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Harold S. Hirsch Awards re-cap, '07

Magazine Writing - Christopher Solomon, Jay Cowan

Christopher Solomon of Seattle, WA, was judged the recipient of two Harold S. Hirsch Award for Excellence in Snowsports Journalism for his work in Newspaper Writing as well as Magazine Writing. Solomon is the first winner of two Harold S. Hirsch Awards for his journalism work in two different categories.

Judges scored his work as the winner of the Newspaper Writing Category and tied in the Magazine Writing Category in this annual journalism competition named after the creator and founder of White Stage ski clothing company.  The Harold S. Hirsch Awards are sponsored by HEAD Ski & Snowboard Company and Sport Obermeyer.

Solomon, is a freelance journalist and former staff writer for the Seattle Times. His work was recently selected by guest editor Tim Cahill to appear in the collection, “Best American Travel Writing 2006”. He writes regularly about travel, skiing and the environment for the New York Times Travel section, Outside magazine, Men’s Journal, SKI and Skiing.  He has also written for Food & Wine, the Washington Post, the New York Times Sunday Book Review and other publications.  He is a graduate of Duke University and has a Master's degree in English, which he somehow managed go back to the University of Virginia and get even after having tasted the life of a ski bum in Vail, Colo. and discovering how much he enjoyed writing about the mountains.

One judge commented, “With good, tight writing and sparkling descriptions, the writer takes the reader to the scene.”

The Honorable Mention Award went to Joanne Kelley from Colorado, who writes for The Rocky Mountain News.      

Jay Cowan of Snowmass, CO, was one of two recipients of the Harold S. Hirsch Award for Excellence in Snowsports Journalism for his work in Magazine Writing. The journalism awards are given out each year by the North American Snowsports Journalists Association (NASJA) during their annual meeting which was held at Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado..

Judges scored his work a tied with equal judging scores in the Magazine Writing Category in this annual journalism competition named after the creator and founder of White Stage ski clothing company.  The Harold S. Hirsch Awards are sponsored by HEAD Ski & Snowboard Company and Sport Obermeyer.

Cowan, is the Editor-in-Chief for Aspen Sojourner Magazine and a regular contributor to SKI, Mountain Gazette, Cross Country Skier, The Preferred Way, LINKS, Cowboy & Indians, and others including authoring the book The Best of the Alps.  Cowan is a four time winner of the Harold S. Hirsch Awards.


Newspaper Writing - Feature Category, Christopher Solomon

Christopher Solomon of Seattle, WA, was judged the recipient of two Harold S. Hirsch Award for Excellence in Snowsports Journalism for his work in Newspaper Writing as well as Magazine Writing. Solomon is the first winner of two Harold S. Hirsch Awards for his journalism work in two different categories.

Judges scored his work as the winner of the Newspaper Writing Category and tied in the Magazine Writing Category in this annual journalism competition named after the creator and founder of White Stage ski clothing company.  The Harold S. Hirsch Awards are sponsored by HEAD Ski & Snowboard Company and Sport Obermeyer.

Solomon, is a freelance journalist and former staff writer for the Seattle Times. His work was recently selected by guest editor Tim Cahill to appear in the collection, “Best American Travel Writing 2006”. He writes regularly about travel, skiing and the environment for the New York Times Travel section, Outside magazine, Men’s Journal, SKI and Skiing.  He has also written for Food & Wine, the Washington Post, the New York Times Sunday Book Review and other publications.  He is a graduate of Duke University and has a Master's degree in English, which he somehow managed go back to the University of Virginia and get even after having tasted the life of a ski bum in Vail, Colo. and discovering how much he enjoyed writing about the mountains.


Newspaper or Magazine Columns: Bob Cox, Jules Older

Bob Cox of Torrance, CA, was one of two recipients of the Harold S. Hirsch Award for Excellence in Snowsports Journalism for his work in Columns Writing. The journalism awards are given out each year by the North American Snowsports Journalists Association (NASJA) during their annual meeting which was held at Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado.  For the first time, judges scored equal points and a tie in this category.

