Thursday, June 4, 2009 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Kelly, tkelly@ussa.org

Author of Story: Doug Haney

Ford, Kasper Win Golden Ski Award

FRANCONIA, NH (June 4) – The Eastern Ski Writers Association (ESWA) has awarded U.S. Ski Team alpine racers Julia Ford (Plymouth, NH; Holderness Ski Team) and Nolan Kasper (Warren, VT; Burke Mountain Academy) with the 2009 Don A. Metivier Golden Ski Award. It is the second consecutive season Ford has captured the female honor.

The winners will be officially recognized at the New England Ski Museum in Franconia, NH on Friday, June 5 during a 5-7 p.m. ceremony.

The Golden Ski Award was recently named in memory of longtime snowsports journalist Don A. Metivier in the 1960s and was awarded to the top male and female skiers in the East until 1975 when the ski was lost. Two years ago the New England Ski Museum was given some artifacts and in that donation was the Golden Ski, prompting the ESWA to revitalize the honor; this time awarding the top junior athletes.

"It gives ESWA and I great pleasure to recognize the top Eastern junior skiers for 2009 with this unique award," said Jim Gregory, chairperson for the Golden Ski Award. "Both Julia and Nolan possess the determination, skills and talent, as their results indicate, to be worthy of this honor."

Ford, who is in her third year with the U.S. Ski Team program, nearly swept the top of the junior podium at the recent Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships held at Alyeska, AK. In three days, she was the top junior in giant slalom and slalom and finished second in the junior downhill ranks. Incredibly, she also finished in the top 10 of all competitors during in each race, prompting Ski Racing Magazine to also name her their Junior of the Year.

"This is a really cool award to win and does a lot of great things for skiing in the East," said Ford, who narrowly missed the combined podium at the 2009 FIS Junior World Championships. "Last year it was pretty unexpected since the actual award had been lost for so long, but now that it's getting established again, the Eastern skiers are gunning for it. I'm proud to represent the East, this is a big honor."

Ford also won the NorAm Cup super combined title, earning her a World Cup starting spot in the discipline for the 2010 season. The points helped propel her to finish second in the overall NorAm standings.

Kasper also punched it at the U.S. Championships, winning the junior slalom title, while finishing third in the junior ranks for giant slalom and second overall in combined, but it was his slalom bronze medal at Junior Worlds that boosted him to the top of the ESWA list.

"It's pretty awesome to be recognized for an award that's been around so long," said Kasper, who is currently training at the newly opened Center of Excellence in Park City, UT with the U.S. C Team. "I had a pretty solid season last year and my progression with the U.S. Ski Team is right were I want it to be. It's cool to see the hard work pay off."

"This award would not be possible without the continued help of ESWA members Peggy Shinn and Lisa Densmore, and is made possible by funds donated by Doyle Communications" added Gregory. "I look forward to presenting this award for many more years, assuming, the ski doesn't disappear again."

Golden Ski History
1969: Tyler Palmer, Karen Middleton
1970: Charles Bent, Karen Middleton
1971: Judy McNealus, Rod Taylor
1972: Jody Palmer, Laurent Gaudin
1973: Jerry McNealus, No female winner
1974: No award
1975: Holly Flanders, Scott Light
1976-2007: Award Lost
2008: Bump Heldman, Julia Ford
2009: Nolan Kasper, Julia Ford