A North Bend athlete has been honored for her alpine ski racing performance and potential. The Far West Ski Association has awarded Linnea Baysinger a grant of $500 to be used to cover training and competition fees during the 2010-2011 ski racing season.

Linnea, age 15, the daughter of Hartley and Susan Baysinger, attends Mount Si High School and trains with the Team Alpental Snoqualmie Ski Team. Linnea finished the 2009-2010 season nationally ranked as 1st in Super G and 4th in Giant Slalom in her age group. In addition, she achieved a top 25ranking in Slalom. Last season, she reached the podium , including five 1st place finishes, at 10 events. Despite a busy competition and training schedule during the winter months, Linnea has maintained a 3.95 GPA; a testament to his strong work ethic.

The Far West Ski Association, “The Voice of the Western Skier,” is a non-profit, volunteer organization devoted to skier safety, ski travel, ski club programs, recreational ski racing, ski area development, and family ski involvement. It is one of the country’s largest ski associations with eleven active councils representing skiers and snowboarders in all the continental states west of the Great Divide with the exception of Montana. The FWSA scholarship program was established in 2004 as a means of aiding deserving young alpine ski competitors. This year, fifteen young racers from Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada will benefit from FWSA grants. The FWSA scholarship program is sponsored by Whitefish Mountain Resort, Grouse Mountain Lodge at Whitefish, Shure Sports, the maker of Karbon brand ski and snowboard apparel, and the Far West Racing Association.