2015 King Winter Henry Bendinelli

Some people ski to race, others for exercise.  But what motivated Henry Bendinelli was the pleasure of giving others the gift of skiing.  To him, skiing was like flying (something he did as an aerial navigator in WWII and Korea). He said when he taught someone to ski, it was like giving them angel wings.

Henry's goal in life was to get as many people to ski as he could, which was been a major love of his life. Below are some stats to showed Henry's love of skiing:

• 77 years:  the number of years he had been skiing
• 74 years:  the number of years he had been teaching others to ski.
• Circumference of Earth: conservative estimate of the distance Henry had skied. By other estimates, he had skied it twice.
• 1,500: number of people he had taught to ski.
• 43 years: time span that he had run the Mt. Hood SkiKats Club.
• 1969-1975: the most joyous of his ski years he spent with his kids - Carol, Annie, Mark and Louise - at Timerline.

To extend his legacy, Henry founded the Snow Sportsmanship Program. It rewards high school students in the Oregon Interscholastic Ski Racing Association (www.osira.org) for observed civility and congeniality on the slopes. Statewide, nearly 800 teens participated in 2015.

According to Henry, "Skiing is not a sport; it is a way of life."

We miss Henry everyday, but know he is Shredding in Peace!

Dale and Sheri Parshall were crowned at Charlie's Mountain View in Government Camp on February 11th, 2012.  Both Dale and Sheri have spent hundreds of hours each year volunteering for different ski organizations.  

Dale has been the treasurer for Schnee Vogeli Ski Club off and on for years,  he is on the PACRAT board were is in charge of timing,  he has helped with timing at the Skiyente Maryann Cup Race and the Mt. Hood Master's Mania masters race.   

Sheri has held several board positions for Skiyente Ski Club, NWSCC and FWSA for the past 20 years.  She was awarded the FWSA Elizabeth "Schatzi" Wood Award in 2010 for her outstanding service. 

To the Women of Skiyente Ski Club                                 February 10, 2010

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for the incredible weekend of the King Winter celebration. Where can I begin to capture all the fun, appreciation and great memories you all have created for me?

King Winter is a title that brings to mind the many people who have had a hand in providing an enhanced ski experience for those intrepid skiers on Mt. Hood, be they racers, ski patrollers, instructors, area operators, event coordinators, shop owners or those who help create experiences so more people can participate. It is certainly an incredible honor for me to have been included in that group. It is not often that one can say thank you for creating one of the most memorable events of my life!

It is particularly great that my Dad, Charlie, was able to coach me in what was about to take place. That particular piece is so important to me. My entire family came up to celebrate with me- that was so special.

My particular thanks go to all those who worked so hard at planning the event. The dinner at the Museum was so great. The dance at Charlie’s was quite excellent- my feet were sore from dancing ‘til 1 am! The crown and scepter are works of art! How meticulous and creative can one be!

I’d like to thank all those who put my name in for the nomination and supported that choice, especially Betsy and Jeannie.  I had not ever thought of being nominated.

Thanks so much to all of you. After all the days of skiing and teaching in the rain, sitting in blizzards on the chair, getting people excited about those blue sky and powder days, I know we are all part of an amazing sport.

May everyone be able to have at least three epic ski days per year- those times that we can ‘enhance’ in our descriptions as the years go by- how deep the snow was, how blue the sky, how cheap the tickets (?), and how much fun it was skiing with friends.

Very Sincerely,     

Shelley Sperr-Hakanson