Canada West Ski Areas Association has announced Mike Manara (Snow School director at Mount Washington Alpine Resort) as the recipient of the 2015 Lars Fossberg Award.
Manara is the 12th annual recipient of this award, which was presented by Troll Resort president Hildur Sinclair.
The awards were presented April 28 at the CWSAA 2015 Spring Conference at Whistler. The event was attended by over 400 individuals from the Western Canadian ski industry.
CWSAA president and CEO David Lynn congratulated Manara on being the recipient of this prestigious award. He joins a list of highly respected leaders from the Western Canadian ski industry that have been recognized by the association since 1980.
"On behalf of the CWSAA board of directors, I would like to congratulate Mike, and also thank him for his outstanding contributions to the Western Canadian ski industry," said Steve Paccagnan, CWSAA board chair and president and CEO of Panorama Mountain Resort.
After graduating from Bishops University with a double major in business and economics, Manara worked as assistant head coach at Jay Peak in Vermont. He subsequently moved to Jasper, Alta. where he worked as director of skier services at Marmot Basin.
He joined Mount Washington in 2002 as the Snow School director and has over 250 staff in his area with responsibilities for the adult and child snow and board school, the rental shop and the day care.
Manara is the founder of the United Riders of Cumberland (UROC), a registered non-profit society that promotes and supports the mountain bike community in the Comox Valley. Through trail advocacy, volunteerism, promotion of the sport and fundraising, UROC is able to encourage participation for all, as well as maintain and build the local trail infrastructure.
"Mike has a passion to help people to learn to ski and board," a Mount Washington spokesperson said. "In his 13 years here Mike has been instrumental in creating programs like the Rookie Year, the Graduate Pass, the Learn-to-Turn program and the implementation of the Easy Acres beginner area as well as numerous other programs that have helped thousands of people learn to ski and board.
"In 2013 Mike was selected as one of the ‘Top 40 under 40’ for his community and professional work in the Comox Valley. Mike is married to Mariah and has a beautiful daughter, Delilah, who at three years old is already ripping up the mountain with Mike."
– Mount Washington Alpine Resort