By Kristin Winebrenner
Serving with Alpine Festival
Overall Winners Keith Poole and Georgiana Newell
Recognized as the longest running race throughout the southeast, the 63rd West Virginia Governor's Cup Ski Race was presented by Alpine Festival and hosted by Timberline Mountain on March 11th-12th, 2023. This year’s race was record-breaking in its number of skiers with 222 participants! According to local ski history, this number surpasses the original record of 168 participants in 1980.
Thanks to the generous support of this year’s sponsors, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners were able to win exciting prizes such as skis, poles, and goggles in addition to medal awards. This year’s overall winners were Keith Poole and Georgiana Newell. In the tradition of this event, their names will be added to the famed WV Gov Cup trophy with winners dating back to 1960.
Considered the most prestigious award of the event, The Barton Award is given to an individual who has been influential in the ski industry. This award was created in honor of Bob and Anita Barton who established the 2 major ski areas: Weiss Knob (1955), located where the meadows are in the area currently known as Canaan Valley Resort, and Weiss 2 (1959), the current location of White Grass Ski Touring Area.
Barton Award Winner Mikey Valach
According to Jessica Waldo, board member of Alpine Festival, the winner of The Barton Award is always a surprise, and an individual can be chosen from any ski area in WV. This honorable award highlights someone influential in the ski industry. Congratulations to Mikey Valach for receiving this year’s award!
Another tradition of this race is recognition from the State of West Virginia. This year Andera Dearborn and Bobby Judy were honored by WV Governor Jim Justice for 20 years of service as a volunteer for the Alpine Festival Governor's Cup Race.
Congratulations to overall winners of alpine, telemark and snowboarding!
Overall Women: 1st place, Georginia Newell; 2nd place, Ava Howard; 3rd place, Elise Carson.
Overall Men: 1st place, Keith Poore; 2nd place, Xander Brouilette 3rd place, Peter Mardosa.
Overall Tele Youth: Nate Powell
Overall Tele Women: 1st place, Kate Preston; 2nd place, Sara Litzau; 3rd place, Vicki Fenwick Judy.
Overall Tele Men Adult: 1st place, Steve Kaufmann; 2nd place, Cory Chase; 3rd place, Jeff Lovelace.
Andera Dearborn and Bobby Judy were recognized by Governor Justice
For a full listing of times go here:
Giant Slalom Snowboard:
https://www.live-timing.com/race2.php?r=251022
Giant Slalom Telemark:
https://www.live-timing.com/race2.php?r=251024
Giant Slalom Alpine
https://www.live-timing.com/race2.php?r=251023
Slalom-Alpine
https://www.live-timing.com/race2.php?r=251209
Special thanks to Timberline Mountain for hosting and for all of the amazing support from our sponsors! Thank you to Hannah Snyder Media for photographing the event. To see additional photos and for more information about this year’s race go to the Gov Cup Ski Race website. For more information about local ski history, visit the WV Snow Sport Muesum online or in person at their new location in Canaan Valley next to the BFS.
Keep an eye out for next year’s WV Gov Cup Ski Race, which will be hosted again at Timberline Mountain during the second weekend of March 2024!
