Far West Ski Association (FWSA), founded in 1930, is a volunteer non-profit organization representing 150 affiliated ski clubs located throughout nine 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, racing, communications, travel, council development, ski industry, and community outreach.
Tahoe Donner Senior Alpine Ski Club is a member of Sierra Council in FWSA which provides members the opportunities to take part in its travel programs to domestic and international locations, ski/board racing, attendance at annual conventions, and access to member discounts for lodging, ski equipment and services, and adventure activities.
FWSA awards Athletic Scholarships to developing Alpine ski racers participating in programs within the Far West geographic region. Scholarships assist athletes who are committed to pursuing a competitive Alpine racing program. Scholarship funds may be used to offset training expenses and competition entrance fees. Local athletes who have benefitted from FWSA scholarships recently include Harrison Goss (Squaw Valley); AJ Hurt (Squaw Valley); Max Wingard (Squaw Valley); Haley Louis (Sugar Bowl); Noah Williams (Squaw Valley); JP Fouric (Sugar Bowl); and Lila Lapanja (US Ski Team).
Visit the Far West Ski Association website, fwsa.org, or go to the “Links” tab to access the site directly to find out about the many programs, membership services, and travel opportunities available to TDSASC members!
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Far West News Flash
April, 2018
Far West Ski Association
WHO & WHAT’S NEW FOR 2018
Silver Star Celebrates 60 Years: Sixty years of fun has been celebrated throughout this past season at Silver Star Mountain Resort. The folks at Silver Star hope that your visit with them was an exceptional one, as always.
FAR WEST CONVENTION
LESS THAN TWO Months & Counting - Far West’s 86th Annual Convention: The Far West Ski Association is SHOUTING OUT to all snowsports enthusiasts to attend its’ 86th Annual Convention, to be held at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, June 7-10, 2018, in beautiful Reno, Nevada.
Your four-day weekend will be busy with optional activities on Thursday and Friday, Public Affairs panel discussions on forestry programs and slope sustainability, as well as skier safety, ski history, athletic scholarships, racing, communications, travel, council development, ski industry and community outreach. The event is being hosted by the Bay Area Snow Sports Council and Sierra League and Council.
The Silent Auction & Trade Show, on Friday evening, provides attendees the opportunity to bid on ski and travel packages, and discuss future trip plans with our industry partners. The event is open to the public, with no cost to attend, and a free beverage for everyone. We are hoping for a large turnout from the Reno community.
Besides the Education and Public Affairs sessions, Saturday morning brings the Travel Expo, Racing Seminar and Bid Presentations for 2020 Far West Ski Week, while your evening will be celebrated with the Awards Banquet and dancing to the sounds of the local band “Sweet Success”. Sunday will be the time for our Annual Meeting and Elections of new officers.
Delegate Registration Packets have long since been sent out. If your club has still not received theirs, please contact your ski club council President immediately. All Convention information, including registration forms, Optional Activity descriptions, and leadership info for the 86th Annual Far West Ski Association Convention is available at www.fwsa.org.
FAR WEST ELECTIONS
Election of FWSA Officers: Election of officers will occur at the FWSA Annual Meeting and Convention June 7-10, 2018. Delegates will elect their President, Secretary, and Treasurer to one-year terms and two (2) Trustee positions for two-year terms. In addition, four functional Vice Presidents will be elected for two-year terms. Below, is the current list of nominees for 2018-2019 ski season:
President – Gloria Raminha
Secretary – Sheri Parshall (incumbent)
Treasurer – Randy Lew (incumbent)
VP of Communications – no declared candidate
VP of International Travel – Debbie Stewart (incumbent)
VP of Marketing – Debbi Kor (incumbent)
VP of Membership – Michael Bouton
Trustee Position – Fran Long (incumbent), Linda Westlund, Norbert Knapp
If you are interested in being a candidate for any of the above positions, please contact Steve Coxen, Nominating Committee Chair by email at sacoxen2000@gmail.com. Steve will not be a candidate for any FWSA officer or board position in 2018. For a copy of FWSA Qualifications for the positions of President, Treasurer, Trustee and VP of International Travel, please contact Steve Coxen, Nominating Committee Chair by email at sacoxen2000@gmail.com.
