Will Ferguson Award

Freestyle Panorama Ski Club is above all else a community. A group of people coming together to share a common interest in skiing and life in the mountains. Over the years our community here in Panorama has been lucky enough to interact with the lives of so many special individuals, one of them being a long-term member of the club, Will Ferguson.

Will started with the program in its infancy, quickly becoming a core piece of the hard-charging, Tayton-lapping young skiers who spent every Saturday and Sunday having the time of their lives around the mountain. There is no better way to grow up.

As an athlete, Will wasn’t often the front-runner in his group's endeavors. Instead, he occupied the voice of reason in his gang of young skiers, showing considerable maturity and humility beyond his years. His consideration for his peers continued throughout his life and was expressed through the care and friendship shown to all in his sphere. Will’s influence on his friends led to a trickle-down effect: he taught us all how to be better, kinder humans and we strive to apply those lessons to those around us.

Will later went on to coach for Freestyle Panorama. He was loved by his athletes for his kind, funny, thoughtful, and humble manner. Kids felt safe and welcomed skiing with Will - impacts that have an enduring legacy in our club as we continue to embody the best of Will in all of our daily interactions.

In September of 2021, Will lost his difficult battle with mental health.

This award seeks to carry on the legacy of humility, courage, and kindness that Will embodied throughout his life - the essence of Will that made such a large and lasting difference at Freestyle Panorama. This award will be distributed annually to a recipient who may not be a podium skier, or the athlete pushing the sport the farthest, but to that individual who reminds us that the greatest impact on a community can be made through kindness, friendship, and humility.

Your support is felt and appreciated by the greater Freestyle Community. Thank-you.