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75 Year Celebration of
Snowsport History
in the
Far West region!

Photos Are Here!


Check out the current LA Council of Ski Clubs web site.
LAC bod 1985

1985 LAC Board

Jackson Hole

LAC Ski Week to Jackson Hole 1993

Andy Hauk

Andy Hauk
President Souther Council 1948-49

Bob Clinco
LAC President 1973-75

The History of Los Angeles
Council of Ski Clubs
by Catherine Ohl

The actual beginning of the LA Council is still a bit fuzzy to me still. I do know that Articles of Incorporation were filed for the Southern Council, FWSA, Inc. 30 years ago on August 11, 1971. Even though the Council was normally referred to as LA Council since the early 70s, the name was not officially changed until 1999 when the current logo was adopted.

The Southern Council

The Southern Council emerged as a part of the California Ski Association (CSA) sometime in the 40s. The Council was first known as the fourth District of FWSA and later became the Southern Council of California Ski Association. In 1948, it became known as the Southern Council of the Far West Ski Association. Prior to the 70’s, the Southern Council extended from June Mountain to San Diego. In 1971, the Southern Council was divided into three councils— Inland, Orange and Southern. By then, San Diego was already a separate Council. After the split, Southern Council encompassed an area that extended from “Long Beach to June Lake and Santa Monica to Pasadena.” In 1971, there were 46 clubs in the Southern Council. Most clubs were 100% FWSA and about a fourth of the clubs consisted of junior racers.

California Ski Association

The root of the Southern Council & FWSA is in racing and public affairs programs. FWSA was founded in October 1930 as the California Ski Association (CSA) by “Hall of Famer” Wendell Robie of the Auburn Ski Club. Within three months, the CSA orchestrated a demonstration that resulted in the authorization by the State of California for snow removal equipment on the roads that accessed California’s emerging ski resorts. The development of California skiing was set in motion. CSA then teamed up with the National Ski Association to host sanctioned races and jump competitions.

Far West Ski Association

After the WWII, the National Ski Association emerged as the United States Ski Association (USSA) and the California Ski Association became its Far West Division, later called Far West Ski Association. The focus of FWSA was on its race programs until the early 60s when the orientation began to shift towards recreational skiing. The Far West Charter Flight Program, spearheaded by Sutter Kunkel of Grindelwald Ski Club, took the Association from 3,000 mostly competition skiers to 10,000 mostly recreational skiers in just two years! There was also an upsurge in recreational skiing following the 1964 Olympics at Squaw Valley. But it was the blockage of the development of skiing at San Gorgonio and Mineral King by the Sierra Club, that ignited the energies of FWSA.

It wasn’t until 1976 that FWSA was divided into two operating divisions, one concentrating on the recreational and political aspects of skiing and the other directing the operation of sanctioned race programs that developed the youth of America for the US Ski Teams. FWSA continued to develop programs for the recreation skier that included a Membership Benefit Book, Ski Theft Insurance, Ski Weeks, Flight Charters to Europe and within the US, Public Affairs, and Intramural Racing. In return, the clubs sponsored events, like Grindelwald’s Ski Swap, that raised money for junior racers.

The 80s brought considerable turmoil between FWSA and USSA, primarily over money and which programs should benefit from the dues being collected from the recreational skiers— recreation or racing. On November 6, 1984, an Executive Committee met to decide on the direction FWSA should take. This committee proposed a non-political, non-controversial set of by-laws that were approved at the 53rd Annual FWSA Convention held at the Oakland Airport Hilton, May 17-19, 1985. FWSA ties to USSA were severed. To encourage clubs to rejoin FWSA, dues were waived and haven’t been required by clubs as long as they belong to a Council.

Snow Gala

The first Sno-Ball is believed to have been held in 1949. Back then it was a fashion show of the latest in ski apparel. During the 50s, the Sno-Ball was held at the LA Breakfast Club. In the 60s, it was moved to the Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica. It was during this time that the Ball was changed to a Costume Party since the event usually coincided with Halloween. There was a theme to the party. Clubs performed skits and wore costumes and won lots of prizes. In 1969, there were more than 1,000 attendees at the Sno-Ball at the Hollywood Palladium. In 1970, the major prize was a trip to Mammoth for forty people for a weekend.

Woman of the Year

In the beginning, LA Council’s Sno-Queen Pageant was held separate from the Sno-Ball. It was run pretty much like a beauty contest. The event started with a cocktail party or luncheon with publicity photographs. What followed was a hectic day of interviews, tours and parties. In the 60s, judging was done at Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts and the girls had to ski on straw as a part of the contest. The Sno-Queen was chosen by a panel of noteworthy & impartial judges who evaluated appearance in ski clothes, personalities and enthusiasm for skiing. The Queen, Miss Popularity and a court of four were rewarded with ski trips, ski wardrobes, skis, and boots. The first Far West Queen contest was held in 1970 and was won by LAC Sharon Reese of the Snow Fliers.

Man of the Year

The Abominable Snow Man was a new contest in 1971 and was won by the man selling the most votes in support of his club’s Sno-Queen candidate. Far West held it’s first King Contest in 1978. It was won by LAC Leo Stytle of Single Ski Club.

L.A. Council Ski Week

The first L.A. Council Ski Week was held at Breckenridge, CO in 1985. The trip was run by Van Smith of Beach Cities Ski Club.


 
LA Council Presidents
2015- Kathleen Brynes
2013-2015 Sandy Knapp
2010-2013 Norbert Knapp
2006-2010 Judith Miller
2005- 2006 Rinda Wohlend
2003- 2005 Jacquie Nemor
2000-2003 Ed Knott
1998-2000 Bonnie West
1996-1998 Sigrid Noack
1994-1996 Ray Craig
1993-1994 Clarence Ballenger
1991-1993 Ray Craig
1990-1991 Hal Richey
1989-1990 Grady Smith
1987-1989 Steve Smith
1985-1987 Muri Blake
1983-1985 Gene Fulkerson
1981-1983 Howard Wickersham
1980-1981 Bob Dunagan
1979-1980
1978-1979
1977-1978
1975-1977 Jane Wyckoff
1973-1975 Bob Clinco
1971-1973 Dick Croft
1970-1971 Ron Lee
1969-1970 John Watson
1968-1969 Bob Calais
1967-1968 Dick Goetzman
1966-1967 Carl F. Grover
1965-1966 Hal Hirsch
1964-1965 Don Silverman
1964-1964 Karl Unger
1963-1964 Cloyde Howard
1962-1963 Bob Calais
1961-1962 Chandler North
1960-1961
1959-1960 Bob Miller
1958-1959 Ed Kriskovic
1957-1958 Bob Reed
1956-1957 Jerry Fine
1955-1956
1954-1955
1953-1954 Dick Cronon
1952-1953
1951-1952
1950-1951 Jim Chaffee
1949-1950
1948-1949 Andrew Hauk
PamelaKayAnderson

Pamela Kay Anderson LAC Woman of the Year 1975-75

Steamboat

LAC Ski Week to Steamboat 80s

 

 

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