FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media
Contact:
Jennifer Rudolph, 303.866.9712, Jennifer@ColoradoSki.com
Nick Bohnenkamp, 303.866.9724, Nick@ColoradoSki.com
COLORADO SKI COUNTRY USA ANNOUNCES ANNUAL INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS
DENVER, Colo. - June 16, 2008 - Colorado Ski
Country USA (CSCUSA) recognized the Annual Colorado Ski Industry
Award winners last Thursday at its 45th Annual Meeting and Forum at
Crested Butte Mountain Resort. The awards have become an annual
tradition for CSCUSA and its members to honor outstanding leaders
in the ski industry for their hard work, commitment and unique
contributions to the Colorado ski industry. "These individuals'
dedication to the sport of skiing helped make Colorado the
destination choice for more than 12 million guests this season,"
said Rob Perlman, President and CEO of CSCUSA. "They have set the
bar for Colorado and ski destinations around the world." Each year,
coaches, resort supervisors and managers nominate one outstanding
candidate from their resort. The CSCUSA committee of judges,
comprised of industry peers, chooses award finalists based on an
application letter and interview. Final judging criteria include
professionalism, dedication, contribution, leadership and
attitude.
CSCUSA Annual Industry Awards recognize the year's most
outstanding performers in the categories of: Slope Groomer,
Snowmaker, Terrain Master, Ski Patroller, Instructor, Adaptive
Athlete, Male All-Star Athlete, Female All-Star Athlete and
Lifetime Achievement.
This year's winners are as follows:
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Sergeant Major William Brown
William Brown was born in1922, in Cascade, Idaho. He first started
skiing at the age of 8 and won his first race when he was in the
seventh grade. As a youngster he was Idaho Junior Slalom and
All-Around Junior Champion. Proceeding to the University of
Idaho in 1941 on a full skiing scholarship, he became a member of
the College All American Ski Team. While at the University of Idaho
he won the National Intercollegiate cross-country and Nordic
Championships and also became an accomplished downhill skier.
He entered military service in 1942. Colorado became home for Bill when he was transferred to Camp Hale to serve with the famed 10th Mountain Division. While living in Colorado he also served in the Korean War.
During recuperation from injuries received in the line of duty, Bill organized the first annual Junior Nationals, coached three Junior National Championship Teams, and was invited to participate in the 1948 Olympic Team, but could not compete due to injuries received in the line of duty. In 1952 he again missed participation on the Olympic Team because of injuries.
The army sent Bill to Dartmouth where he spent several years organizing and maintaining a winter warfare R.O.T.C. program. In 1966 he retired from the army with the rank of Senior Sergeant Major. That same year, Pete Seibert and Bob Parker invited him to Vail Mountain to serve as the mountain manager, where his reputation for slope maintenance became legendary.
He was mountain manager for Vail from 1966 until his retirement in 1989. His accomplishments include developing a world class mountain communications system, designing improvements for slope maintenance machines, developing a White House secret service ski unit and an FBI mountain trained anti-terrorist detail. He developed new standards for re-vegetation and anti-erosion methods, as well as standards and techniques for international race management that were accepted as "state of the art" throughout the world.
Bill is honored in the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and the Colorado Ski Museum Hall of Fame and represents the highest level of national ski achievement in America.
SLOPE GROOMER OF THE YEAR
Douglas Trostel- Groomer, Winter Park
Doug has been described as a fair and loyal leader with a leadership style that is displayed with quiet authority and by providing a positive example for his peers. Although he is not an outgoing person, his knowledge and experience shine through. Going beyond being a team player, whenever someone is needed to stay late, Doug volunteers, whenever something needs to be fixed, Doug takes care of it. Winter Park believes his personality and work ethic contribute to the dedication shown by his peers on his crew. After 36 years with Winter Park Doug continues to lead the way for grooming excellence.
SNOWMAKER OF THE YEAR
Meg McAmmnd- Snowmaker, Copper Mountain
Resort
Meg is the perfect example of an all around snowmaker. In her six year career at Copper Mountain, she hasn't had a single safety infraction. Meg personally takes pride in developing junior snowmakers and her mentoring of new crew members is top notch. All crews have the utmost respect for her and her work ethic. If she sees a problem with bad equipment or an unsafe environment she is the first to fix the issue. Her excitement for making snow carries over to her coworkers. Her love of snow is evident in her need for endless winters; working at Copper for a season, and then heading south for more of the same. Anyone that comes in contact with her knows right off the bat that she loves what she does.
