Densmore wins award for SkiRacing.com Premium column

PORTLAND, Ore. – Lisa Densmore Ballard, Megan Barber, Dina Mishev and Tom Winter are the winners of the annual North American Snowsports Journalists Association (NASJA) Harold S. Hirsch Awards for Excellence in Snowsports Journalism.

The awards are sponsored by Mountain Khakis and will be officially presented at NASJA’s 2016 Annual Meeting to be held April 10-14 in Big Sky, Mont.

SkiRacing.com Premium contributor Lisa Densmore Ballard was honored with the Hirsch Award in the Columns category for her regular features on Masters ski racing which appear on the website.

An Emmy-winning television producer and host, Densmore Ballard has worked as a full-time freelance journalist since retiring from the Women’s Pro Ski Tour in 1990. Originally a commentator for ESPN covering ski racing and host of Ski New England on the Travel Channel, she spent 20 years producing and hosting television programming for a number of networks, including ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, A&E, Turner Broadcasting, Fox Sports, The Weather Channel, OLN (VERSUS) and RSN (Outside TV).

“Snappy writing and a plethora of expert sources, Lisa rises above other ski advice columnists with a sustained focus that makes it clear she keeps her audience in mind while she writes. Well-reported and well-written, lots of detailed information and really usable tips. The writer’s expertise shines through, but she doesn’t talk down to her audience; her clear, concise writing keeps the focus on her excellent advice,” judges remarked regarding Densmore Ballard’s SkiRacing.com column.

Densmore Ballard also received an honorable mention in the Feature Writing category in addition to her win for Columns.

Her most recent contributions to SkiRacing.com include Ski Faster Slalom, A New Vision for Masters, and Mount Hood Family Affair.

Open to NASJA press members, the Harold S. Hirsch Awards recognize creativity and excellence in editorial and artistic content in both traditional and web-based journalism. Judging is conducted by a panel with the highest credentials in the fields of journalism, writing, education, snowsports and photography. The concept for these awards came after the 1960 Winter Olympics from Harold S. Hirsch, ski clothing pioneer and founder of White Stag, to promote professionalism in winter sports coverage.

Information provided by NASJA, photo courtesy of Boyne Resorts