M. Earl Miller

Bio
Category: 
Ski Sport Innovator

Earl Miller has been involved with skiing for 35 years. He has trained many ski instructors and has taught thousands of students. Earl enjoyed helping junior racers and coached the Weber State Ski Team from 1964 to 1975.

The Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) was conceived in 1958 by such skiing notables as Kerr Sparks, Paul Valar, Jimmy Johnston, Junior Bounous, Ed Heath, Dr. Chuck Hibbard, and Earl Miller. Certification procedures, recruiting and training instructors, and related problems of the ski industry were many of the considerations during their initial meeting. The American Teaching Method was taking shape as PSIA was incorporated in 1961, and Earl influenced its development.

Earl served on the Board of Directors for PSIA-Intermountain (PSIA-I) and was an examiner for the certification of instructors. He was the Ski School Director at Snowbasin for 35 years and received many awards during that time:

  • 1965-1966 The Don Reddish Award for outstanding activity in focusing the interest of youth in skiing in the Intermountain Division of U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association
  • 1972-1973 Ski School Director of the Year, Intermountain Ski Instructors Association (ISIA)
  • 1977-1978 Lifetime membership in PSIA-I
  • 1981-1982 Utah Handicapped Ski Association Certificate of Appreciation for interest and dedication in serving handicapped skiers of Utah
  • 1984 Bonneville International Corporation and KSL TV Lowell Thomas Award in recognition of his outstanding service in pioneering, enhancing, and promoting the ski industry of Utah