Barb Wagner at the start of a NYSEF race

From left to right: Barb Wagner, Robin Anthony, and Peter Van Etten at the start of an NYSEF race course.

WILMINGTON, NY (August 1, 2022) – U.S. Ski & Snowboard honored the New York Ski Educational Foundation (NYSEF) in partnership with the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), and race volunteer Barb Wagner with gold and silver level awards, which recognize volunteers and organizations around the country for their service to athletes in a variety of categories.

Wagner was awarded the West Family Cup, named in memory of noted volunteer Fraser West and his wife Teddy, which is presented annually to recognize a long-serving competition official.

Noted as one of U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s most dedicated alpine ski racing officials, Wagner was acknowledged for her true dedication to the role, her knowledge of the rules, and her ability to work with athletes, coaches, and fellow officials.

“I am humbled by this award,” Wagner said. “It takes an entire race crew to put on a race for the athletes and at the end of the day that’s why we all do it.”

“Her take-charge, diligent demeanor is a vital trait in her role as the start referee where she has to balance course holds, time changes, weather, and more. She is typically one of the first on a chairlift in the morning and stays until the very last racer has hit the finish line,” stated a press release issued by U.S. Ski & Snowboard announcing the gold and silver level awards.

Her nomination came on a wave of support from fellow officials at both NYSEF and Green Mountain Valley School, where Barb also volunteers.

“Barb is a true team player,” said John Norton, NYSEF Executive Director. “She gets up at the crack of dawn and drives hundreds of miles a year so that she can be up first to manage the start area. She is very deserving of this recognition.”

NYSEF Receives Paul Bacon Award (Event Organization)

The Paul Bacon Award for event organization went to Lake Placid’s New York Ski Educational Foundation (NYSEF) and Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA). The two partnering organizations were recognized for the wide array of events they produced during challenging times.

The 2021-22 season came after a series of significant upgrades to venues by ORDA in anticipation of the upcoming 2023 World University Games. NYSEF and ORDA stepped up during Christmas to produce the Olympic Trials for Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined on the newly-renovated ski jumps. They were back on the Nordic venues in March for the FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup finale and women’s FIS Ski Jumping Continental Cup.

In February, NYSEF produced calendared alpine NorAm Cup women’s races and added a men’s series at the last minute after COVID restrictions in Quebec forced schedule changes. They also stepped up to run men’s Super G and alpine combined events that had to be moved because of low snow elsewhere. In all, they ran 14 FIS events over 10 days.

In addition, they also hosted a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hole Shot ski cross and snowboard cross event, plus a USASA Futures Tour at Gore Mountain – new venues for each tour. At the newly-remodeled Mount Van Hoevenberg venue, they held a cross-country Super Tour in January as well as U.S. Biathlon national championships in March.

Also on the calendar were the U.S. Collegiate Ski Association National Championships in alpine and freeride at Whiteface Mountain, plus cross country at Mount Van Hoevenberg in March.