MMSPAA Gathering Raises $4,000+ for Hendrickson Family
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 29 April 2024
MMSPAA Gathering Raises $4,000+ for Hendrickson Family
The Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol Alumni Association (MMSPAA) hosted its Rat Pack Weekend reunion in Mammoth Lakes on Thursday, April 25, through Sunday, April 28, and raised over $4,000 for deceased alum Mark Hendrickson’s family.
60 ski patrol alumni gathered for the four-day event, which kicked off at Burgers Restaurant where alumni met to dine and tell stories. The group skied on lift tickets and stayed in discounted lodging provided by Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort, with a potluck at the Ski Patrol house on Saturday. On Friday evening, the community gathered to honor Hendrickson and raise funds for his family, and on Sunday, the event culminated in the Mark Hendrickson Memorial Toboggan Race.
The fundraiser was held at Clocktower Cellar under the Alpenhof Lodge, which was filled to capacity. Funds earned on Friday from donations, as well as from a raffle and sales of MSPAA merchandise, were donated in full to the family.
At the time of his death August 5, Hendrickson was 48 years old and Mountain Manager at Mt. Hood Skibowl in Oregon. He joined the Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol in 1996 and served for about six years. He was on a morning bike ride near his home at Government Camp when his bike was hit by an SUV. Hendrickson is survived by his wife Casey and their sons Cash (10) and Jess (12).
14 teams competed in the Sunday morning toboggan race between 9 AM and noon, with two members per team, one skiing between the handles in front of the toboggan and one skiing behind on the tail rope. The course was set up by the Mammoth Mountain Race Department on Terry’s Run as a specialty course in giant-slalom style with two corridors that did not permit turns, requiring skiers to side slip. “At the lower pitch, the tailrope’s not really needed,” said MMSPAA Board President Ian Scott. “Having a team of two is just more fun.”
Each team participated in two heats, with team members ideally switching roles for the second heat. Times for the two heats were tallied to determine place. Dan Friedman and Nicko Gardner, current Ski Patrol members, took first place, two seconds ahead of 2022 champs Niel Satterfield and John Talbot, who took second. Cameron Ferrante and Chandler Killam came in third. There were no prizes, just bragging rights.
The event was made possible by Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort, Chip White and his crew at the Mammoth Mountain Race Departent, Ed Hurley at Burgers Restaurant, and brothers Robert and Kurt Schaubmayer at Alpenhof Lodge. The following local businesses donated raffle items: Footloose Sports, The Green Room Mammoth, Kittredge Sports, Mammoth Chevron, and Mammoth Mountaineering Supply. Thanks go out also to an anonymous alumni member who contributed $2,500 to the organization, the largest single donation of the event.
Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol Alumni Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. The organizationn’s mission is to support the education and qualifications of current Ski Patrol members and raise emergency funds for members injured on the job, and to celebrate the history and unique ski culture of Mammoth Mountain and the contributions of Ski Patrol members, who put their lives on the line to make skiing the mountain a safe and exciting experience.
Donations to MMSPAA can be made on the organization’s website: https://mmsp-alumni.org/2018/01/28/the-journey-begins/
MMSPAA board members include President Ian Scott, Vice President Travis Gilbert, Secretary Neil Satterfield, and Sargent of Arms Kyle Williams. Treasurer Mike Kleinfelter recently joined the board. He is retired from business consulting and was a Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol member in the late 70s and early 80s. For more information, please contact [email protected].
