By Dan Balkin
Corey Hacker’s FIS code was 2265656. FIS is the French acronym for what is known in English as The International Ski Federation. Founded in 1924 during the first Winter Olympic games in France, it is the governing body for international skiing and snowboarding. Having an FIS code indicates that one competed at very high levels, including in Corey’s case the pinnacle of international ski competition, The World Cup. Corey was a U.S. Ski Team Freestyle Aerialist. Doing graceful and gravity defying jumps involving flips, twists, turns, and spins brought Corey to compete in World Cup events in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Austria, and Switzerland. Impressive? Of course. But far more impressive is the esteem Corey is held in by his family, his friends, his Freestyle athletes, his fellow coaches, and the entire Snowsports team at HoliMont. The source of that esteem can be summed up in three simple words: Courage, Humility and Caring. Corey’s sterling character, in sickness and in health, never changed. Corey’s indomitable spirit shone ever brighter in his final coaching seasons: He rode an “Action Trackchair,” a wheelchair with tracks that was motorized to propel him over the slopes to HoliMont’s mogul and aerial sites. He could not resist, for his heart tugged him to be hillside among the Freestyle coaches and athletes. If you knew him, you would agree that Corey was among the best persons ever to appear on God’s green earth – or, as a Freestyle aerialist might say, God’s snowy earth.
Corey was on the U.S. Ski Team from 1995 – 2002. Retiring in 2003, Corey stayed in Park City to support the equally highly successful and ongoing U.S. Ski Team aerial career of his future wife Kelly. Returning to their WNY roots in 2006, Corey and Kelly founded the FLITE Team at HoliMont. It is a clever play on words, for FLITE stands for FOCUS LEADS INDIVIDUALS to EXCELLENCE. It is true for both the programs athletes and coaches. Corey was often seen working for hours at a time with a shovel in hand, masterfully perfecting each jumps take off ramp and landing area for his athletes. Honoring Corey’s legacy, this same dedication to detail can be observed in Corey’s wife Kelly and the other FLITE Team coaches. Corey’s coaching skills, humility, and caring and concern for each Flite Team member gelled to create a lasting impression on his athletes. These sentiments were expressed in many ways when his former athletes paid tribute to Corey, but they all had one central truth: Corey cared about me and made me a better athlete and a better person.
On Saturday March 15th the HoliMont community came together to honor the memory and legacy of Corey Hacker. The day began with a special “Jump Off” using Corey’s ski gear in the early afternoon. At 4pm, there was a Hill Top Service at the top of the Expo chair memorializing Corey’s life. At 5:30 pm, to conclude these beautiful tributes, there was a Memorial Gathering in the Main Chalet where Corey’s family and friends gathered to break bread and remember Corey’s legacy. Speakers delivered moving and heartfelt tributes to Corey’s service to HoliMont and reflected on his gift for influencing and inspiring many lives.
In his daily life, on and off the slopes, Corey was a shining example of the simple adage “Love thy Neighbor.” When you live those words, as Corey did, something unsurprising happens – your Neighbors return the love.