Denver, CO – With the help of former Olympian and X Games star Gretchen Bleiler, Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) last week acknowledged outstanding industry professionals at its first-ever Double Diamond Awards Dinner. The event capped off the program for CSCUSA’s 47th Annual Meeting. The industry trade group awarded snow maintenance professionals, athletes, instructors, and ski patrollers for their leadership and commitment to the state’s ski industry.nEach year, coaches, ski resort supervisors and managers nominate one outstanding candidate from each category 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.
Double Diamond Award recipients this year ranged from industry veterans to up-and-coming winter athletes and terrain professionals. Double Diamond Awards were given in the categories of: Terrain Master, Slope Groomer, Snowmaker, Instructor, Ski Patroller, Female All-Star Athlete, and Male All-Star Athlete. CSCUSA also gave out the organization’s annual Chairman’s Award and President’s Award.
Double Diamond Awards for snow professionals went to:
Terrain Master – Jeff Kubick, Copper Mountain
Jeff Kubick has been an accomplished groomer at Copper Mountain for years and is always eager to learn and expand his skill set. He has taken on the job of making some of Copper’s smaller parks have a larger park look and feel, while still maintaining a high level of safety and consistency. Kubick has also taken on the challenge of cutting one of the most highly visible pipes in Colorado, which runs next to Copper’s main lift. Last summer, he made more strides when he took on the challenge of building — and every weekend re-building — the first-ever summer camp park in Colorado, which remained open until July 26th.
Slope Groomer – Dick Dreyer, Arapahoe Basin
For the past 32 years, Dick Dreyer has been spending his nights grooming at A-Basin. Given A-Basin’s long season, he is one of the first groomers to start working and usually one the last to finish his work for the season. He has been open to change and welcomed the addition of snowmaking, new terrain parks and the ski area’s expansion into Montezuma Bowl. He played a significant role in preparing that terrain, not only in creating the grooming plan but also with construction. As the lead driver at A-Basin, Dreyer is also responsible for training new drivers in snowcat operations, work ethic, safety and teamwork.
Snowmaker – Adam Makela, Eldora
Adam Makela is a true local. He grew up in the Nederland area and started riding Eldora at a young age. When he graduated high school, Makela was attracted to a snowmaking position at the mountain, and has now been with the resort for six years. In that time, he has transitioned from rookie snowmaker to leader in the department; he is now the lead foreman, supervising night snowmaking operations. After the snowmaking season, Makela spent time working for several other departments at Eldora, including lift operations, terrain park, and summer trail crew. He has also recently been trained to drive a snowcat and, in the 2009-10 season, he worked for the first time as a groomer.
Double Diamond Awards for Athlete of the Year went to:
Female All-Star Athlete of the Year – Rebecca Miller, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club
Miller began skiing when she was only five years old and was instantly inspired to start competing, which she eventually did when she turned 11. Since then, she has compiled quite the list of athletic triumphs, including bronze and silver medals in the Junior Olympics, two seasons as a member of the Colorado All Star Team, and being ranked in the top 20 women freestyle athletes in the U.S. for Dual Moguls.
After graduating high school with a 4.0 GPA, Miller was accepted to the Air Force Academy, but deferred to pursue her skiing career. She has since been part of an elite training group that trains six days each week from May 1st through March, and meanwhile finds time to mentor young skiers and to work as a waitress during the evenings.
Male All-Star Athlete of the Year – Spencer Nelson, University of Colorado
As one of three male skiers selected to compete for Colorado University (CU) at NCAA’s, Spencer Nelson helped lead his school team to finish second overall. No one would be able to guess that less than a year before, he had gone through a severe motorcycle accident in which he broke his back. Nelson’s passion for skiing was never hindered, and he showed up to take the All-Star Conditioning Assessment only a few months after his accident. His goals now are to compete in the national championship and to do well in his business classes at CU. The combination of his fantastic alpine skiing record and his academic accomplishments highlight his determination, work ethic and perseverance.
Double Diamond Awards for Instructor of the Year and Ski Patroller of the Year went to:
Instructor of the Year – Richard Thorpe, Telluride
Richard Thorpe began his career as a ski instructor in 1971 and, though he has pursued other paths, Richard has always remained determined to be able to do what he loves best: teach people how to ski. For the last decade, Thorpe has worked at Telluride Ski Resort and is now a private lesson instructor and trainer. He has performed consistently in a variety of positions and roles, including instructor, trainer, coach and ski school council member. Whether he is teaching young first-timers or helping long-time skiers perfect their skills, Thorpe is loved and respected by his clients for his kind and honest approach. His strong work ethic and exceptional people skills make him one of the most successful instructors at Telluride, and in all of Colorado.
Patroller of the Year – Tony Cammarata, Arapahoe Basin
Tony Cammarata has been a valuable asset to the Ski Patrol at Arapahoe Basin for 16 years. Currently the Assistant Patrol Director, Cammarata is always willing to jump into action and do whatever is needed to keep mountain operations running smoothly. Specifically, he has implemented and improved many aspects of the A-Basin medical program. During the off-season, he remains closely connected with the medical field as a paramedic and employee at the local hospital. It is easy to see why he was the recipient of the National Ski Patrol’s Purple Merit Star for taking life-saving actions. Cammarata is a charismatic and versatile leader, with the ability to motivate those around him.
The last two awards given at the Double Diamond Awards Dinner were the President’s Award and the Chairman’s Award:
President’s Award – Alan Henceroth, Arapahoe Basin
Alan Henceroth started working at Arapahoe Basin in 1988. During the last twenty-two years, he has been the Ski Patrol Director, Mountain Manager, Director of Mountain Operations, and the Chief Operating Officer. Henceroth’s commitment to his career in the ski industry is accentuated by his dedication and passion for everything he does. Beyond his unending support for all things skiing, he has made an indelible impression on the Colorado ski industry. Besides his work at A-Basin, Henceroth is involved with a number of ski organizations and civic associations, including chairing the Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board, sitting on the board of directors for Team Summit, actively participating in CSCUSA’s Operations Committee, and most recently, being named to the National Ski Areas Association Board of Directors.
“Whether it’s service on an important board or committee that needs industry representation or brainstorming solutions to individual issues, he’s a go-to guy for us,” said Melanie Mills, President of CSCUSA.
Chairman’s Award – CSCUSA Snowmakers, Slope Groomers, and Terrain Masters
Rather than award one individual standout in the Colorado ski industry, this year the Chairman’s Award honored all of the snowmakers, slope groomers and terrain masters of Colorado Ski Country USA for their exceptional performance this past season. In a season where snowfall totals were 26% below the ten-year average, the work of these professionals to make and perfect the snow at CSCUSA resorts became all the more important.