Membership in the Far West Ski Association starts with the Councils. Councils are members of FWSA. Clubs belong to Councils and individuals belong to clubs. If you belong to one of these clubs, you are a member of FWSA.
You can also join FWSA as a direct member.
Benefits Far West offers member benefits and provides a number of programs you can participate in. The 2023-2024 Member Benefits pages have all been updated. The majority of ongoing partners for ski rentals, transportation, lodging and ski gear have renewed their agreement with Far West for the coming year. PLEASE take the time to look at ALL of our partners, as there have been some changes, and a couple NEW partners to point out to you: Besides Meier Skis, we now have Crystal Inn & Suites in Salt Lake City. Rossland Red Mountain Inn & Suites, in Rossland, BC, is now Sure Stay by Best Western. Check out the benefits when you are planning a ski trip. You can find some very good deals on lodging, rentals and services. Give the Transportation Network, in Park City, or Go Alpine, a call when you go to Park City or Steamboat. They will get you to your destination quickly and safely, and at a reduced rate. To keep that tan going, try some sunscreen from Peak 10. They are happy to give our members 25% off sunscreen and skin care products.
Affiliations
FWSA, as well as most of its councils, is a member of the National Ski Council Federation (NSCF). As a member of FWSA you are eligible to receive any of the benefits offered by NSCF. Go to their website and request a user id and password for access.
FWSA is an associate member of the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), giving FWSA membership access to information about what is happening in the snowsports industry, which can be found in any number of our publications.
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On behalf of Far West Ski Association, we are extending to you this special invitation to attend our 91th Annual Convention in Reno at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, June 6 - 9, 2024. In the heart of the Sierra Nevada, where the crisp mountain air intertwines with the spirit of adventure, the convention is a beacon of the camaraderie, innovation, and passion for winter sports. The theme is “altitude with attitude,” and is being co-hosted Bay Area Snow Sports Council and Sierra League and Council.
Make your plans to attend now! There are a variety of opportunities to participate, either as a voting delegate or to just attend the Friday Evening Silent Auction and Snowsports Trade Show, Saturday educational sessions, Luncheon or Awards Banquet.
You will leave this year’s event with a renewed sense of purpose and enthusiasm, inspired by the connections made, knowledge gained, and memories shared during your time in Reno. As you return to your club, you will carry a spirit of unity, innovation, and camaraderie that defines the skiing and snowboarding community.
You will have the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors with a Tahoe Adventure, followed by the Thursday evening Pub Crawl, a Convention tradition! A Pool Party and Club Happy Hour will precede the 38th Annual Silent Auction and Snowsports Trade Show on Friday evening. Packages will be up for bid at great prices! Ski resorts, tour operators and lodging facilities representatives will be available to answer questions to assist in planning your next snowsports or adventure trip. A portion of the Silent Auction proceeds will benefit “Achieve Tahoe.” Saturday Evening’s Awards Banquet will feature musical entertainment from “Decoy Band.”
The Convention offers a wealth of educational workshops, seminars and presentations designed to enhance participants’ knowledge and skills. This year’s Snowsports Leadership Academy offers interactive educational sessions regarding snowsports equipment and a chat with World Cup and Olympic athletes.
The Public Affairs Panel will feature a National Ski Patrol program on “Bringing Calm to Chaos” and western snowsports museum and library founders addressing “Preserving Our Heritage.”
This year’s Keynote Speaker is Eric LeMarque, author of the book and inspiration for the feature film “6 Below – Miracle on the Mountain,” starring Josh Hartnett. On February 6, 2004, LeMarque became trapped in the Sierra Nevada Mountain wilderness of Mammoth Mountain Resort for eight days.
Eric will share the gripping narrative of losing his legs to frostbite and confronting death. Prepare to be captivated by his inspirational story, a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the ability to triumph over adversity.
The Awards Banquet on Saturday evening will acknowledge industry partners, snowsports builders, and volunteers who work tirelessly to promote snowsports, paying tribute to the passion, dedication, and spirit of excellence that define the skiing community. Among those being honored this year include recipients of the Snowsports Builder Award: James Foster and Judy Gray, Co-Owners of The Ski Dazzle® Ski Shows for introducing millions to skiing and snowboarding; and Billy Kidd, Director of Skiing at Steamboat Resort, for a lifetime of dedication to snowsports. A General Session for all club delegates, with the election of officers and by-laws revisions, will be conducted on Sunday.
Early Registration pricing and the last day to sign up for all activities ends on May 10, and our group discounted pricing for lodging ends on May 13. We cannot guarantee the ability to book a room after this date. Join us June 6 - 9, 2024 in Reno!.
For detailed information about registration and all Convention activities, visit www.fwsa.org.
You can contact: Debbi Kor, Convention Chair, at conventionchair@fwsa.org;
See you in Reno!
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FWSA Travel
Here’s the latest update on upcoming FWSA trips:
FWSA 2024 AFRICA ADVENTURE TRIP: TANZANIA & ZANZIBAR! September 27 – October 7, 2024, are the dates set for the next Far West Adventure Trip. See Trips for further details.
FWSA 2024 DIVE TRIP TO THE PHILIPPINES: We are going back to the PHILIPPINES! The 2024 FWSA dive trip will be October 19 – November 2, 2024 to Marco Vincent Dive Resort in Puerto Galera and Buceo Anilao Beach & Dive Resort in Anilao! See Trips for further details.
FWSA ANNOUNCES 2025 NORTH AMERICAN SKI WEEK: The North American Ski Week 2025 will be to BANFF, CANADA. Dates for this trip will be January 25 – February 1, 2025. Steve Pampel of Ski Big 3 will be our Banff representative, and Sandy Gaudette of SkiGroup.Net will be the tour operator.
Join your friends from NWSCC on an epic adventure to Banff, AB, Canada next year! We are excited to announce that our trip is NOW OPEN for early registration with preference of lodging choices.
There are three ski resorts in the area: Sunshine Village, Lake Louise and Mt. Norquay. These resorts boast almost 8,000 acres of skiing, 2 gondolas, 26 chairlifts, and an annual snowfall tally upwards of 30 feet of feather-light powder snow. Lift lines here are reasonably short, and the skiing is excellent!
Your ticket to SkiBig3 includes all three resorts. We will have multiple day discounted tickets available (see flier). Alternatively, your IKON base pass includes 5 days at these resorts. If you purchase your IKON pass through our tour operator SkiGroup.net, you will receive a $50 discount off your lodging package. There is an additional discount for purchase through SkiGroup, but prices will go up May 3, so buy your Ikon Pass NOW through the following links: Original purchase (full or base pass) click HERE; renewal pricing HERE (not available after April 18).
We’ll be staying in two hotels in Banff, The Banff Park Lodge and The Caribou Lodge. Your package includes lodging, breakfasts, a welcome reception, group banquet, council dinner, picnic lunch, and many more activities and social events to connect with friends. The difference between the two hotels is location. Both are 3 star full service hotels with full amenities. Go to their websites (links above) for full details.
Prices start at $1,300 double occupancy (without transportation or lift tickets). Registration is open NOW - see flier on Trips Page, and below. Contact NWSCC Director of Trips, Barbara McLean, at travel@nwskiers.org with questions or for further details. This trip will fill up fast, because there is a lot of interest among our clubs!