Selko Named FIS Journalist of Year
BEAVER CREEK, CO (Dec. 5) – Ski racing is one of the world’s most visual and emotional sports. Over the past two decades, photographer Jonathan Selkowitz has brought that action to life through his photography. A Massachusetts native now living in Victor, ID near Jackson Hole, Selkowitz was honored by the International Ski Federation (FIS) and U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) with presentation of the FIS Journalist Award during the Neve U.S. Ski Team Alumni Party at the Audi Birds of Prey World Cup races in Beaver Creek.The FIS Journalist Award is presented by the sport's international governing body for career contributions to the sport. Selections are made by national ski associations on behalf of the FIS. Selkowitz joins a distinguished list of a dozen U.S. journalists honored since 1996. Selkowitz was presented with the traditional crystal trophy by U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association President and CEO Bill Marolt and FIS Communications Director Riikka Rakic.
Selkowitz grew up skiing at Bousquet’s and Jiminy Peak in the Berkshires where he competed in freestyle and alpine ski racing in high school, continuing to race at Colby College. He moved to Jackson in 1988 where he coached ski racing and became a ski instructor. Ironically, it was a knee injury that sidelined and gave him an opportunity to assist a commercial photographer in Jackson. Fate stepped in again at his first World Cup in 1994 in Park City when he encountered his former college Spanish tutor Heather Freeman Black, a photographer for Ski Racing, who tutored him again in photography. It helped launch a two decade career as one of the sport’s most noted photojournalists.
Few have matched the passion of Selkowitz who routinely drives all night or grabs a couch for a night just to be a part of photographing the sport he loves.
“As a coach and instructor I tried to teach the perfect turn. Now, as a photographer, I strive to capture and illustrate the most dynamic turn,” said Selkowitz. “It is a great honor and pleasure to work with some of the finest athletes and sport professionals.”
In his career, Selkowitz has covered Olympics in Nagano, Salt Lake City and Torino. His work has appeared in myriad publications from Playboy to ESPN Magazine, Newsweek to Rolling Stone. He is especially proud to have photographed rising star Mikaela Shiffrin shredding a slalom course on the cover of Powder Magazine this past March, bringing more attention to ski racing into a different audience of the sport.
“Skiing is a very visual sport and it’s important to recognize the contribution that photographers like Jonathan Selkowitz have made to bring the excitement and passion of our sport to the public,” said FIS Communications Director Riikka Rakic.
The FIS Journalist Award has been presented jointly by FIS and the USSA 13 times, beginning with recognition of the late William Oscar Johnson in 1996. Selkowitz was joined in the presentation by four other past recipients.
FIS JOURNALIST AWARD
U.S. Recipients
2012 – Jonathan Selkowitz, Photographer
2011 – Tim Ryan, NBC
2010 – Hank McKee, Ski Racing
2010 – Paul Robbins, Freelance Journalist
2008 - Mike Clark, Associated Press
2007 - Gary Black, Ski Racing
2002 - Peter Diamond, NBC
2002 - Joe Jay Jalbert, Jalbert Productions
2001 - Anita Verschoth, Sports Illustrated
1999 - Charlie Meyers, Denver Post
1998 - John Fry, Ski Magazine
1997 - Bob Beattie, ABC/ESPN
1996 - William Oscar Johnson, Sports Illustrated