The New York Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) and the New York Ski Educational Foundation (NYSEF) have been honored by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association with this year’s Paul Bacon Award for event organization.
The award recognizes the partnering organizations’ contributions to race organization and the wide array of events hosted in recent years. After major upgrades to ORDA venues, the two organizations collaborated to stage the Olympic Trails for Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined on Christmas Day, 2021, at the modernized Mt Van Hoevenberg and the Olympic Jumping Complex, now the only facility in North America homologated for year-round ski jump competition.
In January 2022, the partners hosted a cross-country Super Tour at Mt Van Hoevenberg, and in February, they organized NorAm Cup women’s races and also added at the last minute a men’s series after COVID restrictions in Quebec forced schedule changes.
In February, the partners also held the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hole Shot ski cross and snowboardcross events and a USASA Futures Tour at Gore Mountain.
However, it was March that was a true blockbuster month of events. Whiteface Mountain and Mt Van Hoevenberg hosted the US Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association’s (USCSA) National Championships that included a full week’s worth of competition in alpine, snowboard, freeski, and Nordic skiing. That same month Mt Van Hoevenberg also hosted the FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup while women’s ski jumping returned to the Olympic Jumping Complex with the FIS Ski Jumping Continental Cup. Mt Van Hoevenberg then welcomed a record field of athletes from around the nation as it hosted the US Biathlon National Championships for the first time in 20 years.
Gore and Whiteface Mountains both stepped up to run a total of 14 FIS Alpine events that were cancelled due to poor snow conditions at other locations.
“NYSEF is so honored to be receiving this award with our incredible partners at ORDA,” said John Norton, NYSEF Executive Director. “It’s no mean feat to pull off a season’s worth of races at multiple venues, and we’re so grateful to be working with such a passionate, hardworking team.”
With world class venues and proven organizational expertise, Lake Placid is anticipating another triumphant season, including hosting 2,5000 athletes for the FISU 2023 World University Games.
“Receiving the US Ski and Snowboard Association’s Paul Bacon Award is a true honor,” says ORDA President and CEO Mike Pratt. “This award recognizes not only our highly effective partnership with NYSEF and the modernization of our venues but also the selfless work of our local volunteers and the expertise of our coaches and staff who all contribute so much to make our events successful.”