Beach Ski Club and National Ski Patrol; and Environment Award sponsored by Aspen Snowmass – Barry Rands, SLO Skiers of Central Council of California. Historic Clubs in existence for 50 years or more, contributing to snowsports and their community, receiving recognition include Camellia City Ski Club of Sacramento (1974), Inskiers Ski and Snowboard Singles Social Club, San Mateo / Foster City (1971), and SLO Skiers Inc, of San Luis Obispo (1976).
Service awards were presented to outstanding volunteers. The Hans Georg Award, for long-term contributions to recreational skiing, went to Fran Long, SLO Skiers, Central Council of California. Bill King, of Mountain High Snowsport Club and Northwest Ski Club Council, received the J. Stanley Mullin Award for making a decisive contribution to skiing. The Elizabeth “Schatzi” Wood award, for making a decisive contribution to skiing, was presented to Barbara Razo, Huntington Beach Ski Club, Orange Council of Ski Clubs. Martin Wascher of the North Island Snowdrifters, San Diego Council of Ski Clubs received the Terry Smith Award, for greatly contributing to the advancement of recreational ski racing. The Phoenix Ski Club won the prestigious Joe Ross Award and Sierra League and Council won the Lake Louise Trophy. The FWSA Councils’ Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by Big White Ski Resort, was awarded to Michael Terrey, Phoenix Ski Club, Arizona Ski Council, and the Tollakson Outstanding Club Award, sponsored by Xevo Optics, was won by the Phoenix Ski Club of the Arizona Ski Council.
President Linda Westlund awarded the President’s Award to the Stifel US Women’s Alpine Ski Team for their extraordinary performance and achievements in the 2025-2026 season, and to Randy Lew, Mountain High Ski Club, Northwest Ski Club Council for outstanding FWSA leadership. The Golden Lifetime Legacy Award was presented to John Watson, Los Angeles Council of Ski Clubs, for over 50 years of service in the organized snowsports industry. For more information on FWSA Awards, visit Far West Ski Association Awards.
Club and council media recognition was awarded for web sites, newsletters and social media. For more information and list of winners, please visit Far West Club & Council Communications Awards. The Charities and Our Community Recognition Program encourages support of charitable organizations and community causes. For information on this program and the clubs and councils who were recognized, please visit FWSA Charities and Our Community Recognition Program.
Elections were held at the June 14th Business meeting. FWSA officers for 2026-2027 are: President, Linda Westlund (Scottsdale, AZ); Secretary, Betty Donellan (Conroe, TX); Treasurer, Kirk Miles (Fountain Hills, AZ); Chair Board of Trustees, Todd Hood (San Diego, CA); Trustees Sheri Parshall (Fairview, OR), Bob Ellis (Verdi, NV) and Randy Lew (Battle Ground, WA); VP Membership, Samantha Davis (Bakersfield, CA); VP Marketing & Sponsorship, Barbara Razo, (Orange, CA); VP International Travel, Gloria Raminha (Bakersfield, CA); VP North American Travel, Nancy Ellis (Verdi, NV); VP Council Services, Tom Bundgard (San Diego, CA); VP Communications, Joe Harvis (Mine Hill, NJ); VP Public Affairs, Steve Coxen (Ridgefield, WA); VP Racing, Bob Ellis (Verdi, NV) and NSP Liaison, Wayne Wong (Moorpark, CA). Bylaws were passed regarding council representation when council presidents cannot attend FWSA board meetings.
Far West Ski Association thanks the many sponsors who made SkiCon 2026 a success. They include: Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation, Big White Ski Resort, Whitefish Mountain Resort, Holidaze Ski Tours, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc., Copper Mountain, East West Hospitality, Panorama Mountain Resort, WildReality Safari, Ski.com, Karbon (a division of Schure Sports), Averill Hospitality, Aspen Snowmass, The Crestwood, CoralTree Residence Collection, Xevo Optics, Bay Area Snow Sports Council, Los Angeles Council of Ski Clubs, Northwest Ski Club Council, Orange Council of Ski Clubs, and San Diego Council of Ski Clubs.
Far West Ski Association, founded in 1930, represents over 140 snowsports clubs representing nine regional councils located in the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. SkiCon 2027 will take place in South Lake Tahoe. For additional information, please visit www.fwsa.org.
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