Avon, CO – Longtime ski racing journalist, broadcaster and Bend, Ore. resident Steve Porino was honored during the annual Audi Birds of Prey World Cup stop at Beaver Creek in Colorado with the FIS Journalist Award for his service in bringing ski racing to the public. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) and the International Ski Federation (FIS) present the award annually.
Porino, who competed on the FIS World Cup tour as a downhiller with the U.S. Ski Team for five years, now serves as a commentator for NBC Sports. His career as a journalist began with Ski Racing Magazine, then led to a host of broadcast stints leading up to his career with NBC.
“Steve has brought our sport to life as a journalist,” said USSA President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “His insights have helped grow the public awareness of alpine ski racing in America.”
“This is a great honor,” said Porino. “For me, though, it’s fun – ski racing is what I love.”
Porino retired from the U.S. Ski Team in 1992. He broke into journalism somewhat by accident, writing articles as a ski coach at Snowbird in Utah. He was then recruited to be an editor at Ski Racing Magazine from 1997-2004. He also began doing broadcast work, which has taken him to Outdoor Life Network, ESPN and others, before settling in as one of the key commentators for the Universal Sports Network and now NBC Sports.
He was presented with the award during the U.S. Ski Team’s annual alumni reunion in Beaver Creek on Saturday.
FIS JOURNALIST AWARD
U.S. Recipients
2015 – Steve Porino, NBC
2014 – John Dakin, Vail Valley Foundation (presented in Feb. 2015)
2013 – John Meyer, Denver Post
2012 – Jonathan Selkowitz, Photographer
2011 – Tim Ryan, NBC
2010 – Hank McKee, Ski Racing
2010 – Paul Robbins, Freelance Journalist
2008 – Mike Clark, Associated Press
2007 – Gary Black, Ski Racing
2002 – Peter Diamond, NBC
2002 – Joe Jay Jalbert, Jalbert Productions
2001 – Anita Verschoth, Sports Illustrated
1999 – Charlie Meyers, Denver Post
1998 – John Fry, Ski Magazine
1997 – Bob Beattie, ABC/ESPN
1996 – William Oscar Johnson, Sports Illustrated