Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the United Ski Club?
Any employee (active, retired or furloughed) of United Airlines or Continental Airlines may join the Ski Club. We also welcome all of our United Express friends as well as any of our Star Alliance partners. Your current employer and/or employment status will determine whether you can race competitively for the United Ski Club, if you are interested in this aspect of the Club. Any member is welcome to bring a non-airline friend(s) to any Ski Week event, they will just need to join our Ski Club under the guest membership. Membership fee is $30 (individual) or $35 (couple/family) annually. Dues must be paid prior to attending your first Ski Club event of each Season.. Members attending a Ski Club event who haven't paid their dues (DUES CRIMINALS) will be sought out and appointed to the Membership Committee work detail for a minimum of 2 years. :-)
Who is in charge of the United Ski Club?
The United Ski Club is run by United Airlines employed, elected and appointed officers. The President, Vice President and the three Trustee's are all elected positions. The Treasurer and other committee positions are appointed positions. Appointed positions are designated by the Ski Club President. Any member in good standing can run for an elected position. The position of President and Vice President are one year terms, where as the Trustee position are two year terms. If you haven't volunteered for a position in the past, please consider helping the Club out in any capacity you find of interest.
Current Club Leadership:
President - Kurt Ban (DENFO) kurt_ban@outlook.com
Vice President - Andy Carringan (DCAFO) Acarringan425@aol.com
Treasurer - Gary Chaw (SFOPD) gchaw@aol.com
Trustee - Nancy Hoskins (SFOSW) GidgetFlyz@aol.com
Trustee - Jeff Felderman (LAXFO) j_felderman@yahoo.com
Trustee - Wes Fletcher (JFKFO) CasaDeWes@aol.com
Who do I contact to attend a Ski Week?
For information about any of the Airline Ski Weeks, contact the United Ski Club Coordinator and/or their Assistant listed on the Ski Weeks link on the Home menu (above). They can help you with any questions you might have, including helping you find a roommate, provide lodging and/or transportation info, etc...
What is NAASF?
NAASF stands for the North American Airline Ski Federation. NAASF is run by volunteers from various airlines. NAASF coordinates the negotiations with ski resorts for the Ski Weeks we attend each year, from January through April. Our United Ski Club pays an annual dues fee to NAASF, of $75.00 per year to maintain our status in good standing. The registration fee you pay at each Ski Week goes to NAASF so they can pay the Ski Resort for the cost of offering racing, facilities, social events and administration expenses. You can find information about all of the Ski Weeks and updated news at www.naasf.com. When we attend a NAASF Airline Ski Week, we follow the guide lines/rules as outlined and sanctioned by NAASF. The Officers and volunteers of NAASF do a tremendous amount of work on our behalf; please recognize them whenever you have a chance.
Checkout this great welcome video from NAASF! (Just copy& paste the address below in to your web browser):
http://naasf.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=82
Do I have to attend the entire Airline Ski Week?
You may attend for as many days as you wish. Ski Week events usually start on Sunday and end on the following Friday. Lodging is offered on a per night basis, as well as lift tickets. The only exception to this is our annual 'Learn To Ski & Snowboard Better Week', which takes place the first full week of December every year; this week is all-inclusive in that your Lodging, Lift Tickets and professional Instruction are all included.
Do I have to race if I join the United Ski Club?
You don't have to race or even ski for that matter! We welcome everyone to join in and try to race; no experience is necessary. Racing is offered for both skiing and snowboarding. From past experience, those that haven't raced before and try it, end up enjoying it and find themselves continuing to participate. We also have members that don't race and just spend the week enjoying themselves skiing or snowboarding the mountain; and of course enjoying the Apres' ski activities.
Can I attend and do my own thing?
While we welcome everyone attending an event to join in and socialize with Ski Club members and members of NAASF (North American Airline Ski Federation), but there is no requirement to do so. You might elect to bring your family and make it a family vacation, doing your own thing for the week. In any case, if you attend a Ski Week, everyone will have to pay the Registration Fee upon arrival. The Registration Fee goes to cover the cost of administering the Ski Week by NAASF. Registration is usually $75/per person for the week; this Fee allows you access to the discounted lodging, lift tickets, racing and social events.
What does IASF and WASC stand for?
IASF stand for International Airline Ski Federation. IASF coordinates the International Ski Week each year. The Ski Week they coordinate each year is referred to as the WASC (World Airline Ski Championships). Any member in good standing (dues paid) can attend the International Ski Week. IASF has a website where you can find information on the current years IASF event. http://www.ski-iasf.org
IASF history:
It all started back in 1960 when skiers from Air France and Swissair were invited to take part in ski carnival races at Alaska’s Arctic Valley just outside of Anchorage.
Although the races were started at Arctic Valley, they were soon at both Arctic Valley and Mt. Alyeska. They were moved to Mt. Alyeska exclusively and remained there under the sponsorship of the Anchorage Times until 1975.
In 1976 the venue moved to Mt. Hood, Oregon and has been held on three continents at many different resorts since that time. This resulted in need for an association or Federation to oversee the conduct and scheduling of future events. Howard Clifford was elected the first president and presided over the first meet under Federation sanction at Les Diablerets, Switzerland in 1977.
The Federation became a non-profit corporation under the laws of State of Washington, USA on 5 December 1977. The purpose of, but not limited to, was the fostering of national and international amateur sports competition and the development and maintenance of the sport of skiing among airline employees throughout the world.
