NORTH WOODSTOCK, NH, JUNE 2013 – Members of Ski NH, the statewide association representing 33 alpine and cross country ski areas and more than 200 lodging properties in New Hampshire, recently presented Wayne and Sally Patenaude of Pats Peak Ski Area with the 2013 Whitney Award. The award was presented at Ski NH’s Annual Meeting held at King Pine Ski Area on June 6th.

The Whitney Award recognizes an individual or individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the ski and snowboard industry in New Hampshire. The Patenaudes started Pats Peak Ski Area with family members in 1963 and the area has remained under the same family ownership for more than 50 years, making it the longest continuously operating ski area run by the same owners. Over this time the Patenaudes have been fixtures at the area and are responsible for many industry milestones.

Pats Peak was the first mountain in New Hampshire to have snowmaking in the 1960’s and was instrumental in getting other ski area’s snowmaking systems operational. Pats Peak is a learn-to-ski and snowboard mountain, generations have learned to ski and ride there, benefitting the entire state of New Hampshire. Other notable accomplishments include the addition of night skiing in 1967, hosting the US National Slalom Championships in 1974, and utilizing “Snow White”; a compressor which at one time ran the air system at the Packard automobile plant to power their snowmaking system. Investment in the area continues with a new triple chairlift being installed this summer as part of the Cascade Basin expansion which includes four new trails and one new glade.

The H.H. “Bill” Whitney Award was established in the mid 1970’s by Betty Whitney in memory of her husband. Whitney owned and operated Black Mountain Ski Area in Jackson, the oldest ski area in NH, as well as the slopeside inn that today still bears his name. He was active in all aspects of skiing and ski area operation and was responsible for creating one of the first overhead ski lifts in the east, as well as numerous contributions that helped shape the sport of skiing in the state of New Hampshire.

Ski NH is the statewide association representing 33 alpine and cross country resorts and more than 200 lodging and guest service properties in New Hampshire. For more information on ski areas, lodging packages, and updated winter events at Ski NH resorts, call Ski NH at (800) 88-SKI-NH (800-887-5464) or visit the Ski NH website at www.SkiNH.com. For statewide media relations assistance, visit the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism’s media room at http://visitnh.gov/media/ or contact Mr. Tai Freligh at 603-271-2343, option #2.