2018-19 Berlack/Astle Memorial Fast Skier Award Winners Announced

By Published On: June 8th, 2019Comments Off on 2018-19 Berlack/Astle Memorial Fast Skier Award Winners Announced

World Cup Supply and 1to3go are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2018-19 Berlack/Astle Memorial Fast Skier Awards. NYSEF/Northwood School athlete Madison Kostoss and Jonathan Davis from the Green Mountain Valley School were each awarded the prize for U16 racers.

Madison Kostoss is a U16 out of Wilmington New York where her passion for skiing was born on Whiteface Mountain. A top racer in New York, her coach Patrick Purcell describes Maddie’s “I can do it” attitude that puts her in a special league. “She is self-driven, willing to take chances and knows clearly that her path is one of success” noted Purcell.

“Ski racing has taught me the importance of a balanced lifestyle along with many other lessons,” Kostoss said. “Ronnie and Bryce captured the essence of this during their lives. I am honored to be a recipient of this award and will continue to be inspired by their charisma throughout my ski racing career.”

Green Mountain Valley School skier Jonathan Davis from Waitsfield, Vermont knows adversity. Last year he suffered a life-threatening ski edge laceration and has been very active in raising awareness for this ever-increasing problem facing many ski racers. Like the Berlack and Astle families, Jonathan has learned to turn a tragic situation into a way to help others.

“I am both excited and humbled to win the Berlack/Astle award,” said Davis. “Everything I have heard or read about each of them, tells me they learned at an early age to live their life with a passion for their sport, their family and their community. I hope to live up to the honor of this award by, working hard, constantly challenging myself, staying positive even in tough times, and just being the best person I can be.“

Both athletes will receive a $1,000 cash award, race products from SYNC and a backpack and t-shirt from World Cup Supply.

This is the 10th year the “Fast Skier Award” has been awarded and the 4th year that the award has been presented in memory of Ronnie Berlack and Bryce Astle, two USST athletes whose lives were lost in an avalanche in Soelden, Austria, in January 2015. The award is based on race results, academic excellence, coach’s recommendations and community involvement — the type of qualities that both Ronnie and Bryce exhibited. This award gives World Cup Supply and 1to3go a chance to recognize excellence in the U16 community and also continue to remember Ronnie and Bryce, two gifted athletes whose character on and off the hill was an inspiration to others.

World Cup Supply and 1to3go congratulate Madison and Jonathan and wish them all the best in their future endeavors. They would also like to thank SYNC and Atomic North America for their generous donations and help recognize Madison’s and Jonathan’s achievements.

You may learn more about the Award by visiting www.berlackastleaward.com.

Release courtesy of World Cup Supply and 1to3go.

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