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For more than six decades, NASJA and its predecessor organizations have honored the journalists, storytellers, athletes, and industry leaders whose work helps shape the story of skiing, snowboarding, and winter sports across North America.

“Every year, these awards remind us how many people are helping tell the story of snowsports in meaningful ways,” said Bob Curley, NASJA President. “We’re proud to recognize this year’s winners not only for the quality of their work, but for the passion, perspective and commitment they bring to skiing, snowboarding, and the winter sports community.”

The 2026 award recipients were recognized during NASJA’s annual awards presentation on May 14. Watch the recording of the award ceremony here.

The NASJA Award winners, voted on and selected by their peers within NASJA, were:

Carson White Snowsports Achievement Award

Tom Kelly received NASJA’s highest honor, the Carson White Snowsports Achievement Award, which is presented to an individual whose work has made a lasting contribution to the advancement of North American snowsports. Kelly, who is currently chief communicator of the Organizing Committee for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, has spent his career helping tell the stories of skiing and winter sport with passion, credibility and a deep respect for the people behind the headlines. Through his work in media, public relations and industry leadership, he has helped connect athletes, journalists, organizations and fans in a way few people have. For many in the snowsports world, Tom has been a trusted voice, a generous colleague and a steady champion for the sport.

Paul Robbins Outstanding Competitor Award

Three-time Olympian Jessie Diggins was honored for another remarkable season in cross-country skiing. Diggins added to her historic career with a bronze medal in the women’s 10km freestyle at the 2026 Winter Olympics, showing once again the grit and heart that have made her one of the most inspiring athletes in American skiing. She also clinched her fourth overall World Cup title during the World Cup Finals in Lake Placid at Mt Van Hoevenberg. This was a special moment for American cross-country skiing and for NASJA’s corporate members at ORDA. The award is named in memory of Paul Robbins, who spent 30 years as the primary journalist for the U.S. Ski Team.

Bob Gillen Memorial Award 

Erik Mogensen was recognized for achievements in snowsports public and media relations.  Through honest newsletters and regular communication, Mogensen – who in addition to owning Black Mountain is CEO of IndyPass and snowsports technology company Entabeni Systems – brought skiers, media and the broader community into the unfolding story of a small independent ski area making headlines. Judges said his work around Black Mountain this season stood out because people were not just reading updates, they were following a story. Even those who had never heard of or skied Black Mountain found themselves paying attention. His work reflected the transparency, care and independent spirit that keep local ski culture alive. The award is named for Bob Gillen, former SKI Magazine editor and marketer at Crested Butte and Sugarbush resorts.

Mitch Kaplan Award

Photojournalist Dino Vournas received the award presented to the journalist whose work best captures the spirit and dedication that Mitch Kaplan brought to the coverage of snowsports. A longtime NASJA member, Vournas has spent years documenting skiing through images, always with a clear love for the sport and the people who make it what it is. His work helps preserve the feeling of being in the mountains, and moments that keep skiers coming back year after year. The award is named for Mitch Kaplan, a former NASJA Secretary-Treasurer and multiple Harold S. Hirsch Award winner.

Harold S. Hirsch Awards of Excellence

The Harold S. Hirsch Awards of Excellence recognize creativity and excellence in editorial and artistic content in journalism, photography, broadcast, digital and podcast work. The awards are named for Harold S. Hirsch, founder of White Stag Skiwear, who was elected to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 1990.

This year’s winners are:

Words Category, Stand-Alone: Peggy Shinn was honored for her Slate article on Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin and the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Judges praised the piece as the kind of writing that stays with you: sharp, funny, and full of heart. Shinn, a longtime NASJA member, brought more than race results to the page. She found the human story inside the moment, which is exactly what strong snowsports journalism should do.

Words Category, Recurring: Moira McCarthy was honored for her Ski Wednesday columns in the Boston Herald, including “Burke Remains a Northeast Kingdom Jewel,” “There’s a Cure for the Powder Flu” and “Sugarloaf Is Still Sweet.” Her columns do what good local ski writing does best, make readers want to go. Judges noted her ability to capture the feel of a mountain, the rhythm of a ski day and the practical details skiers actually want to know, all with the voice of someone who clearly loves being out there.

Images Category: Dino Vournas was honored for his submitted skiing image in the Harold S. Hirsch Images category. A longtime NASJA member and accomplished photographer, Vournas captured a scene that reflects both the beauty and feeling of skiing — the setting, the skier, the mountains and the moment all coming together in one memorable frame.

Podcast Category: Stuart Winchester, publisher of the Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast (https://www.stormskiing.com), was honored for Episode #211, Rob Katz, Vail CEO of the podcast. The episode stood out because of the way Stuart approaches the conversation, giving listeners the kind of thoughtful, in-depth interview that is hard to find. Judges recognized his ability to ask strong questions, follow the story where it goes, and build a full podcast experience around the episode, from the interview itself to the show notes, supporting photos and background materials that make the work feel complete.

The 2026 Harold S. Hirsch Awards were judged by Adam White, Executive Director of Communications at the University of Vermont and former reporter at the Burlington Free Press, Ski Vermont communications professional and Vail’s former Northeast Communications Director; Rick Kahl, longtime ski journalist and editor whose roles include Stratton Mountain News, SKIING Magazine, Ski Business and SAM; and Nancy Marshall, The PR Maven® and CEO of Marshall Communications, a longtime ski industry public relations professional whose background includes work with Sugarloaf, outdoor recreation and tourism, as well as personal ties to the sport as the mother of two Division I ski racers.

About NASJA

The North American Snowsports Journalists Association (NASJA) is a professional association of snowsports media and corporate communications members. Press members include writers, photographers, podcasters, broadcasters, and other communicators who report on ski, snowboard, Nordic, and winter sports news, information, and features. Corporate members include media contacts and employees of ski resorts, convention and visitor associations, manufacturers, industry organizations and others with a professional interest in the journalistic coverage of winter sports.