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FAR WEST SKI ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS SNOWSPORTS INDUSTRIES AMERICA (SIA) CLIMATE UNITED INITIATIVE

Jo Simpson | Published on 11/14/2022



For Additional Information
Contact: 
Linda Westlund, President

president@fwsa.org       




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 14, 2022



FAR WEST SKI ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS SNOWSPORTS INDUSTRIES AMERICA (SIA) CLIMATE UNITED INITIATIVE


PORTLAND, OREGON: The Far West Ski Association conducted its 89th Annual Convention and Meeting June 9-12, 2022 at the Holiday Inn Portland - Columbia Riverfront in Portland, Oregon, hosted by the Northwest Ski Club Council. The Far West Ski Association, founded in 1930, is a volunteer, non-profit organization representing 150 affiliated ski clubs located throughout ten regional councils in the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The Association conducts active programs in public affairs, skier safety, ski heritage, athletics, racing, communications, travel, council development, ski industry and community outreach.

 

The 36th Annual Trade Show and Silent Auction on Friday evening raised over $22,000 to support FWSA programs. The highest bidders purchased ski trips, golf and adventure trips, and sports and recreational equipment. Saturday afternoon was dedicated to a presentation by Phil and Steve Mahre, 1984 Olympic Gold and Silver Medalists. The key presenters in the Public Affairs panel were: Trux Dole, President of the 10th Mountain Division Foundation; Phil & Steve Mahre; Matt Zaffino, KGW-TX Chief Meteorologist; Dave Tragethon, Vice President Marketing and Sales for Mt Hood Meadows; and Jordan Elliott, President of Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association. The Snowsports Leadership Academy (SLA) presenters included: Paige Baugher and Steve Rollins from Portland Mountain Rescue; Sandy Gaudette from SkiGroup.net; Maxine Jensen from Alpine Adventures, Sean McErlean from Holidaze Ski Tours, and Gloria Saiya-Woods from Ski.Com. Three different SLA sessions provided education to ski club officers and members. Bids were presented to the FWSA Travel Committee for selection of the 2024 FWSA Ski Week with the result to be announced later in the summer. The 2023 FWSA Ski Week will be held in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, January 21-28.

 

The delegates passed a resolution that “enthusiastically supports the Snowsports Industries America (SIA) ClimateUnited

initiative for their membership of manufacturers and retailers to work with their supply chain partners to reduce emissions from product manufacturing and transportation”.

 

Annual recognition awards were presented to members of the ski industry, media, volunteers, racing leagues, councils, and ski clubs. Industry Awards were presented: the FWSA Tommi Tyndall Award for Outstanding Ski Industry Contribution, to Aspen/Snowmass; the FWSA Bill Mackey Award for Outstanding Ski Industry Employee, to Michael J. Ballingall of Big White; and the FWSA Jimmie Heuga Award for Outstanding Humanitarian, to John Gray. The FWSA Bill Berry Award for Hard News was presented to The Tahoe Weekly, the FWSA Bill Berry Featured Article Award to Lindsey Vonn for her great book “Rise: My Story”, and the FWSA Warren Miller Modern Media Award was presented to Coolfire Productions and SNOW Sports Museum for their documentary Magic in the Mountains”. The FWSA Snowsports Builder Award was presented to the founders/operators of the Mt Hood ski areas: The Drake Family founders and operators of Mt Hood Meadows, The Kohnstamm Family operators of Timberline, and Kirk Hanna operator of Mt Hood Skibowl.

 

Sheri Parshall, of Skiyente Ski Club, received the FWSA Hans Georg Award for long-term service to organized skiing. Other volunteers receiving recognition awards included: the FWSA Elizabeth “Schatzi” Wood Award for a decisive contribution to skiing to Sandy Blackwell (Star, ID); the FWSA J. Stanley Mullin Award for a decisive contribution to skiing to John Reinhardt (Portland, OR); the FWSA Jordan-Reily Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Affairs, to Heidi Logosz, Sustainability Manager for Mt Hood Meadows; and the Terry Smith Award for greatly contributing to the advancement of intramural skiing to Peter Dodd of Pacrat Race League (Portland, OR). The FWSA Volunteer of the Year program, sponsored by Big White, recognized Fran Long of Central Council of Skiers. The FWSA Presidents Award was given to Joe Harvis (Mine Hill, NJ).

 

The Wentworth Award for the Outstanding Publication was presented to Mt High Snowsports Club (Masters Class) and Castro Valley Ski Club (Advanced Class). The Outstanding Website Award was presented to Mt High Snowsport Club (Masters Class), Torrey Pines Ski Club (Advanced Class) and Don Diego Ski Club (Novice Class). The Outstanding Council Publication Award was given to Los Angeles Council and Northwest Ski Club Council received the Outstanding Council Website Award. The FWSA Charity & Community Service Recognition was presented to Bogus Basin Ski Club (Boise, ID), Four Seasons West Ski & Snowboard Club (Los Angeles, CA), Get Off Your Rockers Ski Club (San Diego, CA), Grindelwald Ski Club (Los Angeles, CA), Monterey Ski & Social Club (Monterey, CA), Mountain High Snowsport Club (Portland, OR), Reno Ski & Recreation Club (Reno, NV), SLO Skiers (San Luis Obispo, CA), Skiyente Ski Club (Portland, OR), Pacrat Racing (Portland, OR, and Arizona Ski Council.

 

The FWSA Western Ski Heritage Award, sponsored by Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation, was presented to Lowell

Skoog (Seattle, WA) for his book Written in the Snow”.

 

Elections were held at Sunday’s General Session. FWSA Officers for 2022 – 2023 are: President, Linda Westlund (Scottsdale, AZ); Past President Gloria Raminha (Bakersfield, CA); Secretary, Tina Lyon (Portland, OR); Treasurer, Randy Lew (Battle Ground, WA); Chairperson Board of Trustees, Jo Simpson (Reno, NV); VP Communications, Joe Harvis (Mine Hill, NJ); VP Council Services, Chris Gill (San Diego, CA); VP Marketing, Debbi Kor (Vancouver, WA); VP Membership, Jean McCasey (San Diego, CA); VP Public Affairs, Lina Arnold (San Diego, CA); VP North American Travel, Nancy Ellis (Truckee, CA); VP International Travel, Debbie Stewart (Visalia, CA); VP Racing, Bob Ellis (Truckee CA); Trustees, Sheri Parshall (Fairview, OR), Fran Long (Paso Robles, CA), and Tom Bundgard (San Diego, CA).

 

The Far West Ski Association is appreciative of the many sponsors who are a big part of the success of the FWSA Annual Convention. Sponsors included: Alpine Adventures, Aspen / Snowmass, Big White Ski Resort (BC, Canada), Binary Brewing, Brian Head Resort, Club Med, Grouse Mountain Lodge (Whitefish, MT), Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Kandahar Lodge (Whitefish, MT), Mammoth Mountain Resort, Next Adventure (Portland, OR), Schure Sports USA (Ontario, Canada), Ski Group.Net, Snowmass Tourism, Sports America Tours, Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation, Whitefish Mountain Resort, and Northwest Ski Club Council.

 

The 90thAnnual Far West Ski Association Convention is scheduled for June 15-18, 2023 at The Grove Hotel and Boise Centre in Boise, Idaho, hosted by the Intermountain Ski Council and Bogus Basin Ski Club. For additional information regarding the Far West Ski Association, please visit www.fwsa.org.

 

Pictures available upon request