FAR WEST SKI ASSOCIATION honors Genia Fuller-Crews and Brad Wilson with a Snowsports Builder Award
BOISE, IDAHO: The Far West Ski Association conducted its 90th Annual Convention and Meeting June 15-18, 2023 at the Boise Centre and Grove Hotel in Boise, Idaho, hosted by the Intermountain Ski Council and Bogus Basin Ski Club. 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 37th Annual Trade Show and Silent Auction on Friday evening raised over $21,000 to support FWSA programs. The highest bidders purchased ski, golf and adventure trips. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Idaho Youth Ranch, Kuna. Saturday’s program featured Snowsports Leadership Academy training sessions, “Group Travel Secrets – Details Determine Destiny”, presented by VP International Travel, Debbie Stewart, and “Preserving Ski Club History - Ease of Preparing a Digital History Book”, led by Tony Baker and John W. Lundin for easy steps in researching, writing, and publishing your club or council history.
At the luncheon, Keynote Speaker Genia Fuller-Crews, a World Freestyle Champion and Honored Member of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, shared her story of competing in and winning World Freestyle Championships and her work with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame for equality of recognition. A live auction of a ski trip to Grouse Mountain Lodge and Whitefish Mountain Resort, and five autographed Freestyle posters plus weekend raffle ticket sales raised $3,160 for the Far West Ski Association’s Athletic Scholarship program. The afternoon Public Affairs Panel featured Brad Wilson, General Manager of Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area and Tony Harrison, Publicist for Ski Idaho, speaking on effects of Climate Change on ski areas and the proposed Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act, as well as other hot topics.
The 2024 North American Ski Week will be to Steamboat Ski Resort in Colorado, January 27th – February 3rd. Nancy Ellis, VP North American Travel, led a training session for trip leaders on use of the Sports America Tours online trip management tool. The selection of the 2025 FWSA Ski Week will be made and announced in July. The 2023 Annual Scuba Dive Trip is October 7th – 14th to Little Cayman. The 2024 International Ski Week will be to Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, February 25th – March 3rd, with an extension option to Cinque Terre in Northern Italy.
Annual recognition awards were presented to members of the ski industry, media, volunteers, racing leagues, councils, and ski clubs. Genia Fuller-Crews and Brad Wilson are the 2023 recipients of the FWSA Snowsports Builder Award, given to individuals who have made significant contributions to snowsports. Industry Awards were presented: the FWSA Tommi Tyndall Award for Outstanding Ski Industry Contribution, to Bogus Basin Mountain Recreational Area; the FWSA Bill Mackey Award for Outstanding Ski Industry Employee, to Sean McErlean, Holidaze Ski Tours and Omar Fricke, Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area. The FWSA Jimmie Heuga Award for Outstanding Humanitarian, went to Becki Walters, Intermountain Ski Council. The FWSA Bill Berry Award for Hard News was presented to Debbi Kor, Editor, Far West NewsFlash, the FWSA Bill Berry Featured Article Award to Jessie Diggins, for her great book “Brave Enough” and the FWSA Warren Miller Modern Media Award was presented to Realization Films, “Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche.”
Debbie Stewart (Visalia, CA) 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 Kim Hovren, (Boise, ID), the FWSA J. Stanley Mullin Award for a decisive contribution to skiing to Paul Vlasveld, (San Jose, CA); the FWSA Jordan-Reily Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Affairs, to Ron Abramovich, Intermountain Ski Council and the Terry Smith Award for greatly contributing to the advancement of recreational ski racing to Jerry Stokely (San Diego, CA). The FWSA Volunteer of the Year program, sponsored by Big White Ski Resort, recognized Tony Baker (Walnut Creek, CA). FWSA President’s Award was given to Todd Hood (San Diego, CA) and Nick Cowell (Lakeside, CA).
The FWSA Western Ski Heritage Award, sponsored by Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation, was presented to John W. Lundin (Seattle, WA) for his work to preserve ski jumping history. The History Recognition Award was given to Rusty Bindings Ski Club, for their publication "Rusty Bindings 50: 1971-2021," Tony Baker, Editor.
Two Historic Ski Clubs were recognized: Sun Valley Ski Club, founded in 1936 and Century City Ski Club, founded in 1972. The FWSA Richard Lubin Safety Person of the Year Award, sponsored by Holidaze Ski Tours and Mammoth Mountain, was presented to Barbara Razo (Orange, CA).
The Wentworth Award for the Outstanding Publication and Outstanding Website Award Master Class was presented to Mountain High SnowSport Club – Editor: Emilio Trampuz; The Wentworth Award for Outstanding Publication Novice Class was presented to Modesto Ski Club – Editor: Murray Breeze and the Outstanding Website Award Novice Class was presented to Balboa Ski & Sports Club – Webmaster: Dan Moritz. The FWSA Charities & Our Community Program recognized seventeen clubs and three councils for their participation and achievements.
During the Annual Meeting, FWSA delegates voted to enthusiastically support the Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act (SHRED Act) in support of ski resorts operating within Forest Service boundaries. Delegates also recognized Jesse Diggins and Mikaela Shiffrin with a standing ovation for their historic achievements in competition this past season.
Elections were held at Sunday’s General Session. FWSA Officers for 2023 – 2024 are: President, Linda Westlund (Scottsdale, AZ); Past President Gloria Raminha (Bakersfield, CA); Secretary, Christine Hill (Boise, ID); Treasurer, appointment pending; Chairperson Board of Trustees, Jo Simpson (Reno, NV); VP Communications, Joe Harvis (Mine Hill, NJ); VP Council Services, Todd Hood (San Diego, CA); VP Marketing, Debbi Kor (Vancouver, WA); VP Membership, Jean McCasey (San Diego, CA); VP Public Affairs, Steve Coxen (Ridgefield, WA); 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 Chris Gill (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: Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp, Sun Valley, Sports America Tours, Aspen/Snowmass & Snowmass Tourism, Visit Boise, Payette Brewing Company, Snowvana, Mammoth Mountain, Big White Resort, Telluride Ski & Golf, Group Travel Simplicity; Grouse Mountain Lodge, Whitefish Mountain Resort.
The 91st Annual Far West Ski Association Convention is scheduled for June 6 -9, 2024 at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, in Reno, Nevada, hosted by the Bay Area Snow Sports Council and Sierra League & Council. For additional information regarding the Far West Ski Association, please visit www.fwsa.org.
Pictures available upon request.