NBC Commentator Honored By FIS and USSA

BEAVER CREEK, CO (Dec. 5, 2015) – Longtime ski racing journalist and broadcaster Steve Porino (Bend, OR) was honored during the annual Audi Birds of Prey World Cup with the FIS Journalist Award for his service in bringing ski racing to the public. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association and the International Ski Federation present the award annually.

Porino, who competed on the FIS World Cup tour as a downhiller with the U.S. Ski Team for five years, now serves as a commentator for NBC Sports. His career as a journalist began with Ski Racing Magazine, then led to a host of broadcast stints leading up to his career with NBC.

“Steve has brought our sport to life as a journalist,” said USSA President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “His insights have helped grow the public awareness of alpine ski racing in America.”

“This is a great honor,” said Porino. “For me, though, it’s fun – ski racing is what I love.”

Porino retired from the U.S. Ski Team in 1992. He broke into journalism somewhat by accident, writing articles as a ski coach at Snowbird. He was then recruited to be an editor at Ski Racing Magazine from 1997-2004. He also began doing broadcast work, which has taken him to Outdoor Life Network, ESPN and others, before settling in as one of the key commentators for the Universal Sports Network and now NBC Sports.

He was presented with the award during the U.S. Ski Team’s annual alumni reunion in Beaver Creek on Saturday, Dec. 5.

HIGHLIGHTS

• NBC’s Steve Porino was presented the FIS Journalist Award for his lifetime of coverage of the U.S. Ski Team athletes and events.
• he award was presented by U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association President and CEO Tiger Shaw during the U.S. Ski Team Alumni reception during the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup in Beaver Creek.
• The FIS Journalist Award is made 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. Porino is now among a list of 16 journalists honored in America since the award began in 1996.
• A former downhiller with the U.S. Ski Team, Porino has worked for Ski Racing Magazine, Outdoor Life Network, ESPN, Universal Sports Network and NBC Sports.

FIS JOURNALIST AWARD
U.S. Recipients
2015 - Steve Porino, NBC
2014 - John Dakin, Vail Valley Foundation (presented in Feb. 2015)
2013 - John Meyer, Denver Post
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