RENO, Nev. — The Far West Ski Association conducted its 81st Annual Convention and Meeting June 6-9 at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino in Reno, hosted by the Bay Area Snow Sports Council.

The Far West Ski Association, founded in 1930, is a volunteer, non-profit organization representing 180 affiliated ski clubs located throughout eleven regional councils in the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

In addition to the 225 ski club delegates attending the annual meeting, about 100 ski and sports industry representatives participated in the weekend’s events.

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The 28th Annual Silent Auction raised more than $36,000 to support Far West Ski Association (FWSA) programs, while the following afternoon was dedicated to a presentation by Truckee’s Candace Cable, a former U.S. Paralympian with 12 medals, including eight gold.

Annual recognition awards were presented Saturday night to members of the ski industry, media, volunteers, racing leagues, councils and ski clubs.

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The Industry Awards included the FWSA Tommi Tyndall Award for Outstanding Ski Industry Contribution, which went to Mt. Bachelor; the FWSA Bill Mackey Award for Outstanding Ski Industry Employee, which went to Brandon Bang of Big Sky; and the FWSA Jimmie Heuga Award for Outstanding Humanitarian, which went to Fred Noble.

William A Kerig and Whitney Childers received the FWSA Warren Miller Modern Media Award for their movie “Ready to Fly,” and Sylas Wright of the Sierra Sun received the FWSA Bill Berry Award for Hard News. The FWSA Snowsports Builder Award was presented to Doug Pringle, president of Disabled Sports USA Far West Division; Vern Sprock, founder of Sierra Ski Ranch; and Arthur Chelton Leonard, 10th Mountain Division veteran and major contributor to Reno/Tahoe skiing.

Bill Clark, executive director of the Auburn Ski Club, received the FWSA Hans Georg Award for long-term service to organized skiing.

Nancy Ellis of Truckee received the FWSA Elizabeth “Schatzi” Wood Award for a decisive contribution to skiing, and Bob Ellis of Truckee received the J. Stanley Mullin Award for a decisive contribution to skiing. The FWSA Jordan-Reily Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Affairs went to Judy Dorsey, president of the Brendle Group, and the Terry Smith Award for greatly contributing to the advancement of intramural skiing went to Ken Kawahara of Los Angeles Council ULLR Race League (Mammoth Lakes).

The FWSA Council’s Man & Woman of the Year program, sponsored by Big White, recognized Jennifer Milstein of Bay Area Snow Sports Council and Dale Parshall of Northwest Ski Club Council. FWSA Presidents Awards were given to Catherine Ohl (San Diego), Jane Wyckoff (Irvine), Ted Ligety (US Ski Team) and Mikaela Shiffrin (US Ski Team).

The Tollakson Award for the Outstanding Ski Club was presented to Reno Ski & Recreation Club for Class AAA and Pacific Rim Alliance for Class AA. The Wentworth Award for the Outstanding Publication was presented to Reno Ski & Recreation Club (Class AAA), Pacific Rim Alliance (Class AA) and to The Unrecables (Class A).

The Outstanding Website Awards were given to Mountain High Snowsports Club (Class AAA); Fresno Ski Club (Class AA) and to Skiyente Ski Club (Class A). Los Angeles Council of Ski Clubs received the Outstanding Council Publication Award and Northwest Ski Club Council received the Outstanding Council Website Award. The FWSA Charity & Community Service Recognition was presented to Fresno Ski Club and Los Angeles Council of Ski Clubs.

Special presentations were made to Gordon Lusk (Beaverton, Ore.) for the FWSA Safety Person of the Year Award. The FWSA Western Ski Heritage Award was presented to Ingrid Wicken (Glendale, Calif.). 

Elections were held on the final day of the convention. FWSA officers for 2013-2014 include President Linda Scott (Cheyenne, Wyo.); Past President Randy Lew (Wilsonville, Ore.); Secretary Wanda Ross (Cupertino, Calif.); Treasurer Linda Coxen (West Linn, Ore.); Chairperson Board of Trustees Linda Westlund (Scottsdale, Ariz.); VP Communications Jim Nachbar (Scottsdale, Ariz.); VP Council Services Jo Simpson (Reno); VP Marketing Debbi Kor (Vancouver, Wash.); VP Membership Mary Azevedo (Walnut Creek, Calif.); VP Public Affairs Mike Sanford (San Diego); VP North American Travel Nancy Ellis (Truckee); VP International Travel Debbie Stewart (Visalia, Calif.); VP Racing Bob Ellis (Truckee); Trustees Steve Coxen (West Linn, Ore.), David Krupp (Santa Monica, Calif.), and Jane Wyckoff (Irvine, Calif.).

The 82nd Annual Far West Ski Association Convention is scheduled for June 12-15, 2014, in Bend, Ore., hosted by the Northwest Ski Club Council. For more info, go to http://www.fwsa.org.