All candidates must be members in good standing of clubs affiliated with FWSA or a direct member of FWSA. Qualified nominees for any of the open positions will be accepted up to the date and time of the elections.
FWSA By-Laws, Job Descriptions and the Operations Manual are available on the FWSA website at www.fwsa.org. Click on the “About” tab, then click on the “Governance” tab.
For information or advice on running for any FWSA office contact any member of the FWSA Nominating Committee:
· Steve Coxen, Nominations Committee Chair – sacoxen2000@gmail.com
· Arleigh Meiners, Arizona Ski Council President – arleigh.meiners@cox.net
· Todd Hood, Succession Planning Committee Chair – todd@itsmailed.com
FAR WEST TRAVEL
Far West Windjammer Sailboat Adventure Trip: 3 Deluxe cabins STILL AVAILABLE on the 2019 Island Windjammer Sailboat Adventure Trip aboard the NEW sailing vessel Vela. The ship departs Tortola and will sail May 19-26, 2019. Extended stay on the island of Tortola will be available. Contact Sheri Parshall at cougskier@aol.com or visit http://www.fwsa.org/Travel/Cruise/2T019-FWSA-Windjammer for more information.
Far West International Adventure Trip, 2018: Far West will be going on an adventure trip to India. The dates are set for October 5-21, 2018. We will be visiting all the must-see places while in Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. Of course, we’ll be visiting the UNESCO world heritage site of the Taj Mahal. We’ll also be traveling by air, motor coach and by train to get the true experience of India. Included will be Ranthambore National ark where we’ll be on 2 animal safaris. Contact Debbie Stewart: fwsaintltrvl@prodigy.net. *
*This trip is limited to 35 participants, so mark your calendars now as the marketing materials are currently being prepared.
Far West Dive Trip 2018: Selling Out Fast…the 2018 FWSA Dive Trip will be to the beautiful Cobalt Coast Resort on the wonderful island of Grand Cayman from September 15 – 22, 2018! Additional information along with the registration form is available on our website www.fwsa.org. Email Randy Lew: fwsa13randy@telis.org for more information.
FAR WEST COUNCILS
San Diego Council of Ski Clubs: In 2019, SDCSC will be doing a trip through Australia and New Zealand, October 13 – November 1, with a pre-trip to Melbourne, Alice Springs October 9-13, and post-trip to Fiji, November 1-5, 2019. Grand Circle Tours will be the tour operator on this amazing trip to Cairns and Sydney, Australia; Queenstown, New Zealand, Rotorua, and Auckland, before returning back home. Contact Eileen Sanford (esanford660@gmail.com) for more information.
Aspen - December 6-12, 2018: The Annual Aspen ski trip will be taking place again this year. If you buy the IKON pass from deanna@ski.com, you will receive $30 off your SDCSC Aspen trip. The pass, on sale now, includes Mammoth, Bear Mountain, Aspen and Steamboat. The Aspen early sign up party will be June 23, 2018 at the Sanfords’ house. At that time, deposits will be taken, and online registration will be open. Contact powerskristinam@gmail.com for more information.
Amsterdam to Bruges- April 27- May 4, 2019: The Amsterdam Bike & Boat will be an amazing bike trip. The trip spends three days cycling in Belgium which will introduce you to famous brands of Belgium beer each served in their special style glass and of course Belgium waffles!. Three professional guides will be with the group on daily long or short ride. We will be on the brand new, luxurious boat, the Magnifique III , with some large suites featuring outside decks, satellite TV and a jacuzzi on the top deck. Come join us for this wonderful adventure! Contact Eileen Sanford- esanford660@gmail.com for more information.
Sierra League And Council: Sierra Council 's Reno Ski and Recreation has reduced the price on their 2019 Big Sky, Montana, January 12-19, 2019, trip to $1,775. They are waiving the club membership fee for any FWSA club members who would like to participate. The trip includes lodging and breakfast at the ski in/ski out Huntley Lodge, a sleigh ride with dinner, and a top-of-the-mountain farewell dinner. Contact Mary Kelly: mkellyintahoe@sbcglobal.net to sign up.
