Bend, OR – Keith Petrie has been honored with the Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association’s (PNSAA) Mel Borgersen Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes outstanding service to the Pacific Northwest ski industry. It is reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to winter sports facilities over the course of a ski industry career based in the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S.nAfter a 15-year career as a forester, Petrie’s ski area operator career officially began in 1967, when he was hired as Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort’s first general manager, overseeing the ski area’s development, construction, and formative years of operation. Subsequently, Petrie managed the ski facilities at Anthony Lakes (Oregon), Mt. Spokane (Washington), and Multorpor Ski Bowl (Oregon). While affiliated with these ski areas, Petrie shared his expertise and time with the PNSAA organization. Petrie served as the chairman of the PNSAA Board of Directors for 11 years, and was an active member of the PNSAA – Oregon Zone and PNSAA – Washington Zone from 1970 to 1994. He served as executive director of the PNSAA – Oregon Zone from 1983 to 1994. He also served six years on the National Ski Areas Association’s (NSAA) Board of Directors.

In 1984, Petrie became executive director of the Mt. Hood Recreation Association, where he helped establish the Oregon Ski Industries Association (also known as OSIA or SKI OREGON) and helped represent the interests of Oregon-based ski area operations. He served as OSIA’s secretary, treasurer, and executive director. He retired from the Mt. Hood Recreation Association in 1993. Counting his tenure at the Mt. Hood Recreation Association and his time with the ski areas, Petrie actively represented the ski industry at the Oregon Legislative Assembly for 25 years.

Petrie’s civic and industry contributions are numerous. He served as a member and chairman of the Oregon Winter Sports Advisory Council, where he advised the Oregon Department of Transportation on the development of Oregon’s innovative, sno-park program. Petrie was instrumental in the Oregon Legislature’s passage of the skier safety statutes. Additionally, he helped establish standards for the night lighting of ski trails, regulations for studded tire use, formulation of “Good Samaritan” laws, and he contributed meaningfully to the development of American national standards for passenger ropeways (ANSI B77). Petrie served as a board member and president of the Travel Industry Council of Oregon. In 1994, Petrie was honored with the revered Portlandia Award, which recognizes excellence in the promotion of tourism in Portland, and more broadly in Oregon.

“The Mel Borgersen Lifetime Achievement Award has been shared with just seven individuals since the PNSAA’s inception in 1957 and it is the highest honor bestowed by the Association,” noted Scott Kaden, president of the Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association. “Keith’s contributions to Pacific Northwest ski area operations are vast, and his tireless promotion of mountain recreation is matched by only a few Northwest snow sport pioneers.”