EIGHT INDUCTED INTO SKI HALL OF FAME

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SAM Magazine—Seattle, Apr. 18, 2012—Eight legends of skiing were inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall Fame in a ceremony here last Saturday. Among the honorees were ski area developers Nick Badami and Phil Gravink, ski show producer Harry Leonard, ski historian Mason Beekley, speed skier and writer Dick Dorworth, and competitors Joe Pack, Eva Twardokens, and Tyler Palmer. K2, celebrating its 50th anniversary, received the Hall's Legends of Skiing Award.

About the business inductees:

Nick Badami had a four-decade career in the ski industry as a business owner, executive and volunteer. After retiring from a successful business career at the age of 49, he bought Alpine Meadows, Calif., and later, Park City Ski Area. He was chairman of Powdr Corporation until 2003. He served in leadership roles at the National Ski Areas Association and U.S. Skiing. He played a pivotal role in both the Bid and Organizing Committees for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. At the USSA he helped transform the organization into a highly respected Olympic sports organization. Badami died in 2008.

Phil Gravink was a key player for 35 years at the national level in ski area management. He founded Peek'n Peak, N.Y., and later headed Gore Mountain, N.Y., and Loon Mountain, N.H. He was also a key player in influencing the policies of the U.S. Forest Service and served as a National Ski Areas Association director for 18 years, including a term as chairman. He received the NSAA's Sherman Adams Award for his leadership as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award and the BEWI Award.

Harry Leonard was skiing's impresario, visionary and cheerleader during the 1960s and '70s. He organized the first ski consumer show in Chicago, in 1958, and took the show nationwide within the next few years. With his business partner, Jerry Simon, his creative genius and enthusiasm made ski shows fun and entertaining. He pioneered the use of the ski deck to bring skiing, and great skiers, right into his shows.

Dick Dorworth was a ski racer, world speed record holder, coach, instructor, and journalist. In 1963 he set a world speed record of 170 kph in Portillo, Chile. He went on to become a certified instructor in both France and the U.S., a ski school director at Aspen, and a U.S. Ski Team coach. He published countless articles and several books on skiing, and received an Ullr Award from the International Skiing History Association.

Mason Beekley was a successful businessman and passionate skier who eventually directed that enthusiasm to preserving skiing history. He assembled an extraordinary library dedicated to skiing, and one of the world's most extensive collections of ski art. That lead him to form the International Skiing History Association in 1991. Today, ISHA has over 2,000 members worldwide and publishes Skiing Heritage magazine. Beekley died in 2001.