Joan Partridge Skiff was a fixture in Central New York skiing and golf for more than forty years.

 

Joan’s accomplishments as a ski racer included 33 regional, national and international skiing championships. She won national championships over four decades. At 69 years of age, Joan was clocked at 58 miles per hour in competition. Joan started racing in 1965 with her first national championship registered in 1970 in the giant slalom at Vail, Colorado. She was second that year in the slalom and downhill.

 

In 1975, Joan completed her first four race sweep at Big Sky, Montana, winning the super G, giant slalom, slalom and downhill. In 1976, Joan won 21 of the 22 races she entered. At 67 years of age and grandmother of 11, Joan was featured in Sports illustrated for winning eight gold medals in 12 days when she swept the slalom, Super G and downhill at both the International Master’s Cup and the U.S. Ski Association Alpine Masters Championships.

 

Joan was named to the U.S. Masters National Team from 1992 to 1996 and the Spyder U.S. Alpine Masters Ski Team from 1996 to 2001.

 

In 2001, Joan and her husband Marshall were presented the Tobin Award for their outstanding contributions to Eastern Ski racing. Joan was also an accomplished golfer, winning seven club and state championships and firing eight holes-in-one. Joan passed away in 2008.