Cox, is the only seven times winner of this prestigious journalism award as a member of NASJA since 1978. He writes the weekly ski column for The Daily Breeze in Torrance, California as well as for the Mammoth Times, published in Mammoth Lakes, California. Cox’s freelance work is also featured in The Dallas Morning News, Spokane Spokesman-Review, and the Orlando Sentinel

One judge said, “I ranked this entry first because I thought it had the best combination of reporting, credible and detailed first-hand knowledge that was well-chosen to provide information that readers might not know.”  

Jules Older of San Francisco, CA, was one of two of the recipient of the Harold S. Hirsch Award for Excellence in Snowsports Journalism for his work in Columns Writing. The journalism awards are given out each year by the North American Snowsports Journalists Association (NASJA) during their annual meeting which was held at Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado.  For the first time, judges scored equal points and a tie in this annual journalism competition named after the creator and founder of White Stage ski clothing company.  The Harold S. Hirsch Awards are sponsored by HEAD Ski & Snowboard Company and Sport Obermeyer.

Older, is a five times winner of this prestigious journalism award. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Ski Press USA / Ski Press Canada, which is a winter monthly publication distributed throughout North America and as well as online.  He also writes adult and children books, produces articles, editorials, columns, to many publications including radio and video commentary.

Judges commented, “…This writer had by far the strongest voice of any of the columnists who entered. Each column has a strong, almost in your face point of view.”

Honorable Mention Award went to Marty Basch, a syndicated columnist with the Boston Globe who has authored several books including Winter Trails Vermont and New Hampshire, and Winter Trails Maine.   


On-Line/Web Writing: Dina Mishev
 

Dina Mishev of Jackson, WY, was the recipient of the Harold S. Hirsch Award for Excellence in Snowsports Journalism for her work in Online Web Writing. The journalism awards are given out each year by the North American Snowsports Journalists Association (NASJA) during their annual meeting which was held at Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado. Judges ranked her the winner of this category in this annual journalism competition named after the creator and founder of White Stage ski clothing company. The Harold S. Hirsch Awards are sponsored by HEAD Ski & Snowboard Company and Sport Obermeyer.

Mishev, winner of this prestigious journalism award is a freelance journalist who’s special interest includes randonee and telemark skiing as well as backcountry and extreme terrain.  Her journalism was featured on the website, WyomingTourism.org

Dina’s writing career stared shortly after her arrival in Wyoming when the Jackson Hole News entrusted her to write a bi-weekly column about 20-something life in the valley. Five years later Dina was interning and writing for Outside Magazine. Today she writes about travel, sports, adventure, gear, art, people, and lifestyle topics for Outside, National Geographic Adventure, The Chicago Tribune, Cooking Light, NWA World Traveler, United Hemispheres, Wyoming Tourism, Arizona Tourism, and Mobil Travel Guide. Assignments have taken her from spas in Africa to granite cliffs in Tasmania. Dina also does freelance editing and writes profiles, press releases, and advertorial copy for business clients. Her first book, Wyoming Curiosities, will be published by Globe Pequot in September 2007.

One judge commented, “Who would of thought yurts are a better bet than huts?  The author, a condo owner in Wyoming, gives readers good fun with Genghis Khan’s lasting legacy in Wyoming. Missing every moment away from Wyoming, the author uses personal experience ‘from tracking wolves to tracking the best places to stay’ to keep her heart in Wyoming.  Readers want to follow along.”

Honorable Mention Award went to Ted Heck, a ski columnist for the for OnTheSnow.Com. 


Book Writing - Jimmy Petterson

Jimmy Petterson, American journalist living in Sweden, was the recipient of the Harold S. Hirsch Award for Excellence in Snowsports Journalism for his book, Skiing Around the World

Petterson, has spent over 20 year researching and writing Skiing Around the World and has skied in 47 countries to include not only the U.S. but Bolivia, Bulgaria, China, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon and more.  He is currently in Europe filming a six part ski series for Finnish television and was not able to personally attend the meeting to accept his award.  He did send his regrets and thanks on a DVD which was played at the NASJA Annual meeting awards banquet.

One judge said, “this book was by far the most sophisticated, complete and entertaining treatment of a topic. And, it’s well done on top of that. I thought the photography was excellent and the writing is varied and engaging and well-researched.”

The Honorable mention award went to Karen Lorentz from Shrewsbury, Vermont, for her book, The Great Vermont Ski Chase.  She received an award plaque and a ski jacket from Sport Obermeyer.

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