Skip to main content
Add Me To Your Mailing List
HomeWestern Ski Heritage
Background Image URL //s3.amazonaws.com/ClubExpressClubFiles/623165/graphics/banner2_901973943.jpg

Councils Benefits Direct Member Committee Chairs Families Public Affairs Programs

FWSA Western Ski Heritage Program

The Far West Western Ski Heritage program annually recognizes the best effort in the prior 2 years that communicates the contributions of snowsports to the community at large. (For 2025, works after January 1. 2022 are eligible.)

The Award has been sponsored by Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation since 2000 and is presented at the annual Convention held each June. Steamboat Springs itself is an area rich in the history and personalities involved in the development of snowsports in the West.


About the Western Ski Heritage Award


    The purpose of the Far West Western Ski Heritage program is to raise the awareness of snowsport participants and non-participants alike of the contributions made by individuals or groups to all aspects of snowsport – competitive as well as that of outdoor winter recreation and fitness.
    A parallel purpose is to convey the positive role snowsports has had in its contributions to the communities in the West. It recognizes outstanding effort in the area of snowsport history to find, preserve, document and share the history of snowsport in the West.

    The Western Ski Heritage Program is open to an individual or a group leader (it is not restricted to Far West membership) and can be self-nominated or nominated by a club or club member. Materials and history programs will be evaluated against the objectives of the program by individuals selected for their knowledge of the history of Western snowsports and that of the Association.

    The award is a recognition of an outstanding history product or work in progress accomplished in the past three years.

    Evaluations of history efforts will be conducted each spring in preparation for the annual convention. A variety of methods may be used to achieve the objectives of the program. This can include any of the following:

    • Original documentation of facets of snowsports (in the legendary Bill Berry tradition); organization histories (club, council, league, company, etc); videos; photos; books; field trips; speaker programs; descriptions of past major events

    The outline below may be useful in describing your project or product. Use as much space as is needed.

    • Project description especially efforts to find, preserve, document and share history of snowsports in the West.
    • Location and access to project.
    • Project results.
    • Project’s contribution/significance to snowsports and the community.
    • Biographical information on the nominee.

    Submissions must be archival or library quality.

    Check out past winners.

What the Winner Receives


    The winner receives a 5-day ski/board package for two that includes:
    • 5 Nights Lodging
    • 5 Day Lift Ticket for Steamboat Ski Resort
    • 5 Days Ski/Snowboard rentals from Steamboat Ski & Sport
    • Half Day Lesson at the Ski & Snowboard School
    • On Mountain Tour given by a Mountain Representative
    • Lunch at Ragnar's Restaurant with the Director of Sales & Sales Manager

    *Lodging is based on space availability and restrictions may apply.

Apply for the Western Ski Heritage Award


    The deadline for the Western Ski Heritage submission is March 17, 2025.

    The 2025 application can be  downloaded here.

    Please notify Jane Wyckoff via email that you plan to submit an entry, put "FWSA Western Ski Heritage Award" in the email subject and include your contact info with phone number(s).

    Hard copy addenda, documentation, articles or other media entry should be identified to Jane who will provide further instruction. Jane Wyckoff’s mailing address is 2321 Scott Creek Drive, Little Elm, TX 75068.

    The winner will be announced Saturday at the Convention Awards Luncheon.

Information



Download the FWSA Western Ski Heritage Application as a PDF document to be filled out electronically.

FWSA Western Ski Heritage Sponsors





Some of the past winners



In 2000, Sutter Kunkel compiled & documented the Far West Charter Flight Program from the 60's, which he originated.




Chris Miller researched and preserved the Cascade Ski Club History.  It is an ongoing process.


Ingrid Wicken has written several books on the history of skiing in California in 2002.  She also established the California Ski Library in 2005.



Robin Morning has received this prize three times - for her display on Dave McCoy at the Mammoth Museum, her book about Dave McCoy and Mammoth and for co-hosting with Marianne O'Conner the International Ski Heritage Congress in 2009 in Mammoth.  Marianne O'Conner was a co-recipient for the 2009 prize.




Catherine Ohl researched & collected history on Far West and placed it on her website in 2003.  In addition, she was in charge of the 75th annual Far West Celebration which includes histories of Far West, Councils, Clubs and ski resorts in the far west region.




 
AboutMember CornerConventionsTravelRacing
Photo GalleriesAwardsSponsorsMedia Board Only