Lifetime Achievement and Customer Service Award
Minnesota Ski Area Operator Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award
Afton Alps Founder Paul Augustine Credited for Contributions to the Industry.
LAKEWOOD, COLO. – May 30, 2008 – Paul Augustine, the man chiefly responsible for the development of Minnesota’s Afton Alps and Mount Kato ski areas, and Titus Mountain in New York, today was honored with the National Ski Areas Association’s (NSAA) Lifetime Achievement Award.
In the fall of 1963, Augustine began building Afton Alps. On December 21 of that year, the area opened to a crowd of 37 paid customers. By the mid-1970s, Afton Alps had 17 chairlifts, four chalets, and two rental shops. The ski area became known for its number of chairlifts, its ski school, and its fully-lit slopes. In 1977, Afton Alps purchased Ski Haven Ski Area in Mankato, Minn. Paul basically tore down, rebuilt, and expanded the area, which was renamed Mount Kato and now has 19 runs and eight chairlifts.
In 1980, Paul purchased Moon Valley Ski Area in Malone, N.Y., Paul rebuilt the area, added several runs to the lower part of the mountain, and renamed it Titus Mountain. After a few years, he expanded to the upper mountain, adding a chalet along with more runs and lifts, to the point where Titus Mountain now has 27 runs, eight chairlifts, and two chalets.
Throughout these business expansions, Paul stayed involved in the ski area associations, and served two terms from 1980 to 1986 on the NSAA Board of Directors, and as president of the MSAA for three years and he was also one of the founders of the Twin Cities Independent Ski Areas Association (TCISAA). Paul also devoted considerable time and money toward legislative efforts, which won ski areas exemptions from sales taxes on electricity and hill-maintenance equipment.
Paul married his wife Rose in September of 1965 and the two have been married for more than 42 years, and now have three adult children and three grandchildren. The award was officially presented May 30 at NSAA’s National Convention and Tradeshow at the Hilton San Francisco, Calif. For more information visit nsaa.org.
THE NATIONAL SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION, LOCATED IN LAKEWOOD, COLO., IS A TRADE ASSOCIATION FORMED IN 1962 FOR SKI AREA OWNERS AND OPERATORS NATIONWIDE.
