Fernie ski community honour Ski Wall of Fame inductees

(L-R) Dr. Geoff Seagram, Ian Stoke, representative of Elk Valley Ski Touring Society, Dave Aikens, Nancy-Jo O'Neill and Randy Gilege. — Photo courtesy Raven Eye Photography.

Recently at the Griz Inn, at the base of the Fernie Alpine Resort, the Fernie Skiing Heritage Society recognized five new inductees for the Ski Wall of Fame. In front of a large dinner audience the inductees were introduced and congratulated for their achievements. Previous inductees and Fernie dignitaries made the presentations. Hats off to prime organizer Mike Delich and his committee for a job well done in saluting the rich skiing heritage of Fernie.

The Class of 2014 included the following...

Pioneer Category—The Elk Valley Ski Touring Society: The society was the pioneer of the back country ski experience in the southern Rockies. Many of the key builders were recognized. Ian Stoke, Pat Gilmar, Rick Schroeder, Blair Craig, Sean Staplin, Robin Siggers, Dr. Dave McBeath and Bob Morris were presented with Fernie Ski Heritage award.

Builder Category—Summit Lift Company—Randy Gliege and Family: The economic success in a vibrant mountain community is related to the success of the entrepreneurs that call the community home. From a shop in Fernie, this steel fabricating and ski lift installation company has constructed and built ski lifts at resorts, large and small, throughout North America. Randy Gliege started his career in the ski industry at Fortress Mountain then to Fernie Snow Valley in the 1980’s as a snow cat operator and moved to be Operations Manager. His first ski lift installation was the Boomerang Chairlift followed by Randy establishing his own business erecting and installing ski lifts in Blackcomb, the Olympic ski venues in Utah, the new high speed lifts at the legendary Sun Valley Resort in Idaho to Michigan to Alaska. His most recent installations were for the new chairlifts in the WhiteWater Ski Area near Nelson BC and at the Grey Mountain expansion at the Red Mountain Resort near Rossland BC.

Snow Sports Category—Dr. Geoff Seagram: Geoff has demonstrated a true passion for the sport of skiing and ski racing each day. His daily routine of walking from his home on lower Timber Crescent to the ski racers building or to the ski slopes is an admired ritual for all of us to follow. At age 77, Geoff is an active ski coach ( one of the oldest in in Canada ) and is involved in the Fernie youth ski racing programs. He has been a personal mentor for many of his athletes, encouraging and inspiring the young athletes and students to pursue professions in the medicine, physiotherapy or other endeavours after their ski racing careers.

Safety Category—Dave Aikens: Most likely, most people will know our next recipient by a ski run named in his honour. Dave Shakey Aikens and his well known ski run, Shakey’s Acres, beneath the White Pass Chair. Daily in the mountains, we owe our enjoyment of our winter sports to the snow safety that is provided by the professionals predicting the snow conditions and manage avalanche risk in the mountain terrain. Dave Aikens, a builder of avalanche safety systems in the Southern Canadian Rocky Mountains and his life partner Donna are worthy of this celebration.

Sports Coaching Category—Nancy-Jo O'Neill: A ski coach has an inspirational role with youth. A coach instills a passion for a sport, teaches skills to build athletic careers, facilitates the youngsters meet their goals and dreams and most importantly helps them to have full filling lives beyond their sport. Since 1983 when Nancy arrived in Fernie at the small Elk Valley Ski Team, her challenge to help build a program. Nancy-Jo helped the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation developed new curriculum and she volunteered her personal time to increase the professionalism of the sport. She created exchange programs and intern programs for club coaches to work with National Coaches in Europe at the Elite levels In the spirit of an athlete’s career, Nancy had personal bests and podiums her life. She departed the career of ski racing started a new career beyond the sport.