Skiing in the name of...
J.T. Holmes, a full-time student and skier, doesn't have a lot of disposable income to donate to charities. Instead, however, he and other high-profile skiers, like Jonny Moseley and Darian Boyle, are contributing to a meaningful cause by donating their skiing talents and personalities to the Duke Peterson Scholarship Memorial Ski Day.
Taking place December 15 at Snowbird, this expert-only day of skiing with the pros will be preceded Saturday night by a Green Tie Dinner, featuring Holmes as the keynote speaker, at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah. As sponsors, both Bula and Sessions have been instrumental in helping the event come together. All proceeds will go directly to the Duke Peterson Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The scholarship fund was established through the Douglas F. Smith Foundation, headed by Brooks Rohlen, in order to pay the season's expenses for one athlete per year from the Squaw Valley Ski Team.
Duke Peterson was a highly motivated, respected, and influential ski coach at Squaw Valley, as well as a devoted husband and father of four. He passed away unexpectedly last year of a heart attack.
Rohlen, a medical student at the University of Utah, called on his experience as the founder of the Douglas F. Smith Foundation (which sponsors several skiers in addition to coordinating many other scholarships and fundraising projects) to organize the Memorial Scholarship and Ski Day benefit. A long time friend and former teammate of Peterson's, he was determined to turn his friend's death into something positive.
"Duke was one of those guys who is ultra-strong, enthusiastic, and a real leader. He was always the first guy out of the locker room in the morning and the last one to come in when the lifts closed," says Holmes. "Always in a good mood, he just brought great energy to Squaw Valley in general."