PNW Annual Award Recipients 2025
Norrie Lamson Award
For outstanding service to Juniors and Jr. Race Programs over a period of several years.
Recipient:
- Mike Graves - Stevens Pass Alpine Club
“TAS racer, TAS/SPAC Coach, ACC U16 Sub-Committee Chairman. Dedicated, levelheaded, always keeping athletes be interests in mind in all situations. Mike’s involvement in the PNW Division for over 30 years makes him a valued recipient of the Norrie Lamson Award.”
John Genoud Award
Presented annually to the individual contributing notably of their servicer as a race official
Recipients
- Erik Otterholt - Mt Hood Race Team & Academy
“Erik is known throughout the PNW Division, and especially in the Mt. Hood area. Notably, Erik has been the Race Administrator for the Golden Rose for more than a decade. Erik is never satisfied with the current situation – he is ALWAYS striving to make things better. He never quits trying to improve sliced bread. And not only is he a problem solver, he is a teacher. He is 100% willing to take the extra time to teach anyone who is interested in being an Alpine Official. Yes, sometimes Erik will give you more than you asked for – but he has a REAL love of ski racing and a passion for making ski racing happen in the PNW Division. There is no one who works harder than Erik at being an RA, Timer, Referee, TD, teacher and learner. Erik deserves recognition for all he has done and continues to do for ski racing.”
Ken Comfort Award
Presented annually to a person who over the years has given freely of his/her time to help the sport of skiing, either recreational or competitively. In this small way their efforts are recognized. “For outstanding service to the PNSA and the Sport of Skiing.”
Recipients:
- Kent Towlerton - Mt Bachelor Ski Education Foundation
“
Kent is in this sport for the kids. He has a remarkable resume and affect on ski racing in the PNW Division. Thank you Kent, for all your years of devotion to ski racing.”
Olav Ulland Award
Outstanding Nordic Competitor during the past year.
Recipient:
- Quinten Koch - Plain Valley Nordic Team
“8 time All-American, 2 time U16 Sprint National Champion. At U18 Nationals this past season Quinten earned silver in the sprint race and finished 8th in the 10K Classic. He placed 3rd in the sprint race at U.S. Senior Nationals, qualfifying for the U18 Scando International Trip. Quinten finished in the top 10 in the sprint qualifier at the Norwegian Junior Nationals and was the 2nd American in 3 of 4 races. Quinten now trains with the National Training Group and his FIS sprint points rank him 4th in the world in his age class.”
Schwabe Award
Outstanding Alpine Competitor during the past year.
Recipient:
- Henry Roberts - Mt. Hood Race Team & Academy
“
Henry’s SG run at U16 Nationals was among the best throw downs from a PNW athlete in many years. He finished 3rd overall, one of only 2 WR athletes to podium at U16 Nationals. The course was extremely slick and hard so a challenge for all. Henry was also the Men’s Northwest Cup Overall Champion for the 24-25 season.
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Northwest Skier Award
Outstanding Junior both on and off the slopes.
Recipient:
- Zeke Larson - Mt Hood Race Team & Academy
“Zeke is fairly new to ski racing. This is his 3rd year at MHRTA. He initially joined the Learn to Race program – entry level for MHRTA. This past season Zeke was a 2nd year U14 and was a member of our Club Team. Zeke did not qualify for U14 Championships as he was still on his path of improvement. Instead he took the path of attending the Evergreen Cup finals to qualify to participate in the NW Cup Finals. And he did it! Zeke was one of the fastest U14’s at NW Cup Finals. He is driven to do everything he can to get better. He wants to learn, he wants to do the work and is a kind and outgoing person. If you find yourself coaching Zeke, he will likely find you at the end of the day to give you a personal thanks. He will usually tell you what you taught him that day and thank you for your help. And… none of Zeke is fake… he is always happy and always willing to ask the question – what can I do to help? Zeke is an up and coming star in the PNW. He is just beginning, but already deserves the recognition for his hard work, positive attitude and passion for ski racing.”
Alpine Coach Award
Outstanding Alpine Coach
Recipient:
- Stephen Tobler - Mt Hood Race Team & Academy
“
Stephen works in real life as an architect. This year he told me that business was a little slow and he wanted to know if I needed some additional help. With that opening, he took on the leadership for our U14’s. Stephen is there because he loves kids, he loves teaching ahd he knows the benefits that ski racing can provide to athletes. Stephen restarted Team Travel with our U14 group and created a fun and positive learning envioronment. He listened and joked and got our group of U14 kids to participate in the USSS racing environment. He opened their eyes to racing outside of the Mt. Hood YSL. He took them to Mission Ridge for the U14 SG Camp, and back for the U14 SG race. He supported them at all the U14 qualifiers and all the way to the Golden Rose. Stephen has stepped up our U14 programs with thoughtfulness, passion and enthusiasm.”
