The Eastern Ski Writers Association (ESWA), a division of the North American Snowsports Journalists Association (NASJA), has named Maine's Alexander "Bump" Heldman and Julia Ford of New Hampshire recipients of the 2008 Don A. Metivier Golden Ski Award. The annually awarded Golden Ski Award is recognized as the top award for amateur ski racers in the east. The winners will be officially recognized at the New England Ski Museum, Friday, June 6, 2008 in a ceremony scheduled from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Golden Ski is awarded to the top male and female junior racers (age 19 and under) based on their average world ranking in their top three events. The ranking system encompasses alpine ski racing's five competitive events - downhill, super G, giant slalom, slalom, and super combined.

The men's award winner, "Bump" Heldman, a 19-year-old from Auburn, Maine and Gould Academy, is a member of 2008 U.S. Ski Team Development Team. His 2008 notable results include finishing 13th in the downhill at the 2008 U.S. Alpine National Championships at Sugarloaf, Maine where he was the 2nd Junior overall and top Junior from the East.

Heldman also claimed 18th in the Downhill at the World Junior Championships, Formigal, Spain, and 19th in the GS at the U.S. Alpine Championships, held at Sugarloaf, Maine. At the Nor Am Cup races at Whiteface, N.Y Bump was an impressive 7th in Super Combined, 11th in Super G, and had a best of 17th in Giant Slaloms.

Julia Ford, the women's awardee, and also a member of 2008 U.S. Ski Team Development Team had several top ten finishes during the season. She was 9th in Downhill and 10th in Slalom at the U.S. Alpine Nationals Championships at Sugarloaf and 12th in Super Combined at the World Junior Championships, Formigal, Spain.

The 18-year-old from Plymouth, New Hampshire and the Holderness School was the top American at the Nor Am Cup races at Mount Sainte-Anne, Quebec. Also on the Nor Am circuit, Ford logged a 6th in both Super Combined and Super G at Panorama, B.C. and two 14th finishes at Whiteface, NY in Giant Slalom and Super G.

The Golden Ski Award is named in memory of long-time snowsports scribe Don A. Metivier. For about two decades, the Golden Ski itself was lost. It was only recently found by the New England Ski Museum and was revitalized by ESWA. The award is underwritten by the generous support of Doyle & Doyle Communications and K2 Skis.

_{Photos by Jonathan Selkowitz copyright U.S. Ski Team}