Bernie Curry, Tim Tenney, Jeff Bryne, and Reed Miller.

Champions and historians of skiing were celebrated in Lake Placid over March 26 to 30, while another, the most accomplished US cross-country skier in history, Jessie Diggins, was burning up the Mount Van Hoevenberg course. As a consequence, it was nearly a perfect storm of skiing talent had arrived in a community that also has a storied history in the sport that goes back to Melville Dewy deciding to keep the Lake Placid Club vibrant throughout the winter by, in part, hiring Norwegian ski instructors and purchasing skis, bindings and boots for his guests to rent.

The only sad note and it was a big one, was the arrival of rain and freezing rain over the concluding weekend as climate change raised its ugly head. Even so, spirits were not dampened as the attendees had a lot of terrific people to cheer about and stories to swap. Nor were they dampened out at Mt Van Hoevenberg as the ORDA crew had been making and stockpiling tons of snow all winter in case inclement weather arrived as it did.

The US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame was founded in 1954 in Ishpeming, Mich., considered the birthplace of organized skiing in January 1887, 17 years before the Lake Placid Club started its winter skiing program. Hall of Famers from or deeply connected to Lake Placid include Billy Demong, Godfrey Dewey, Art Devlin, Vern Lamb, Walter Prager, Otto Schneibs, Andrew Weibrecht, and Warren Witherall.

While Lake Placid has hosted the US Skiing & Snowboard Hall of Fame before, this year marks the first time it has hosted The International Skiing History Association (ISHA) and its Awards Banquet. Initially, the ISHA awards rotated their events amongst 11 ski communities, two Canadian, of which Lake Placid was not one. But since their partnering with the US Skiing & Snowboard Hall of Fame, the selection of host cities widened to include Lake Placid this year, where their Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Placidian and long-time ORDA senior vice-president Jeffery Byrne.

ISHA was founded in 1991 by the late Mason Beekley, an avid skier and collector of books (over 1,500), pins, and posters about skiing. That year, Beekley wrote to over one hundred prominent skiers, authors on skiing, and ski historians from around the world and invited them to help him establish an international organization dedicated to “disseminate and help preserve the heritage of skiing.” Many agreed, and ISHA was born. Their first meeting was held the following year in Sun Valley, where John Jay screened one of his films.

Janet White, Executive Director of the International Skiing History Association (ISHA) and Rick Moulton, Chair

“The initial idea was to gather together international skiers to share the sport’s heritage,” said Rick Moulton, Chair of ISHA. “He liked the idea of yearly gatherings at a different resort. In 1993, the newly formed board of directors decided we should give out awards to any activity that propagated ski history throughout the previous year.”

Critical to ISHA’s growth was Beekley’s taking over the Maine-based “Snow News,” renaming it “Skiing Heritage,” and appointing Martin Lund as editor. The magazine provided a single source vehicle for sharing articles about ski history, highlighting ski films and ski memorabilia, and connecting people with a passion for the history of skiing.

In 2011, Bernie Weichsel, Board Chairman of the US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, suggested to Rick Moulton, Chair of ISHA, that the two organizations should host their events together as part of a multi-day celebration of skiing as many of their members attend and support both events. Mouton and the ISHA board agreed. This year, Lake Placid was the beneficiary by hosting a return of the Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and, for the first time, hosting ISHA while simultaneously hosting the SWIX Super Tour Finals and National Championship, recognized by FIS as the US Continental Cup in Cross Country skiing.

“Lake Placid is huge in skiing history,” said Rick Moulton. “It’s a place close to most skiers’ hearts. I understand that Dewey didn’t think he could afford to cut trails and put in a lift, so they didn’t have any FIS alpine here at the ’32 Olympics, just Nordic, but the Games put skiing on the map in the US. The 80 Olympics cemented and galvanized everybody in the North East. The ski trains made a huge difference to Lake Placid, and there was Lowell Thomas, a skier who did many national broadcasts from Lake Placid.”

Not all skiing accomplishments are on a race course. Another harkening back to the Jack Rabbit Johannsen model is Ron Konowitz, the first to ski all 46 high peaks in winter. Konowitz has skilled most peaks multiple times down slopes many previously thought un-skiable, and as part of the Keene Fire Department’s backcountry rescue team, has rescued more backcountry ice-climbers, hikers, and skiers than most. The leading voice for backcountry skiing, in 2000, Konowitz and his then-wife Lauren underscored the danger of avalanches when they got caught in the worst one in the history of the Adirondacks, and a member of their party tragically died.

World Freestyle Champion Genia Fuller, ski historian and 2025 winner of the Women in Ski Sports Award Ingrid Wicken, and world Freestyle Champion and Olympian Suzy Chaffee.

Konowitz is featured in the 2025 Award Winning film Variables, which traces Jamie and Doug Kennard’s effort skiing the 46 Adirondack peaks, one that took Doug ten years to accomplish but showcases the beauty of backcountry skiing like few others.

“What’s not to like about backcountry skiing in the Adirondack?” said Konowitz. “When it’s good, it’s really good. It’s also probably the most beautiful and protected place on the planet. I’ve skied some mountains over fifty times. In 1992, I realized I had skied thirty-two of the highest peaks, and that’s when I decided to ski the rest.”

The highlight, though, for the greater Lake Placid community was Jeff Byrne’s award of the 2025 ISHA Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Jeff Bryne embodies a kind of skiing geist,” said Rick Moulton. “Jeff imparts a real appreciation for the sport. He’s spent a lifetime encouraging people to participate in skiing, including those who are less fortunate, such as the Special Olympic group that he’s volunteered to do over the past twenty-five years is impressive, as is his fifty years of volunteer work with US Ski and Snowboard teams. Jeff embodies the spirit of skiing.”

“Getting the award is very exciting,” said Bryne. “I heard about it back in December and I felt very honored. I’ve made many great friendships and worked with many terrific people along the way.”

Ron Konowitz in between Jamie and Doug Kennard, directors of the award-winning documentary Variables, 10 years, 46 Mountains, Endless Possibilites

Former ORDA CEO Ted Blazer, left, with Juan Jose

National cross country ski champion, woman biathlete and high altitude back county skiing pioneer, author Jan Reynolds with her book the Glass Summit

Skyler Bailey and his book on the 10th Mt Divisions, Heroes in Good Company