Inspiration from Four Generations
BY MANON BURKE
TD MT. HOOD MEADOWS

“Inspiring Lifelong Passion for the Mountain Experience” was not a new concept to me when it became the vision statement for PSIA.

My dad, Ray Whitcher, who passed away on December 5, 2001, lived that concept and by his actions inspired many others - from his roots in New Hampshire, cocaptaining his University of New Hampshire ski team, coaching the University of the Pacific college team in California, co-establishing the Nordic certification program in the Northwest, earning his PSIA Alpine Level III certification and being honored with the PSIA-NW Skiing Legends Award in 1996.

Not to be outdone, my mom, Mignon Whitcher, was exposed to skiing when her older sister, Yvonne Blossom, was a California State Champion in Alpine Ski Racing and Jumping and an alternate on the 1936 US Olympic Alpine Ski Team. After mom and dad married, had kids and began teaching in Oregon, she established the Sun Downer’s Ski Program at Mt. Hood Meadows and was also honored with the PSIA-NW Skiing Legends Award in 1999. She passed her PSIA Alpine Level III certification in 1970. At 83, she is still teaching 2 days per week.

As for me, Manon Burke, I have always found peace in the mountains, whether camping or skiing. Love of skiing was not immediate for me, but once I learned how to stop and turn, and I didn’t have to wear hand-me-down ski pants that flapped in the wind, my attitude changed. Love for the mountains and teaching was after all, probably inbred. After some serious training, I earned my PSIA Alpine Level III certification in 1979. A short stint as DCL has been followed with many years as a training director at Mt. Hood Meadows.

My son, Aaron Ruddick, grew up on Mt. Hood and formed an especially strong bond with his grandpa. They could be seen on Nordic gear (doing tele-turns before telemark skis made an appearance) as well as Alpine. Aaron chose to follow the racing path, and spent time training and racing in the Alps as well as racing through America. He is a USSA Alpine Level III coach as well as a PSIA Alpine Level III Certified Instructor, which he uses in his capacity as Program Director/Head Coach in Red Lodge, Montana. He is working to incorporate both disciplines together to improve the education of coaches, instructors and racers.

And then, there is John-Ashlay Ruddick, who was nine in February. The 4th generation. His dad took him to Mt. Hood Meadows at three weeks of age. When Aaron was told Ashlay was too young to go on the lift (in the chest pack), Aaron hiked to the top of Mt. Hood Express and the two of them skied together for the first time. Ashlay started on Nordic gear at two and, by the age of 4, was making parallel turns on black diamond runs. Much to Aaron’s chagrin however, by instilling the love of mountains and skiing in his son, he couldn’t seem to get Ashlay to come in out of the rain, let alone on perfect snow days. (A true Northwest Skier!!) To date, Ashlay races, but does not yet hold any teaching certifications. What he does have, is the beginning of a Lifelong Passion for the Mountain Experience.