Los Angeles Council of Ski Clubs: New officers were elected recently into LAC’s Board of Directors. Serving for the 2018-2019 season will be: President, Sandy Blackwell; Secretary, Sandra Knapp; VP of Membership, Erin Hayden; VP of Programs, Sandy Blackwell, and VP of Travel, Jane Wyckoff. Installation of new officers will be May 7, at Delancey’s. Besides these newly elected officers, Hannah Niishimoto, of the Unrecables, has been named LA Council’s Woman of the Year, and will be representing them at this years’ convention in Reno. Congratulations, Hannah.
SAYING GOODBYE TO A LEGEND
Bob Beattie, former U.S. Ski Team coach, and skiing and Olympics commentator, has died at the age of 85. Beattie passed away on Easter Sunday at his son’s home in Fruita, Colorado. Bob adopted Aspen as his second home when he moved there in 1970. Beattie put U.S. skiing on the international map in the 60’s. He was named Head Alpine Coach for the U.S. Ski Team in 1961, and led the U.S. to four medals in the 1964 Olympics, including the first two medals, ever, by the men’s team in Alpine skiing, won by Billy Kidd and Jimmy Heuga. He also coached the ski team in the 1968 Olympics.
Bob was well-known as a skiing and Olympics Commentator for ABC Sports, where he started working in 1969. He led the University of Colorado ski team to the NCAA Championships in 1959 and 1960. He was inducted into the National Ski Hall of Fame in 1984, and inducted into the Aspen Hall of Fame in 2004.
Of all his major accomplishments in ski racing, Bob was most proud of helping establish the program through the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club that gets Roaring Fork Valley kids out on the slopes at little to no cost. More than 1500 kids participate in the program. Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club has renamed their base camp to honor Bob.
FAR WEST CONVENTION
Far West’s 86th Annual Convention: The Far West Ski Association invites all snowsports enthusiasts to attend its’ 86th Annual Convention, to be held at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, June 7-10, 2018.
Delegates will be busy throughout Convention Weekend discussing programs in public affairs, skier safety, ski heritage, athletic scholarships, racing, communications, travel, council development, ski industry and community outreach. The event will be hosted by the Bay Area Snow Sports Council and Sierra League and Council.
The Silent Auction &Trade Show gives attendees the opportunity to bid on ski and travel packages. This event is open to the public and there is no cost to attend, so we are hoping for a large turnout.
The rest of the weekend will be filled with Education Sessions and Public Affairs sessions on Saturday morning and afternoon, followed by our Awards Banquet on Saturday evening, recognizing outstanding club members and industry partners. Sunday winds up with our Annual Meeting and Elections.
Additional information about all the programs to be conducted at the 86th Annual Far West Ski Association Convention and registration information is available at www.fwsa.org.
FWSA Recognition Awards Nominations Due March 25: The deadline for submitting nominations for the FWSA Recognition Awards is March 26. These awards are great ways to have your club or council recognized for your good work--and to honor hardworking volunteers. Applications and instructions for all the awards are on the FWSA website. The awards nominations due March 25 are: Safety, Western Ski Heritage, Charity and Community, History, and Environment Award.
Charities and Community Service Recognition Program: DEADLINE: March 25, 2018
FWSA encourages all clubs and councils to get involved with charities and community service. FWSA will award the winning clubs $200 and the second place with a $50 donation to the club's favorite charity. The winning council will receive a $100 check for their favorite charity. The top two Clubs and the winning Council will be invited to display a picture board at Convention. All groups that apply will be recognized at Convention. Information and applications can be obtained on the Far West website: www.fwsa.org. For any Charity & Community Service questions, contact Sigrid Noack at skisig@gmail.com.
SAFETY PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD: DEADLINE: March 25, 2018
RECOGNITION: Telluride Ski Resort has donated a 5-night ski package for two with lodging, 4-day lift tickets, and 4-day rentals.
