The J. Willard Marriott Library at the University of Utah will host the annual Ski Affair, a benefit for the Ski and Snow Sports Archives, to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m. at the University’s Cleone Peterson Eccles Alumni House, where the prestigious S. J. Quinney Award will be presented.Chair of Ski and Snow Sports Archives Board Barbara Yamada will present the S.J. Quinney Award, which will go to Connie Nelson, who retired earlier this year after serving as executive director of the Alf Engen Ski Museum and the George Eccles Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Games Museum at the Utah Olympic Park. Recognizing Nelson’s outstanding preservation work, the International Ski History Association bestowed her with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. “We cannot think of a more deserving individual to receive this award,” said Barbara Yamada, longtime chair of the Ski and Snow Sports Archives Board. “Connie has built what is known as a premiere museum, one of the best of its kind in our country. We applaud her for her tireless work and contributions.”The evening will include a social hour, drawings for several packages — including full-day tickets to 10 ski resorts and guided tours to explore new areas in Utah — and dinner. All proceeds will go the Marriott Library’s Special Collections for the “betterment and maintenance of the Ski and Snow Sports Archives,” according to a press release. Researchers will find materials on local, national and international ski competitions, the founding of major resorts, snow safety and avalanche control and even the 10th Mountain Division who fought in the European Alps during WWII and trained in at Utah’s Alta Ski Area. At the Archives’ founding, the S. J. and Jessie E. Quinney Foundation recognized the importance of the project and provided critical seed funding. In 1993, the Archives were incorporated into the newly established Joe Quinney Recreation Archives, which contain materials on river running, hiking clubs, mountaineering, climbing and other outdoor activities. S. J. (Joe) Quinney was Utah’s ski resort pioneer, founding Alta Ski Area; he also was a founding partner of the law firm Ray, Quinney and Nebeker, where he practiced law until he passed at the age of 90. The award being presented to Connie Nelson at the Ski Affair is named in his honor and is presented annually to an individual or organizations in recognition of their contribution to skiing and winter sports in the region. President and CEO of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, Colin Hilton, will make remarks related to Salt Lake City being designated the host of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Hilton oversees the use of Utah’s Olympic and Paralympic legacy venues, where competitions were held during the 2002 games, and whose properties have hosted both sport and public uses since the games were held. Hilton served in leadership positions for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, 1996 Atlanta Games, spring-boarding into a role managing the Park City Area Olympic/Paralympic Games venues in 2002. After a stint working as economic development director for Park City, he took on his role at Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation in 2006.The post Ski and Snow Sports Archive will kick off ski season with benefit event, awards appeared first on Park Record.