Harold S. Hirsch Awards - Eric Smith

Harold S. Hirsch Awards

In February 2020, I was named winner of the Harold S. Hirsch Award for Words by the North American Snowsports Journalists Association. Click here for more about the awards. Created by the founder of the White Stag clothing company to promote professionalism in winter sports coverage, the awards "recognize creativity and excellence in editorial and artistic content in both print and broadcast journalism."

Below is the five-story portfolio I submitted for the 2020 awards—all published in SGB Executive—including articles on snow sports brands expanding to China, a case study of Burton Snowboards, how ski resorts prospered during the start to the 2018/19 ski season, the continued rise of backcountry skiing and how winter sports stakeholders are working to grow the sports.

SGB Media • December 13 2018

Snow Sports Industry Eyes China As Last Untapped Market

As host of the 2022 Winter Olympics, China is developing snow sports infrastructure not only for the Games but also for its citizens to use recreationally. The government said it will create 300 million winter sports participants over the next few years, a number that understandably caught the attention of the U.S. snow sports industry. In this special report, SGB outlines the opportunities that China offers brands and how they should approach this untapped market.

SGB Media • December 14 2018

Case Study: Burton’s Patience In China Paying Off

In a companion piece to our special report on how U.S. snow sports brands can expand to China, SGB examines how Burton Snowboards established a strong presence in the China market way back in 2003. Now that the Winter Olympics are coming to China in three years, the Vermont-based brand is well-positioned for a booming snow sports marketplace. Here’s how they did it.

SGB Media • November 30 2018

Prayers Answered: Early Snowfall Bodes Well For Ski Resorts

Skiers and snowboarders aren’t the only ones whose prayers for plentiful snow to start the season have been answered. The owners and operators of resorts across the country are especially thankful for the early openings and hopeful that this momentum will lead to a long and prosperous season.

SGB Media • February 22 2019

Backcountry Boom: Alpine Touring Business On The Right Track

For the casual onlooker, noticing an increase in skiers taking the uphill track at a resort or seeing an overcrowded parking area near an out-of-bounds ski trail might provide anecdotal evidence that more people want to “earn their turns.” But the data backs up an industry trend that shows no sign of stopping: The backcountry ski business is booming.

SGB Media • April 30 2019

Unity Needed For Snow Sports Industry To Boost Participation

As this historic ski and snowboard season winds down, it’s time for the industry to gather for an après drink and find ways to reverse the trend of declining participation. SGB spoke with numerous stakeholders about how they can contribute to the cause and why building on the momentum of this epic season is so critical.