TERRAIN MASTER OF THE YEAR
Sean Daniels- Master Terrain Dude, Winter
Park
Sean has been a dedicated employee of Winter Park for 17 years. The resort managed to lure him away from a near-by ski area, and since the day he started Winter Park has been thankful. He has logged countless hours in the parks, and as a result, Winter Park has gone from having an unknown Terrain Park to ranking seventh in North America in just three years. Sean's ability to foresee a finished product, his tremendous skill set, and his dedication to put in 20 hour days is the reason Winter Park was able to open their four parks before Christmas. Sean is one of the most accomplished and well rounded skiers on the mountain, whether he's on a board, tellies or downhill skis. He is also a freestyle coach and can often be found in the area he has sculpted. He keeps the parks exciting by changing the features and appearance, but more importantly, is his ability to keep it safe. His expertise includes backcountry safety skills and he has been featured in the Denver Post for his backcountry guiding.
SKI PATROLLER OF THE YEAR
Kevin Lukanski, Professional Ski Patrol & New Hire
Training Coordinator, Copper Mountain Resort
Kevin just finished his fourth season with Copper Mountain's ski patrol and his 14th season working with the resort. He spent the beginning of his career in the rental retail division and made his transition to ski patrol in the fall of 2004. His positive attitude and maturity have helped him excel quickly in the patrol group. He became a point person for Copper's special events, going above and beyond the call of duty to make sure the responsibilities on the mountain were covered. In his third patrol season Kevin became the New Hire Training Coordinator for Copper's ski patrol. Not only does Kevin train new patrollers, he is instrumental in the hiring process. Because of his hard work, positive attitude and sense of humor, Copper has been able to assemble an outstanding patrol team.
INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR
Dave "Mac" McGuire, PSIA Level III Instructor & Rocky
Mountain Examiner, Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Dave is an exceptional member of the staff at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. As a ski instructor, he embraces the guest-centered approach to teaching and believes that building relationships with his students is the foundation for achieving students' goals. Dave is respected by his peers, and staff members instinctively gravitate to him for input, advice, and direction with their skiing, teaching, and certification. Dave is also a committed professional. He has devoted his career to Crested Butte for 27 seasons, establishing his home, raising his family, and fully dedicating his professional life to ski teaching. He continues to perform and produce at the highest level after 27 seasons, always improving his skills, presentations, and desire to enhance the experience for every one of his students. This pursuit of betterment gives Dave a "forever young" image and positions him on the leading edge of his life's passion.
ADAPTIVE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Heath Calhoun, Challenge Aspen
Heath exemplifies dedication, commitment, and leadership in the sport of disabled alpine racing. Heath is determined to become the best mono skier in the world and compete in future Paralympics for the United States. He has progressed rapidly with his skiing and racing skills due to his year-round commitment to the sport. One of his highlights this season was having a first place finish in the slalom at the eastern NorAm in March. Heath is a leader among his peers and is a team player in a sport with an individual focus. Heath not only focuses on disabled skiing but juggles his full time training schedule with commitments to his sponsors and to the Wounded Warrior Project where he assists other injured soldiers with rehabilitation. He enhances the sport of disabled skiing with his professionalism and dedication.
MALE ALL-STAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Zak Watkins, Telluride Ski and Snowboard Club
In the individual sport of freestyle skiing, Zak shows a team spirit that is contagious. He leads the team with his care-free, fun-loving attitude on which the sport of freestyle skiing was built. He reminds many of the unabashed love we all have for skiing and the niche which was created for freestyle skiing. He embodies that spirit and reminds us just how much fun the sport can be. This, blended with a serious commitment to training and always striving to better himself makes him a competitive force. For Zak, freestyle skiing is about friendships, fun and camaraderie, but his support of developmental athletes is what makes him really excel. Through his own generosity as a person, he has become a better skier- continually giving back to the program by helping at events and mentoring up and coming athletes. He has the heart, mind set and talent to become a U.S. Team member.
FEMALE ALL-STAR ATHLETE OF THE
YEAR
Erika Ghent, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail
Erika has a dedication to her athletics and camaraderie with not only her teammates in Vail, but also with other athletes throughout the region. She has demonstrated what it takes to be a great ski racer; while at the same time, be an outstanding member and representative of SSCV. She is always helping others, even if it takes away from her valuable training time. Although injured this fall during a training session, Erika has made an amazing recovery. This setback came at a very significant time of her career and Erika needed outstanding results to be able to continue her dream of making the U.S. Ski Team. Although there were struggles through the middle of her season, she was able to dig deep and make things happen, never losing the kind and caring side of her personality.
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Colorado Ski Country USA is the not-for-profit trade association representing 22 Colorado ski & snowboard resorts. Information about the organization and its members can be found at www.coloradoski.com.
