2004 POWDER Video Awards - Reader Poll Winners
POWDER reader poll award - an award voted
on by POWDER mag readers.
by Jen Percy
With seven piercings, changing hair colors and a love of roots punk, it is no wonder Seth Morrison's personality off the slopes translated effortlessly into the unconstrained skier he has become today. Unknown just ten years ago, this 30-year-old Kentuckian, has come to define a provocative combination of style, insanity, and talent for the newest generation of skiers.
After lifting the public's eyes to freeskiing culture and even stretching his hand to them with his own pro model ski from K2 (appropriately dubbed the Seth Pistols after his favorite band, the Sex Pistols) Morrison unsurprisingly took top honors in this year's POWDER Magazine Reader Poll, presented in Aspen, Colorado on January 23, 2004. This will be Morrison's 2nd consecutive year being voted number one by POWDER readers.
Morrison savors the type of recognition he receives for the award: "I am not a contest skier and this award recognizes me for being a film skier. Getting that kind of recognition is difficult because I am not seen on T.V.--people have to go out and buy my movies."
Besides top accolades in the POWDER Reader Poll, Morrison has been acknowledged as top male skier by the ESPN Action Sports and Music Awards, Freeskiing Awards, Poacher's Movie Awards and been recognized in a number of top ski films. The overflowing resume, however, has only found Morrison a man of modesty. "Even after 24 years of skiing I am still learning," he says.
Following Morrison is Shane McConkey. McConkey, known for dynamic BASE jumps and comedic antics, found himself number two for the second year in a row, after winning the poll in its inaugural year. Following in 3rd place, Rick Greener makes his first appearance ever on the Reader Poll. Sarah Burke, 21, won this year's POWDER Reader Poll award for best female skier of the year. Burke has helped progress women's skiing for what it is today. When she started to compete in freestyle competitions, options were sparse for women--she often competed against men in events such as the U.S. Open of Freeskiing. However, with Burke leading the way, the first ever Women's Ski Superpipe competition at the Global X Games was initiated in January of last year. Burke placed first, and in doing so quickly raised the standards for women's freestyle. Over the past year, she has elevated women's skiing with new moves such as the 900s and cab 3s.
Burke says she is surprised by the honor. "I have always been in the top five but never number one. I was chosen by the reader's and that is the most important thing." What are Burke's up coming goals? "Big mountain skiing. It is a challenge for me. It scares me, it's fun, and I want to do more."
Wendy Fischer, a former U.S. ski team member, three-time World Extreme Skiing Champion, and first place finisher in the last two POWDER Reader Polls for best female skier, slides into 2nd place. Picabo Street makes her first appearance on the Poll in third place, followed by Kristi Leskinen and Jamie Burge.
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