Winter Sports School Info

Meany Winter Sports School

Thanks to the dedication of our director and instructors, Meany is honored to have our very own PSIA authorized winter sports school. The school is authorized to teach a variety of outdoor winter sports (no luge, bobsled or ski-jumping as of yet). Since the instructors are deeply familiar with all of Meany's Ski runs, both groomed and ungroomed, the instruction one gets is second to none. With the low student to teacher ratio, it's almost as if you're getting semi-private lessons. I can attest to the efficacy of these lessons after watching my children rapidly improve their skill levels. This is definitely one of the better schools around. Below is some information on the instructors

Meany Ski Instructors

Here she is in all of her glory, the boss, the big Kahuna, the head cheese, Patti Polinsky. As she tells it: "I'm a avid snow sports lover (telemarking, cross country and downhill skiing). If there is any snow to be seen, I'm on it whether it be in Seattle, Meany Lodge or the world. When the snow melts you will find me, for fun, long-distance hiking, 200 - 300 miles on a vacations. In my spare time, I'm in love with gardening and remodeling, both at home or at Meany with my husband Dave.

I started the winter sports program in the 70's as one day seminars, in order to encourage more people to ski the back country. At that time I was a supervisor for the Fiorini Ski school. I have earned a level III certification in downhill skiing and a level II certification in telemark skiing. I have strived to keep Meany lodge wintersports school certified with PSIA-NW. This to ensure that all our instructors will be able to provide the highest quality level of instructions." She also teaches classes and gives private lessons at Meany.

Jim Jarosz say's: I've been skiing since I was 17 years old. I remember the first time, driving the 64 Chevy BelAir to Wrightwood, skipping school, skiing on the ice in my Levi jeans. I have been skiing at Meany since 1997 and with my kids, took lessons from Dave Claar, Eric Lamers, Norm Vigus, and Art Freeman. For the past three years I have been teaching the Advanced beginners and Intermediated Young Adult students. Meany is the place to be in the winter. In my spare time I teach 7th graders at Hamilton International Middle School. The combination of snow, kids, adults, food, equipment, the ski runs, and the traditions make Meany world famous. Skiing has to be the most fun of any sport, at least that is what I think. This spring I have been doing a bit of climbing up mountains and skiing down and some Randonee Skiing. I think that is my next challenge besides teaching 7th graders.
PS. The photo is in the Narrows in Zion National Park. No snow in August."

Art "point 'em down" Freeman say's: Skiing for 40+ years in the Northwest. 4 years at Meany, also some at Ski Masters. He is into backcountry skiing (as well as in ski areas0, plus hiking, climbing and sailing when snow is not available.

Steve Bozorth say's: "Name is Steve Bozorth...aka Boz...and I am Snowboard Director at Meany Lodge. I started my long teaching career at Snoqualmie Summit, working for the Resident Ski School in 1986-87. I worked for several several years teaching skiing and snowboarding before taking 2 years off to race snowboards all around the Northwest during college. After returning from Eastern Washington University with my BA in Education, I went to work at Fiorini Ski School during the 02-05 Winters. That is where I met Patty and she then coaxed (blackballed or blackmail) to teach for Ski Masters at Snoqualmie Pass and Crystal Mountain before coming to Meany. When not at Meany I can be found in the backcountry at Alpental or Whistler/Blackcomb, or on my snowmobile."

Eric Lamers say's: I've been skiing since my time in the US Air Force at Larson AFB in Moses Lake, WA. I've skied numerous areas in the U.S., Canada and Europe. I Became a ski instructor in 1993 with Mohan's ski school at Ski Acres and earned my PSIA certified level two instructor rating. I have also taught at Meany for several years and now am coaching a two day "intro to racing" class. I continue racing side by side giant slalom at Alpental and have won bronze, silver and gold medals with Naster, competed in the Master's racing program and participated in numerous racing clinic's.

My favorite ski area is the one I'm skiing at the time and my stated skiing philosophy is that there is no wrong skiing, just easier-safer-less fatiguing and more fun skiing.

Cordelia Franklin say's: Yep I'm the blonde airhead who teaches little kids :-). I've been skiing here at Meany since I was seven years old. I enjoy Meany sooo much that I almost never ski anywhere else. Meany is still the best place ever to ski and hang out. I am now an \ advanced skier, and can ski almost everything at Meany, (atta-boy to myself)

Patti was my first instructor, but I was mostly taught by Jim Fahey. Please don't tell him I said this cause it would go to his head, but I think he is a amazing teacher, and a whole lot of fun for an adult.

Last couple of years I have been helping Jim out with the beginners. With super beginner skiers I have found it helpful to ski backwards and hold their ski tips so they won't slide down the hill (a trick Jim taught me). He has also taught me that handing out candy at the end of a lesson makes the kids want to come back and ski again. See, bribary sometimes does work. In my spare time I do homework, hang out with my friends, and Irish dance."

Jim Fahey says: I have been skiing and teaching for over a decade at Meany. For most of that I have had the fun and pleasure of teaching the beginner skiers. Our beginner rope tow "Turtle" is off to the side of the main hill, safely away from the faster tows and skiers. All the little kids know how slow a turtle moves so the tow doesn't scare them.

It is truely amazing to see most of the beginners progress to parallel turns (without poles) in just four weekends. All the kids look forward to the final exam after every class and amazingly, all the kids pass, thus receiving a small Reeses peanut butter/chocolate cup treat. When I first started handing them out, I found that due to the thickness of the children's gloves, they couldn't unwrap them themselves, so I started doing that and putting it in their upturned mouths. It reminded me of a bird taking food from their parent. To make the treat giving more fun I have added the requirement of each of them chirping like a little bird. Now children of all ages (and I mean of ALL AGES) come up to me going "cheep cheep" with the expectation of getting a treat. The other enjoyable task is when I can tell one of the beginners that they "can ski down and get towed out". The smile is a wonder to behold

. I would like to envite you to bring your young ones to join the fun of the Turtle tow, the "cheep cheeping" at the end of every fun class, and developing new life-long friendships.

Todd Wilkie say's: I have been skiing for more than thirty years now, including a bit of racing for Team Alpental back in the 80's. I am certified Alpine by PSIA and taught for a season at Steamboat in Colorado back when I was more irresponsible about steady income. (No more - got wife and child). I enjoy telemark on my own time and have even done a bit of snowboarding. Meany is a great place! I had one of the better powder days of my life (I'm including CO here) at Meany during the 06-07 season and survived multiple Railroad traverses to tell about it.

Norm Vigas learned most of his skiing skills at Meany (like skiing "the deep", "tube hockey", and "Gates") but has been relearning how to ski on the newer shaped skiis for the last 5 years or so. Also, most of his earlier exploits that were captured on Super 8 will fortunately not be duplicated in the future. In the meantime he'll be concentrating on making skiing fun and adapting he's learned racing experience to the rest of the skiing world - via his students.
NOTE from webmaster: We are trying to find these and will put them on the web

Mike Oberg grew up on his family ranch near Tonsasket, Washington. Sitzmark ski hill was where he learned to ski at age 5, race, instruct, ski-tech, drive a snowcat, and run a lift. He and his wife Erin now live on Beacon hill and work together in high tech marketing and design. When he's not skiing you'll find Mike riding his mountain bike, climbing in the cascades, or making a huge mess in the kitchen. Also if you have the chance ask Mike about his helmet cam. Also if you look at the Meany page - well it is Mike and Erin.