Morse, Merryweather Win 2014 Golden Ski Award

The North American Snowsports Journalists Association – Eastern Region has awarded Sam Morse, (Carrabasset ME, Carrabasset Valley Academy) and Alice Merryweather, (Hingham, MA, Stratton Mountain School) with the 2014 Don A. Metivier Golden Ski Award. The winners were recognized at the New England Ski Museum in Franconia, NH, on Friday, May 30. The Golden Ski Award has been presented to the top Eastern junior male and female skiers since 1969. After the 1975 season, the Ski was "lost." In 2007, the New England Ski Museum was given some artifacts, and in that donation was the original Golden Ski. ESWA revitalized the honor, and named it in memory of long-time snowsports journalist Don A. Metivier. "The Golden Ski Award is the oldest honor given to junior alpine ski racers that exists today," says Jim Gregory, Chair of the ESWA's Golden Ski Award Committee, "It has been presented to top alpine ski racers from the East since 1969, the year after the modern World Cup circuit started. Many of the Golden Ski winners have gone on to World Cup and Olympic gold as well. We are proud to honor Sam Morse and Alice Merryweather, two extraordinary athletes, and look forward watching them pursue their goals and set the bar even higher in the sport we all love so much.

Sam Morse

Sam won every Maine Alpine Racing Association championship he entered this year. That doesn’t bode well for Sam’s opponents next March as the U. S. National Championships will be contested at Sugarloaf, Sam’s “home course”. He was second among U18 athletes in the Nations Team Event downhill and placed 21st at U.S. Nationals in the slalom. He placed 17th in the World Junior Downhill and had five top 30 NorAm results. Sam won an incredible seven FIS races throughout the season across many disciplins and has recently been named to the U.S. Ski Team Men’s Development Team

“I’ve had the most amazing couple of weeks, the best of my career so far,” says Morse, who is training to be both a technical turner and speed racer.

Morse is currently the No. 1 downhill prospect for his age in the East. “He is a determined and talented athlete. We are all very proud of him and we look forward to seeing him continue to succeed at the international level.” says coach Chip Cochrane.

Alice Merryweather

Alice put together a very special year in her age group in many disciplines. She ranked 1st in her age group at the U. S. National Downhill Championships at Copper Mountain in December, finishing 6th overall, where 4 of 5 ahead of her were members of the U. S. Ski Team. She ranked 1st in the US in her age group in Super G and Slalom. She posted 2 NOR- AM Junior Podiums in Super Combined and Super G. and 5 NOR-AM top tens. Alice is ranked 3rd in the world in Super G for her age group, and 9th in Downhill. Alice raced to a 3rd in Super Combined at the Junior World Championships held in Jansa, Slovakia, and was the only high school woman named to the USSA Eastern Region Team.

“It was a big surprise for me to be named to the Eastern Region Team,” Alice said. “I’ve watched our PGs get on the Eastern Region Team as well as a lot of other really good girls, so it’s a huge honor to be up there with them.”

“This U.S. Downhill Championship finish is phenomenal for Alice,” said Mike Morin, SMS Alpine Program Director. “She went up against not only the top juniors in the country, but the top alpine athletes, and she showed that she was up for the challenge.”

The North American Snowsports Journalists Association, East Region, formerly the Eastern Ski Writers Association, a professional organization consists of major media members who cover skiing and snowboarding. The Golden Ski Award is underwritten by the generous support of Doyle & Doyle Communications and K2 Skis.

Golden Ski History

1969: Tyler Palmer, Karen Middleton 1970: Charles Bent, Karen Middleton 1971: Judy McNealus, Rod Taylor 1972: Jody Palmer, Laurent Gaudin 1973: Jerry McNealus, No female winner 1974: No award 1975: Holly Flanders, Scott Light 1976-2007: Award Lost 2008: Bump Heldman, Julia Ford 2009: Nolan Kasper, Julia Ford 2010: Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Julia Ford 2011: Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Mikaela Shiffrin 2012: Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Mikaela Shiffrin 2013: Kieffer Christianson, Mikaela Shiffrin