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The five-time Hall of Fame Speed Skier and All-American Record holder Ross Anderson is the U.S. modern face of legacy. His crowning achievement came in April, 2006 in Les Arcs, France, when Anderson shattered records and established the fastest speed ever recorded by a skier from the Western Hemisphere at 154.06 mph. This speed solidified Anderson as the “Fastest Skier in American History,” a title he retains to this day.
 

 Known as a humble athlete, Anderson attributed his success to The Creator and spiritual connection he shared with the mountains he skis. Enrolled with the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes of Oklahoma, part Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache, this Native American started early in his career to give back to the sport and his native people. Anderson began engaging in programs for youth, initially at his own Purgatory Resort with the Southern Ute Nation, Cheyenne and Arapaho Nations, and the Mescalero Apache Nation. Over the years he has also partnered with fellow athletes such as U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Famer Billy Kidd. The programs featured a valuable link utilizing skiing and snowboarding as an incentive to youth in the classroom.
 
 Ross Anderson was honored with his first Hall of Fame induction in 2023 when he was inducted into the North American Indigenous Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2024, Ross Anderson was the first Native American to ever be inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame and the Ski New Mexico Hall of Fame for the Lifetime Achievement Award. Anderson’s fifth Hall of Fame induction will be with the National Native American Hall of Fame this October.

Phil Carter, owner of Phil’s Ski & Snowboard shop, has been providing his personal service and expertise benefitting skiers and snowboarders for over 40 years. Phil purchased a family-owned ski shop in 1984, located in Costa Mesa, California. After all these years, Phil has maintained the family-owned business, and in addition to selling a great selection of equipment for both beginners and advanced skiers and snowboarders, his shop provides rentals, demos, repairs and tuning services.
 

 When he purchased the ski shop, Phil’s immediate focus was on becoming the highest customer service focused ski company in Orange County. At the time, there were several large stores that also carried ski and snowboard equipment, but lacked in customer service. Phil soon earned a reputation for his knowledge and customer care. Once the service was in place he focused on providing the highest quality ski and snowboard equipment.
  

 Phil’s devotion to serving snowsports was especially evident, when in 2002 he received a flu shot and developed the rare Guillain-Barre Syndrome, was in a coma for four months, and when he woke up, he was totally paralyzed. His friends came into his shop and worked for no pay, so they could keep the shop going. It was only through his strength and determination that he eventually recovered and returned to his shop, helping skiers and boarders to ensure they enjoy their experience to the fullest!