Canadian Ski Hall of Fame to honor four new members

The Canadian Ski Hall of Fame announced its 2008 induction class today. This year’s inductees include: Shaun Fripp, Piotr Jelen, Chris Robinson and Wayne Wong. The new members will be honored at an induction ceremony and banquet April 16, at the Château Cartier in Gatineau, Quebec.

Shaun Fripp – Since the 1950s Shaun Fripp has contributed to many aspects of the sport of Alpine skiing, first as a competitor on the National team, then as a coach, an official, and serving the ski industry as a ski area director of marketing. Additionally, Shaun has worked to ensure the rich national history of skiing and snowboarding is preserved, presented and protected for future generations of Canadians through his volunteer work with the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame and Canadian Ski Museum’s special projects and governance.

Piotr Jelen – has spent over 35 years as an Alpine ski racing coach at all levels, from local and provincial organizations to the International level of the Olympic Winter Games. He has worked tirelessly to support the development of Alpine ski racers. Some of the internationally well-known athletes who benefited from Piotr’s coaching skills and dedication to excellence were: Alain Villiard, Kate Pace-Lindsay, Genevieve Simard, Emily Brydon, Michelle Ruthven, Kelly VanderBeek and Kerrin Lee-Gartner and Melanie Turgeon. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the sport Piotr was awarded the Coaches Association of Canada Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence, Alpine Canada’s Andrzej Kozbial Coach of the Year award, and Alpine Canada’s President’s Award.

Chris Robinson – For over 30 years, Chris Robinson’s contributions to the world of skiing have been exceptional and unique.  He has worked tirelessly as a freestyle skier, coach, instructor, ski event organizer, television personality and producer to help ensure the future of Canadian skiing and snowboarding. Chris has devoted many years of work and volunteer time to ski organizations including the Canadian Snowsports Association, the Canadian Ski Council and the Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS). In 2007, he was awarded the Judith Kilbourne Founders Award’, the Canadian Snowsports industry’s top national award for his outstanding and long-term commitment to the ski and snowboard industry in Canada.

Wayne Wong – One of Canada’s earliest pioneers in Freestyle skiing, Wayne Wong began honing his skills at a young age, at just 22 he achieved the Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance (CSIA) highest level of certification. His electrifying and innovative style of skiing at the inaugural National Championships of Exhibition Skiing in 1971 launched him into 3rd place, the following year he went on to win every “Stunt and Ballet” competition he entered. With these impressive results, he captured the first ever Freestyle Skier of the Year award. In 1975 he was chosen as a member of the CSIA’s Interski Team, where he presented freestyle skiing to the International Skiing Congress. His unique style and signature moves, including the legendary “wong-banger” made Wayne Wong’s name synonymous with Freestyle skiing, as a result, he was voted one of   the 25 most influential people in Skiing Magazine’s 50th anniversary issue.

Information for this story was provided by the Canadian Ski Museum.

The Canadian Ski Hall of Fame announced its 2008 induction class today. This year’s inductees include: Shaun Fripp, Piotr Jelen, Chris Robinson and Wayne Wong. The new members will be honored at an induction ceremony and banquet April 16, at the Château Cartier in Gatineau, Quebec.

Since the 1950s Shaun Fripp has contributed to many aspects of the sport of Alpine skiing, first as a competitor on the National team, then as a coach, an official, and serving the ski industry as a ski area director of marketing. Additionally, Shaun has worked to ensure the rich national history of skiing and snowboarding is preserved, presented and protected for future generations of Canadians through his volunteer work with the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame and Canadian Ski Museum’s special projects and governance.

Piotr Jelen has spent over 35 years as an Alpine ski racing coach at all levels, from local and provincial organizations to the International level of the Olympic Winter Games. He has worked tirelessly to support the development of Alpine ski racers. Some of the internationally well-known athletes who benefited from Piotr’s coaching skills and dedication to excellence were: Alain Villiard, Kate Pace-Lindsay, Genevieve Simard, Emily Brydon, Michelle Ruthven, Kelly VanderBeek and Kerrin Lee-Gartner and Melanie Turgeon. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the sport Piotr was awarded the Coaches Association of Canada Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence, Alpine Canada’s Andrzej Kozbial Coach of the Year award, and Alpine Canada’s President’s Award.

For over 30 years, Chris Robinson’s contributions to the world of skiing have been exceptional and unique.  He has worked tirelessly as a freestyle skier, coach, instructor, ski event organizer, television personality and producer to help ensure the future of Canadian skiing and snowboarding. Chris has devoted many years of work and volunteer time to ski organizations including the Canadian Snowsports Association, the Canadian Ski Council and the Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS). In 2007, he was awarded the Judith Kilbourne Founders Award’, the Canadian Snowsports industry’s top national award for his outstanding and long-term commitment to the ski and snowboard industry in Canada.

One of Canada’s earliest pioneers in Freestyle skiing, Wayne Wong began honing his skills at a young age, at just 22 he achieved the Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance (CSIA) highest level of certification. His electrifying and innovative style of skiing at the inaugural National Championships of Exhibition Skiing in 1971 launched him into 3rd place, the following year he went on to win every “Stunt and Ballet” competition he entered. With these impressive results, he captured the first ever Freestyle Skier of the Year award. In 1975 he was chosen as a member of the CSIA’s Interski Team, where he presented freestyle skiing to the International Skiing Congress. His unique style and signature moves, including the legendary “wong-banger” made Wayne Wong’s name synonymous with Freestyle skiing, as a result, he was voted one of   the 25 most influential people in Skiing Magazine’s 50th anniversary issue.

Information for this story was provided by the Canadian Ski Museum.