VAIL, Colo. – August 18, 2025 – Tickets are on sale now for the 2025 Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame Celebration this September 27th. The institution proudly announces the Annual Award recipients for the year, representing snow sports advocates and some of our state’s greatest athletes. In addition, the Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame welcome the incoming class of inductees announced last month: Alice Mckennis Duran, Wendy Fisher, Jon Kreamelmeyer, Bob Meserve, and Trace Worthington. Learn more about them HERE.
The Hall of Fame’s annual honors include the Top of the Hill Award, which recognizes entities that have contributed to the development of skiing in Colorado, the Collegiate Athlete of the Year Awards, the Adaptive Athlete of the Year Award, and the Mikaela Shiffrin Colorado Competitor of the Year Award.
Renamed last year in honor of Mikaela Shiffrin, the Competitor of the Year Award now bears her name. As one of the greatest skiers of all time, Mikaela is no longer eligible but may present the award in person. This change celebrates her legacy while recognizing other top Colorado athletes.
The following individuals and organizations will be recognized along with our five inductees on Saturday, September 27, 2025, for an evening of inspiration and celebration. Tickets are on sale now.
Top of the Hill
Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment
Photo credit: C-RAD
The mission of Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment (C-RAD) is to cultivate, inspire, and produce dog teams for successful avalanche search and rescue. The idea began after the tragic 1987 Peak 7 avalanche near Breckenridge, which killed four people and required a massive, days-long rescue effort. Recognizing the need for faster, coordinated avalanche response, local agencies laid the foundation for what would become C-RAD. Though avalanche dog training in Colorado began in the 1980s, this event became the catalyst for a statewide program. Today, C-RAD continues to expand training opportunities and public outreach to strengthen rescue efforts and inspire future generations of avalanche dog teams.
Mikaela Shiffrin Colorado Competitor of the Year
Noah Elliott
Photo credit: Noah Elliott
Noah completed one of the best seasons of his career this winter, taking home two FIS Para Snowboard globes, two World Championship medals, and winning every World Cup banked slalom event he competed in. He collected eight World Cup podiums and five wins across snowboard cross and banked slalom events, earning him the title of the world number one para snowboarder in the LL1 classification. To top off a stellar season, Noah won the 2025 ESPY award for ‘Best Athlete with a Disability.’ Noah continues to showcase remarkable consistency and achievement in adaptive snowboarding. Noah currently resides in Colorado Springs, having moved there after years of living, working, and training in Steamboat Springs.
Adaptive Athlete
Kendall Gretsch
Photo credit: U.S. Para Team
Currently residing in Colorado Springs, para-Nordic skier Kendall has celebrated yet another incredible season. Highlighted by winning all three World Championships events in biathlon and winning the overall World Cup globe in cross-country, her consistent performance on the range (98% hit rate) made her the most winning athlete on the circuit in biathlon throughout the season. She also secured medals in all four Cross-Country World Championships races, reaffirming her dominance in para-Nordic skiing. Kendall has now achieved 10 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze World Cup and World Championship medals. Kendall is among an elite group of American athletes who have won a gold medal at both the Summer and Winter Paralympics.
Collegiate Athletes of the Year
Filip Wahlqvist
University of Colorado
Photo credit: CU
Filip has emerged as a dominant force in collegiate skiing, combining precision and power to tie the longest slalom win streak in the University of Colorado (CU) history and solidifies his place among the program’s all-time greats. Hailing from Oslo, Norway, Filip opened the 2025 season on a strong note, winning the first two alpine races—both in slalom—and finishing fourth in the season-opening giant slalom. These victories extend his win streak to four consecutive slalom races, including the final two of last season, tying the longest in CU history. With six career slalom wins, Filip now holds the second-most slalom victories ever by a CU alpine skier.
Sara Rask
University of Denver
Photo credit: University of Denver
Stockholm, Sweden, native Sara Rask swept the women’s slalom and giant slalom events at the 2025 NCAA Championships and also swept the slalom races during the collegiate season, winning all seven such events. Sara served as the Denver Skiing women’s alpine team captain in 2024-2025 and totaled eight individual victories and 10 podium appearances throughout the campaign, helping her earn Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA) MVP honors for the third straight year. Sara has placed in the top 10 in 38-of-41 career races and owns 15 wins, which presently ranks fifth overall and third-most among women’s alpine skiers in DU history. She was also named to the 2024-2025 CSC Academic All-America First Team and National Collegiate All-Academic Ski Team.
The annual induction ceremony will be on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at the stunning Vilar Performing Arts Center, located in the heart of Colorado’s Beaver Creek Resort. The Vilar is the perfect venue for the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame Celebration, offering an elegant, theater-style setting that brings guests closer to the stories, achievements, and emotion behind the legends we honor. The event is a great way to celebrate the inductees and Colorado snow sports.
Tickets for general admission start at $75, with all proceeds going to support the Colorado Snowsports Museum, a non-profit organization, and the State of Colorado’s official snow sports museum. Tickets are available now.
10th Mountain Division descendant and long-time volunteer, Cindy Clement, said: “This stunning venue offers an ideal blend of elegance and comfort—perfect for reconnecting with old friends over wine and hors d’oeuvres, and a state-of-the-art theater that will beautifully showcase our honorees. It’s the perfect setting to celebrate the legends of Colorado snow sports.” Complimentary parking is available in either the Ford Hall or Villa Montane structures. The event ends promptly at 7 pm, so make your reservations for dinner and stop by Pepi’s for the after-party celebration.
About the Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame:
Founded in 1975 and located in Vail, Colorado, the Colorado Snowsports Museum is celebrating its 50th anniversary. As the official snow sports museum of Colorado, our mission is to celebrate Colorado snow sports by telling stories that educate and inspire others to seek adventure. Through priceless artifacts and engaging exhibits, we preserve and display the birth, rise, and explosion of skiing and snowboarding in our state. Highlights include Climb to Glory (featuring the 10th Mountain Division), The Colorado Snowboard Archive, and The Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame. Learn more and support the Museum by becoming a member: www.snowsportsmuseum.org.
Media Contact:
Jen Mason | Dana Mathios
jen@snowsportsmuseum.org | dana@snowsportsmuseum.org
(970) 476-1876
