Deer Valley Resort and its Director of Skiing, Stein Eriksen, both received awards at the fourth annual Governor’s State of Sport Awards Dinner, hosted by the Utah Sports Commission and presented by Zions Bank.

Honoring Utah’s sports achievements and celebrating Utah’s sports community, the Utah Sports Commission has awarded Deer Valley Resort the 2015 Partner of the Year Award. The Utah Sports Commission’s success is shared by many key partners and friends within Utah’s sports industry. The Partner of the Year Award recognizes the extraordinary efforts, resources and other support from sponsors, venues, hospitality, community, local organizing committees, events rights holders, volunteers and others in Utah’s sports industry who contribute valuable assistance in continuing to establish Utah as The State of Sport and enhance its Olympic Legacy. Past recipients include Zions Bank and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.

“Deer Valley has been a valuable partner in helping sustain Utah’s Olympic legacy,” said Jeff Robbins, president and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission. “Since hosting a large portion of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Deer Valley has continued to host World Cups and World Championships, inviting the world’s best freestyle athletes back year after year and showcasing this renowned venue to the world.”

In its 34-year history, Deer Valley Resort has consistently ranked #1 in SKI Magazine’s reader’s poll, as well as garnered countless additional awards and recognitions, such as being named United States Best Ski Resort by the World Ski Awards. During the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Deer Valley Resort was host to the men’s and women’s freestyle aerial, freestyle mogul and alpine slalom events and has hosted the 2003 and 2011 Freestyle World Championships. The Resort is a favorite stop on

the Freestyle World Cup circuit each year and each of these events bring significant economic impact and exposure to the state of Utah.

Olympic Gold Medalist and Deer Valley’s Director of Skiing, Stein Eriksen, received the Governor’s State of Sport Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to skiing and sports in Utah. The award is given to those who have made significant contributions in advancing and promoting sports that serve to enhance the quality of life for Utah citizens. Past recipients include Larry H. Miller (posthumously), Spencer F. Eccles, Billy Casper and Jack Nicklaus.

“It is an honor to pay tribute to one of Utah’s most iconic sports figures for his contribution to the sport of skiing in Utah and across the Intermountain Ski Areas,” said Robbins. “Stein has garnered recognition the world over for his pioneering spirit in the sport of skiing and we are proud he has called Utah home since 1969.”

As the most recognized name in the ski world, Stein Eriksen has been synonymous with skiing style and elegance for more than half a century. The first alpine skier to win triple gold at a world championship, an Olympic Gold Medalist and ambassador and father of freestyle skiing, Eriksen has parlayed all that he knows and loves about the sport into an incredible career that has spanned almost six decades and changed the face of alpine skiing worldwide. The patriarch of elegant skiing, Eriksen successfully utilized his passion for skiing into a lifetime career and helped cultivate the internationally-renowned luxury hotel, which bears his name, located mid-mountain at Deer Valley Resort.

Both awards were presented last night, Tuesday, April 21 at the Governor’s State of Sport Awards Dinner held at EnergySolutions Arena. Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert provided welcoming remarks and presented the special awards to Deer Valley and Stein Eriksen. Acclaimed entertainer and motorsports enthusiast Jay Leno was also in attendance to help celebrate Utah’s best athletic achievements for the 2014 calendar year.

For more information about the Governor’s State of Sports Awards, please visit the State of Sport Awards website here.