Nordic Coach Award
Outstanding Nordic Coach.
Recipient:
- Reitler Hodgert, Mt Bachelor Ski Education Foundation
“
I would like to nominate Reitler Hodgert for the Nordic Coach of the year. Through my interactions with him I noticed his high level of intentionality with his athletes. He is an amazing encouragement to the athletes and coaches throughout our division. I had the privilege of over hearing him and have been on the receiving end of his specific words of encouragment that show that he sees each person. Reitler promotoes sportsmanship and long term health of athletes. He is a leader with the PNW Nordic Community
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Collegiate Nordic Award
Outstanding collegiate Nordic competitor during the past year.
Recipient:
- Bridget Burns - MTU & Spokane Nordic Alumni
Earned most improved athlete on her woman’s team, below is her coaches recommendation for the award.
- Greatest improvement in CCSA NCAA ranking, moving up 19 positions this season to finish in 4th.
- Went from not being able to compete in 2024 Conference & Regional Championships due to illness, to winning the individual classic at the 2025 Conference Championships, and helping lead our Women’s Team to the NCAA Central Regional Championship team title!
- Qualified for NCAA Skiing Championships where she scored with a top 30 finish in the skate 20km.
“Bridget learned how to balance her life as a student-and-athlete this year that allowed her to make a competitive leap this championship season! The confidence and poise she showed as an athlete through the championship season proved to everyone she’s a championship athlete! The toughest aspect of sport is often being able to compete your best in championship races, and Bridget has one of the best relationships with this challenge as an athlete. What makes her truly thrive in the championship environment is the outstanding perspective and growth mindset she always has as an athlete in this sport. As she said in her NCAA preview herself, she’s always looking forward to going out there giving it her best, using racing as a learning experience, and having fun with her team!”
Collegiate Alpine Award
Outstanding collegiate Alpine competitor during the past year.
Recipient:
- Mackenzie Greenslade - MSU & MHRTA Alumni
“Mackenzie left MHRTA after a PG year and went to ski at Big Sky while she was also attending MSU. Mackenzie’s goal was to ski the Big Sky FIS team and also gain some exposure with the MSU ski team, hopefully gaining a walk on spot. MSU Staff watched her ski and compete and they offered her a walk on spot on the team. Then… they really got to know Mackenzie and understand what a hard worker she is on and off the hill. They learned what a good teammate she is. This year, she competed on the MSU team and was very often their number one female competitor. She scored in both SL and GS. Mackenzie has been offered a scholarship for the 25-26 season, and will combine collegiate ski racing and Nursing School at MSU. Mackenzie is a great representative from Mt Hood and PNW who we can all be proud of.”
Unsung Heros
Given yearly to volunteers who made their clubs great!
Recipients:
- Matthew Brown, Dmitry Prtrishak, Celeste Darling & Mark McCorkle, MRT; Benton & Melissa Fong, MHRTA; Dean & Heather Neff, MRST
Matthew Brown took over timing for MRT this year with U14 Qualifier, Meadows challenge and Golden Rose
Dmitry Prtrishak served as Race Admin for MRT this year with U14 Qualifier, Meadows challenge and Golden Rose
Celeste Darling volly coordinator extraordinaire working to keep folks coming back for more
Mark McCorkle worked to train up new timing and admin and worked as finsih ref to be there for any questions that came up, WyEast timing too!
Benton and Melissa Fong are always there! If you need some help, you just have to turn around and likely one of them are there asking how they can help. Benton and Melissa are the parents of three athletes on the MHRTA team (U16, U14, U12). If you’ve ever been to a race where one of their kids is racing they are likely there – not just watching and cheering, but helping with the race. They are the hardest working course crew volunteers you have every seen. Always a rake or a shovel in hand and always making the most laps of any volunteer. The weather doesn’t matter, in fact the worse the weather the harder they work – making sure the course is good for every athlete from Number 1 to 120. Oh and they ALWAYS do it with a smile and a willingness to do something different or better – what anyone asks for. I am sure that this nomination is also seconded by Karl W. and John R. who both saw these two in action at the U14 Qualifier that we held at Mt. Hood Meadows. They started out in the lodge helping with bibs and ended the weekend rolling and dragging down B-Net. They are amazing and definitely deserve the Unsung Hero Award.
Dean and Heather Neff volunteered 26 days this season to help MRST successfully time 16 race days. They both put in additional hours preparing before events.
Northwest Cup Overall Champions:
- Henry Roberts, MHRTA
- Canyon Osborn, CMAC
Northwest Cup Race of the Year
Voted on by the athletes
- SARS - NW Cup #3