Al Maddox awarded Patricia Ramage Memorial Award

Vancouver – The Canadian Snowsports Association, today announced Al Maddox as recipient of the Patricia Ramage Memorial Award, which recognizes outstanding contribution to snowsport as a Canadian FIS committee volunteer.

Hailing from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Al served the cross country community for sixteen years at the highest technical levels within the FIS, as a member of the Cross Country Committee as well as the subcommittee for Rules & Control and serving as a FIS Technical Delegate. He developed TD education modules and homologation software that continue to be in use worldwide. He also worked within Cross Country Canada/Nordiq Canada on the Board, for events and within his home club in Thunder Bay.

“Al exemplifies the qualities and achievements for which this award was established and readily meets
the criteria embodied by the award, and then some” said Jeff Ellis, Events Coordinator of Nordiq Canada. “As an individual, Al is well recognized for his extraordinary commitment throughout his long career to snow sports in Canada and around the world, which goes from the grass roots club level to the highest levels of sport. He continually demonstrates respect for officials, race organisers, athletes and parents through his undying commitment to fair play, education and continual improvement.”

His volunteer contribution to the advancement of cross country skiing also includes having worked at the club level, regional and national competitions and Canada Winter Games. He was a key organizer and Chief of Competition for the 1995 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships at Thunder Bay and a World Cup TD and was the TD at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games at Salt Lake City.

Through his long service to the FIS Cross Country Committee, Al was recognized as an honorary member of the committee, one of only two Canadians to hold this distinction.

Al has always been motivated by overall athlete development through his interest and support for athletes as individuals and contributors to the sport beyond racing, particularly when it comes to education be it involvement in officials’ development, homologation, race organization, or software development to support race organization and sport administration. He is appreciated by peers around the world for his leadership and education and athletes for his even-handed professional TD work, homologation work, and advocacy.

This award honours Patricia Ramage, a remarkable volunteer for Canadian snow sports who worked tirelessly for over 35 years as an administrator, technical advisor, team manager, organizer of many events and CSA representative to the FIS for Nordic disciplines.