By Carol Fisher-Linn
On holidayvalley.com, we read that “Holiday Valley is Western New York’s largest year-round resort featuring 60 slopes and trails, 13 lifts, 3 base lodges, slope side lodging and dining, conference facilities, an 18-hole golf course, a tree top aerial adventure park and a mountain coaster. Holiday Valley is New York State’s most visited ski resort … The 2022 Ski Magazine top ten resorts are: 1- Smuggler’s Notch, Vermont, 2- Holiday Valley, Ellicottville, NY.” Imagine!
It is no wonder, then, that Holiday Valley Snowsports School has been able to bring onboard Lisa Densmore Ballard to once again present (9th annual) “Your Turn” Women’s ski clinic on Wednesday and Thursday, January 25 and 26 along with several of Holiday Valley’s finest women instructors. If your level of expertise is intermediate through advanced (and you comfortably ski blues, some black diamond) this clinic is for you. Since 1991, over 8,000 women have improved their skiing through Lisa’s ski clinics which include on-snow instruction, video analysis and door prizes from event sponsors. Pre-registration is advised since attendance is limited. Call 716-600-3506 or go online to Holidayvalley.com. Cost of the clinic is $359.00 and it includes 2 days of coaching, demo equipment, breakfast and lunch each day plus dinner on Thursday. Specially priced lift tickets will be available. Lodging specials at the Inn at Holiday Valley are available.
Meanwhile, let me tell you about this dynamic, multi-faceted, talented, young woman who is leading the charge during this two-day adventure. We learn from her site that, just as many kids who grew up in a skiing community, Lisa began skiing as a child, racing at age 6, spending her early years in the junior race program at Whiteface Mountain, near Lake Placid. “She trained and competed throughout North America and Europe on the U.S. Ski Team, and then spent four years as a member of Dartmouth College’s NCAA Division 1 ski team (1980 to 1983). After college, she raced on the Women’s Pro Ski Racing Tour for six years (1985 to 1990), achieving a ranking of 10th in the world. After retiring from the pro tour, Lisa became one of the most decorated alpine masters’ races in the world.”
This talented young woman is also an accomplished photographer, and writer who has written hundreds of articles, 7 books, and produced and hosted numerous television shows on skiing. She is no stranger to studios in networks such as ESPN, Fox Sports, ABC, NBC, CBS, A&E, The Weather Channel, The Travel Channel, PBS, and Outside TV where she has covered sports. Lisa is a three-time Emmy-winning TV host and producer with 5 additional Emmy nominations. She has served as a consultant to many ski gear manufacturers and ski resorts on their women’s products and programs, and she periodically speaks on women’s skiing topics at national ski trade events. She is certified by PSIA and US Ski and Snowboard as a ski coach. While she served as an instruction editor for Snow Country Magazine and director of the Snow Country Ski Schools in conjunction with the PSIA Demo Team, she also founded a national ski instructional program for women that raised money for breast cancer research and patient support, which is now the program offered under the name “Your Turn,” at ski areas around the United States.
Her site tells us that Lisa has also received numerous awards from journalism organizations including the North American Snowsports Journalists Association (NASJA), the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) and the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW). Her by-line has appeared in many ski-related publications including SKI, SkiRacing.com, NSAA Journal, 32 Degrees, Backcountry Skier… and hundreds of other magazine and websites.
In a quick pre-deadline conversation with Lisa, who was driving through the canyons heading to Big Sky, Montana for a clinic (and breaking up), she expressed a sincere enthusiasm for coming to Holiday Valley for the 9th year. She said, “It’s not just about the skiing and the snow, but it’s about the staff and the people I’ve gotten to know whom I consider my friends.” She went on to say, “it makes my heart swell to watch returning women who wouldn’t go near The Wall, now Ski the Steep and do it with confidence and skill.” Lisa was quick to mention that we are so fortunate to have Miguel Azcarate fitting boots here in Ellicottville. She considers him the best boot fitter in the country and says there are very few people in the world she would trust her boots to. Kudos, Miguel! Lisa looks forward to her visit to Ellicottville and the gathering at The Depot on the last day of classes.
To learn more about Lisa and her ski-related programs/camps, go to www.LisaBallardOutdoors.com.
Meanwhile, let’s all greet this accomplished woman and ski pro with a warm, energetic Ellicottville style welcome. It is indeed a privilege to once again host her at Holiday Valley.