FWSF Awards Grants

FWSF Awards Grants to The Unrecables & International Skiing History Association – The Women in Snowsports Industry Award

The Far West Ski Foundation awarded two grants at its winter quarterly meeting on December 5.  The Board of Trustees approved grants of $1,000 each for The Unrecables under its Adaptative & Rehabilitative mission, and the International Skiing History Association – The Women in Snowsports Industry Award, under its Preserving the Legacy mission.

The Unrecables is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization, serving the snowsports recreational needs of individuals with physical and mental disabilities.  The club provides free ski and snowboard instruction from volunteer PSIA-AASI Instructors, lift tickets and use of adaptive ski-snowboard equipment.  Many of their students and potential students are low income, and cannot afford travel and lodging up at Mammoth Mountain.  The Unrecables raises funds throughout the year for general expenses via their club membership dues and donations.  The grant will be used to offer scholarships of $250 each to individuals unable to travel to Mammoth Mountain due to financial constraints.

The Unrecables grant was awarded in memory of Waltraud “Wally” Cardona, Mother of Gordon Cardona, a long time active member of The Unrecables.  She was a strong supporter of The Unrecables programs.  John Gray, Membership Director, stated: “This will go a long way in helping The Unrecables continue with their mission of adaptive snowsports participation to all that are so inclined, regardless of their economic status.”  For additional information regarding The Unrecables, link into:  https://www.unrecables.org

 The Women in Snowsports Industry Award was founded in 2019 by Genia Fuller-Crews, an international freestyle champion and member of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame (HOF).  This year will mark the first time that the award will be presented by the International Skiing History Association (ISHA). In the past, the honor had been awarded in partnership with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame as a stand-alone event during the annual History Celebration.  By moving the presentation to the ISHA dinner, the honor is expected to garner greater attention not only to its worthy recipients, but also to the very important issue of inclusivity in snowsports.  That issue is championed by all three organizations at the heart of Celebration Week: ISHA, HOF, and the North American Snowsports Journalists Association (NASJA).

This award provides recognition to the outstanding women whose lifetime contributions have shaped our sports in the U.S.  Women recipients of this award are pioneers, who have ultimately contributed to the growth and health of the snowsports industry.  Genia noted, “With this grant we can continue to honor these incredible women for their lifelong contributions to the Snowsports Industry.”  For additional information regarding this award, visit: https://skihall.com/women-industry-award

The Far West Ski Foundation congratulates both these non-profit organizations for the outstanding contributions they are making to snowsports.  Details about the Foundation’s missions and grant application process are located on its website at: https://farwestskifoundation.org