Support for the preservation of Utah’s ski and snow sport history has been astounding. The 2024 Ski Affair, held on October 23rd at the U’s Cleone Peterson Eccles Alumni House, was successfully able to raise more than $72,000 to support Special Collection’s Ski and Snow Sports Archives.

This year the Sue Raemer Award went to Tom Nielson, who has worked tirelessly to raise funds through the Ski and Snow Sports Advisory Board. The award is given to volunteers who have demonstrated exceptional service to the Utah Ski and Snow Sport Archives.

Chair of Ski and Snow Sports Archives Board, Barbara Yamada, presented the S.J. Quinney Award, to Connie Nelson, who retired earlier this year after serving as executive director of the Alf Engen Ski Museum and the George Eccles Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Games Museum at the Utah Olympic Park. Recognizing Nelson’s outstanding preservation work, the International Ski History Association bestowed her with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.  

“We cannot think of a more deserving individual to receive this award,” commented Yamada. “Connie has built what is known as a premiere museum, one of the best of its kind in our country. We applaud her for her tireless work and contributions.” 

President and CEO of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, Colin Hilton, also made remarks related to Salt Lake City being designated the host of the 2034 Olympic/Paralympic Winter Games. Hilton oversees the use of Utah’s Olympic and Paralympic legacy venues, where competitions were held during the 2002 games, and whose properties have hosted both sport and public uses since the games were held. 

About the Ski & Sports Archives

“The Ski & Snow Sports Archives is one of the most comprehensive collections in the entire country for research into the history and development of Utah’s prospering winter sports industry. The archives document the history of ski competition on local, national, and international levels; the founding of major resorts; snow safety and avalanche control; ski equipment; ski instruction; freestyle skiing; the 10th Mountain Division; back-country skiing; and virtually every facet of winter sports in Utah and the surrounding region. The archives are the repository for the Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games Bid Committee records and the records of the 2002 games themselves.”