Genia Fuller-Crews to be Honored at FWSA’s 90th Annual Convention in Boise, Idaho

The Far West Ski Association is pleased to announce that Genia Fuller-Crews of Simi Valley, California, will be the recipient of the Association’s Snowsports Builder Award, to be presented June 17 at the Awards Banquet held in conjunction with its 90th Annual Convention at the Boise Centre, Idaho. Genia has also graciously accepted the invitation to be the Keynote Speaker at the Awards Luncheon. The event is being hosted by the Intermountain Ski Council and the Bogus Basin Ski Club.

The Snowsports Builder Award, founded in 2008, is presented to an individual who has made a contribution to benefit snowsports, a contribution that has made an indelible impact on the sport. Past recipients have included: Bill Marolt, President/CEO USSA; DeeDee Corradini, President, Women’s Ski Jumping, USA; Dave McCoy, Founder, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area; Jerry Simon & Harry Leonard, Founders, Ski Shows; Barbara Alley Simon, Ski Fashion Pioneer; Chuck Morse, Ski Area Developer; and Ben Finley & Art Clay, Founders, National Brotherhood of Skiers.

Named Skiing magazine’s Skier of the Year three times between 1973-1978, Fuller’s career earned her numerous World Freestyle championships and titles. Her first title was earned in 1973 with her winning the Women’s National Aerial Title and 3rd overall at Sun Valley, Idaho. That same year she skied for Willy Bogner in the ski film “W.” The first competition of the 1974 season was at Waterville Valley, NH and Genia won all three disciplines, as well as, the overall title. This has never been repeated by any competitor male or female. At the height of her career in 1976 she signed new contracts with Colgate, ABC television, which earned recognition for freestyle skiing through media exposure. Fearless both on and off the hill, she also led the effort to bring equal prize money to the women’s tour.

 All freestyle competition events today, whether on skis or snowboards, are rooted in what the pioneers of freestyle, the “hotdoggers,” created in the 1960s and 1970s. The freestyle skiing competitions in the recent 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeong Chang, South Korea, all evolved from earlier versions of the various disciplines considered freestyle events.

Genia is still involved in promoting and serving the snowsports industry. She was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2015 and currently serves on its Board of Directors. In 2019 she authored the “The Women in Snowsports Industry Award” for the Hall of Fame and serves as chairman of the program. Outside skiing, Genia is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and a CPR, First Aid, and EMT Instructor. She is well immersed in disaster teams and disaster/emergency preparedness activities for Ventura County.

Far West Ski Association, founded in 1930, is a non-profit organization composed of over 150 clubs located in 10 regional councils throughout 12 western states. FWSA conducts active programs in travel, industry, public affairs, communications, safety, environment, club and council services, snowsports history, charities & our community, awards and recognitions.

For complete information regarding the Far West Ski Association programs and its Convention activities, visit www.fwsa.org. To purchase reservations for the Awards Luncheon or Awards Banquet, contact Randy Lew, Guest Reservations, at treasurer@fwsa.org.