DESCRIPTION: The FWSA is a proponent of safety in skiing and snowboarding. Every year we hear about tragic deaths and injuries that happen during our favorite winter activities that remind us of the great importance of safety. We have a number of ways in which we promote safety and one of our more viable ways is through the Safety Award. The award is for the individual, within the association, that has done the most to promote safety through a number of criteria. These include articles on slope safety, and other ways to raise safety consciousness. The link to detailed information and entry form is: http://fwsa.org/MemberCorner/Programs/program-safety.html
CONTACT: Richard Lubin DC, FWSA Safety Chair, 925-828-7454, botaboardr@comcast.net; and Paula Hazard, VP of Public Affairs, 310-283-2992, paulashomeoffice@aol.com
WESTERN SKI HERITAGE AWARD: DEADLINE: March 25, 2018
RECOGNITION: Since 2000, Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation has donated a 5-night ski package for two with lodging, lift tickets, rentals, on-mountain tour, half-day lessons and a lunch at Ragnar's Restaurant.
DESCRIPTION: The Far West Western Ski Heritage program annually recognizes the best effort in the prior year that communicates the contributions of snowsports to the community at large. The purpose of the Far West Western Ski Heritage program is to raise the awareness of snowsports participants and non-participants alike of the contributions made by individuals, groups and companies to all aspects of snowsports – 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 snowsports history to find, preserve, document and share the history of snowsports in the West. The Award 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 link to detailed information and entry form is: http://fwsa.org/MemberCorner/Programs/program-wsh.html
CONTACT: John Watson, FWSA History Committee Chair, 760-723-6539, geospace@pacbell.net
ENVIRONMENT AWARD: DEADLINE: March 25, 2018
RECOGNITION: Sponsors, Aspen Skiing Company and Snowmass Tourism, The Gant and Crestwood Condominiums have donated a 5-night ski package for two with lodging, lift tickets, rentals, and a full-day group lesson.
DESCRIPTION: The Environment Award is designed to encourage good stewardship of our environment. We want to inspire and reward creative efforts to conserve and protect our environment. This award should recognize a special action that the applicant took, or something he or she put in place that made a difference. Some areas to consider are: Volunteering at the community level, particularly in a leadership role; conducting or arranging for an environmental event (s) for the club, council, or public; writing a series of columns regarding environmental conservation, education or protection in your ski club or ski club council newsletter; or being pro-active in environmental protection.
CONTACT: Paula Hazard, VP of Public Affairs, 310-283-2992, paulashomeoffice@aol.com
FAR WEST HISTORICAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM: DEADLINE: March 25, 2018
Communication Awards: Club and Council Newsletter and Website and Outstanding Club. The newsletter and website nominations are super simple this year. Just send a link to your newsletter or website to Paul Vlasveld at: pvlasveld@comcast.net. Also, you don't have to name a judge. Please consider entering! There's still time!
FAR WEST ELECTIONS
Election of FWSA Officers: Election of officers will occur at the FWSA Annual Meeting and Convention June 7-10, 2018. Delegates will elect their President, Secretary, and Treasurer to one-year terms and two (2) Trustee positions for two-year terms. In addition, the following functional Vice Presidents will be elected for two-year terms:
VP of Communications – no declared candidate
VP of International Travel – Debbie Stewart (incumbent)
VP of Marketing – Debbi Kor (incumbent)
VP of Membership – no declared candidate
If you are interested in being a candidate for any of the above positions, please contact Steve Coxen, Nominating Committee Chair by email at sacoxen2000@gmail.com. Steve will not be a candidate for any FWSA officer or board position in 2018. For a copy of FWSA Qualifications for the positions of President, Treasurer, Trustee and VP of International Travel, please contact Steve Coxen, Nominating Committee Chair by email at sacoxen2000@gmail.com.
All candidates must be members in good standing of clubs affiliated with FWSA or a direct member of FWSA. Qualified nominees for any of the open positions will be accepted up to the date and time of the elections.
FWSA By-Laws, Job Descriptions and the Operations Manual are available on the FWSA website at www.fwsa.org. Click on the “About” tab, then click on the “Governance” tab.
For information or advice on running for any FWSA office contact any member of the FWSA Nominating Committee:
· Steve Coxen, Nominations Committee Chair – sacoxen2000@gmail.com
· Arleigh Meiners, Arizona Ski Council President – arleigh.meiners@cox.net
· Todd Hood, Succession Planning Committee Chair – todd@itsmailed.com
FAR WEST TRAVEL
Far West Windjammer Sailboat Adventure Trip: 2 Standard cabins and 2 Single cabins STILL AVAILABLE on the 2019 Island Windjammer Sailboat Adventure Trip aboard the sailing vessel Sagitta (24 passengers). The ship departs Tortola and will sail May 19-26, 2019. Extended stay on the island of Tortola will be available. Contact Sheri Parshall at cougskier@aol.com or visit http://www.fwsa.org/Travel/Cruise/2T019-FWSA-Windjammer for more information.
