Snowsports Leader of the Year award and the Double Diamond Award

For Excellence in Snowsports School Management

Excellence in Snowsports School Management Awards

During our annual Snowsports Management Seminar the Eastern Region honors our newer Snowsports Directors/Managers for their innovation, growth and leadership with the Double Diamond Award and we honor our long-time, outstanding Snowsports Directors/Managers who have made it their mission to maintain the highest standards in snowsports school management, dedication to their instructors, and contributions to our organization and the industry with the Snowsports Leader of the Year Award.

The Double Diamond Award, first introduced in the 23-24 season, is presented to an emerging leader in our industry who is nominated by their staff and/or peers for demonstrating innovation, growth, leadership, and exceptional contributions to their snowsports school.

The Snowsports Leader of the Year Award is presented to an outstanding, long-time snowsports school director/manager to acknowledge a career during which they maintained, and continue to maintain, the highest standards in snowsports school management, their outstanding dedication to their instructors, commitment to their school, contributions to our organization (both regionally and nationally), and impact on the snowsports industry. This leader is nominated by their staff and/or peers. This award is inspired by Einar Aas, Ron Kubicki, Freddie Anderson, Dave Merriam and all of the amazing leaders who have impacted and shaped the snowsports industry in the Eastern Region.

Einar Aas was certified by the Canadian Ski Instructors Association and became a Canadian examiner in 1962. He later taught skiing at Mount Snow and at Blue Hills and was the Director of the ski school at Madonna Mountain (now Smugglers’ Notch) in Vermont. Einar became an Alpine Level III member of PSIA-E, having joined in 1964. Also in 1964, he began teaching skiing and running the racing program at Butternut Basin (now Ski Butternut) in Great Barrington, MA. In 1968 he opened Butternut Ski Shop and became the Director of Butternut Ski School, a position he held until he passed away on July 13, 2008, after a long and courageous battle against cancer. Einar was involved on the early Board of Directors of the National association and was a founding father on the original Board of the Eastern Division. Beginning in 1973, he would serve on the Eastern Division Board for twenty-nine years. He served terms as both Eastern President and National President, dedicating time to not only the Board of Directors, but also many committees and task forces. Einar was granted PSIA-AASI National and Eastern Lifetime Membership in 2002, recognizing his lifetime of dedicated service to the association.

Ron Kubicki spent many years as a beloved snowsports school director at Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville, New York. He was recognized as a director who demonstrated support and advocacy for his staff and earned tremendous respect, admiration, and loyalty from his staff members. Ron also served for 15 years on the Eastern Division Board of Directors including 6 years as the Secretary of the Board, 3 years as Vice President, 3 years as President and 3 more years as the Immediate Past President. He played a key role in building a solid relationship with the presidents and executive directors at some the other large regions/divisions of PSIA-AASI and was part of a group that created a Joint Resolution to establish a Government Task Force to help redefine the working relationship between the regions/divisions within the larger organization. On the hill, Ron moved up the certification ladder quickly after joining in 1989 and earning his Alpine Level I certification, he earned his Alpine Level II in 1990 and his Alpine Level III in 1993. He branched out to earn his Telemark Level I in 2009 and his Children’s Specialist 1 and 2 in 2012 and 2013. Ron was granted Eastern Lifetime membership in 2018 as a recognition of his excellent service for the Eastern Region of PSIA-AASI and his efforts to unify and work with regions across the country.

• The Double Diamond Award will be presented to an emerging leader in our industry who is nominated by their staff and/or peers for demonstrating innovation, growth, leadership, and exceptional contributions to their snowsports school.
• The Snowsports Leader of the Year Award will be presented to an outstanding snowsports school director/manager for maintaining the highest standards in snowsports school management, their outstanding dedication to their instructors, commitment to their school, contributions to our organization (both regionally and nationally), and impact on the snowsports industry. This leader is nominated by their staff and/or peers. This award is inspired by Einar Aas, Ron Kubicki, Freddie Anderson, Dave Merriam and all of the amazing leaders above who have impacted and shaped the snowsports industry in the Eastern Region.

Click here to submit your nomination for our next Snowsports Leader of the Year and/or Double Diamond Award recipients. The deadline for nominations is October 27, 2024.