Far West International Adventure Trip, 2018: Far West will be going on an adventure trip to India. The dates are set for October 5-21, 2018. We will be visiting all the must-see places while in Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. Of course, we’ll be visiting the UNESCO world heritage site of the Taj Mahal. We’ll also be traveling by air, motor coach and by train to get the true experience of India. Included will be Ranthambore National Park where we’ll be on 2 animal safaris. Contact Debbie Stewart: fwsaintltrvl@prodigy.net*
*This trip is limited to 35 participants, so mark your calendars now as the marketing materials are currently being prepared.
Far West Dive Trip 2018: The 2018 FWSA Dive Trip will be to the beautiful Cobalt Coast Resort on the wonderful island of Grand Cayman from September 15 – 22, 2018! Additional information along with the registration form will be uploaded to our website www.fwsa.org in the very near future.
FAR WEST COUNCILS
San Diego Council of Ski Clubs: San Diego Council is planning a fun trip this Spring to the Mexico Wine Country and surrounding areas (Guadalupe and Santo Tomas Valley). This trip is planned for April 11-13. Contact Shirl Troxel for further information: troxel44@gmail.com. The other trip is a guided trip through Australia and New Zealand, October 13 – November 1, 2019, with a pre-trip to Melbourne, Alice Springs October 9-13, and post-trip to Fiji, November 1-5, 2019.. Grand Circle Tours will be the tour operator on this amazing trip to Cairns and Sydney, Australia; Queenstown, New Zealand, Rotorua, and Auckland, before returning back home. Contact Eileen Sanford (esanford660@gmail.com) for more information.
Intermountain Ski Council: Intermountain Ski Council is planning a couple fun trips. August 9-15, 2018, they are planning a rafting trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Trip includes Dutch oven dinners, all camping gear, including tents, sleeping bags, a sleeping pad, life jackets, wet suits, and waterproof bag for your clothing. They have opened this trip to other clubs and councils. Contact Lynda Clark: secretary@bogusbasinskiclub.org. Just 3 days after that, they have planned a 2-week adventure trip, biking, hiking and kayaking the Norwegian Fjords. Stay 3 nights in Copenhagen, 2 nights in Stavanger with day trip to Pulpit Rock (ferry, hiking), 3 nights in Bergen, 3 nights in Dragsvik (Balestrand), 2 nights in Oslo. Contact Carol Peterson: communications@BogusBasinSkiClub.org, or Mary Pribble: pribblem@hotmal.com for further information.*
*NOTE: All FWSA Ski Clubs are invited to join in on these trips.
The Legacy of Warren Miller: The most prolific and famous ski filmmaker of all time, Warren Miller passed away, peacefully at his home in Orcas Island, Washington on January 25, 2018. He wasn’t the first person to make a film about skiing, but he was the first to make a living at it. For six decades, Warren toured the country, and the world, exciting millions of skiers about people and places who share that same love of the sport.
Warren made his first ski film in 1946. He was among the first to document the growing ski bum culture, where young men and women moved to ski towns to take menial jobs just so they could ski. His films fueled that fire and helped it spread across the nation. He eventually produced more than 500 films and wrote hundreds of columns about skiing in various magazines. In 1989, he sold his company, Warren Miller Entertainment, to his son Kurt, and stepped away from the business.
It was ironic that Warren, who championed ski bums and freedom, eventually became the director of skiing at the private resort “The Yellowstone Club”, in Montana, and founded the Warren Miller Freedom Foundation to help children learn entrepreneurial skills. In later years, Miller hosted fireside chats at his home at the club, where he told, in that famous voice of his, tales of his grand life of adventure.
In 1982, Far West Ski Association presented its’ first Warren Miller Multi Media Award, and has given the award yearly, with few exceptions over these past 35 years. Far West is proud to have this relationship with Warren Miller and the Warren Miller Foundation. His legacy will live on.