About WASC
The annual World Airlines Ski Championships (WASC) are international winter sports competitions. Numerous airline ski teams compete in the championships on a professional basis. Exclusively airline employees from all kinds of departments of an airline (ground staff, dispatch, crew scheduling, flight operations, etc.) participate in the yearly event. The contest is organized by the International Airlines Ski Federation (IASF) in collaboration with popular world class ski resorts.
In particular, we hold competitions in Alpine Skiing (Slalom and Giant Slalom), Nordic Skiing (Sprint and Long Distance) and Snowboarding (Parallel Giant Slalom). In 2020, for the first time in the WASC history, we have held a Snowboard Cross (SBX) competition. The official IASF Rulebook is adapted to the official FIS regulations (Fédération Internationale de Ski).
Presently, more than 100 airline ski teams have registered under the IASF. One team per airline may register by nominating a teamcaptain to the Board of the IASF.
The one-of-a-kind event projects team spirit and comradery between airliners around the Globe. It lasts for about a week with four days of competitions and social functions and usually takes place between February and March.
In 2019, the 60th Anniversary World Airlines Ski Championships took place in Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria. After a two years’ interruption due to the COVID19 pandemic, the 62nd WASC took place in Tromsø, Norway in March 2023 followed by the 63rd WASC in Lenzerheide, Switzerland from 10th till 15th of March 2024.
International Airlines Ski Federation
The IASF History can be backdated to 1959/60, when skiers from eleven airlines participated for the first time in the ski carnival race in Arctic Valley near Anchorage, Alaska. The races were organized by John Trautner and Judy Anderson for the Anchorage Ski Club.
The main prize for the event was a trip to the Holmenkollen Ski Jump in Norway donated by Bill Schaffer of SAS Airlines. The trip was won by Harvey Turner of the Kenai Peninsula. Within the next years, the races were eventually moved from Arctic Valley to Mt. Alyeska and were hosted there under the sponsorship of the Anchorage Times until 1975. In 1976, the event was hosted at Mt. Hood, Oregon and in the following years, it has been held on three continents since then. This resulted in the need for an association or federation to oversee the conduct and scheduling of future events.
WASC 2024 Lenzerheide, Switzerland
IASF – Board of Directors
Suzy Danielson
Vice President
Airline: NetJets
Position: Training Captain
Career:
1988-present: US Army Blackhawk Pilot
1997-2000: CFII / Freight Pilot
2000-present: NetJets
First WASC: Schladming 2001
Greatest WASC-Achievements: 5th Place Alpine SL/GS
Hobbies: Skiing, Waterskiing, Kitesurfing, Scuba Diving
Motivation/Motto: Have courage, be kind & run with your passions.
Position: Training Captain
Career:
1988-present: US Army Blackhawk Pilot
1997-2000: CFII / Freight Pilot
2000-present: NetJets
First WASC: Schladming 2001
Greatest WASC-Achievements: 5th Place Alpine SL/GS
Hobbies: Skiing, Waterskiing, Kitesurfing, Scuba Diving
Motivation/Motto: Have courage, be kind & run with your passions.
Stephan Halbe
President
Airline: Etihad Airways
Position: Captain Boeing 787
Career: 1989-95: Flight Attendant LTU, 1995-96 First Officer F27 WDL Aviation, 1996-2002: First Officer B757/767 LTU, 2002-2007: First Officer A320/330 LTU, 2007-2013: Captain A320 airberlin, 2013-2022: TRI/TRE A320, Cpt A330 Etihad Airways, 2022-present: Cpt TRI/TRE B787 Etihad Airways
First WASC: Lenzerheide 2003
Greatest WASC-Achievements: 2x IASF World Champion Snowboard PGS (2016 & 2017)
Hobbies: Snowboarding, Kitesurfing, Crossfit, Tennis, Triathlon
Motivation/Motto: Never give up, TRI harder!
Fun fact: “I participated in the WASC with three different teams: LTU, airberlin and Etihad! Anyone here who beats me? ;)”
Position: Captain Boeing 787
Career: 1989-95: Flight Attendant LTU, 1995-96 First Officer F27 WDL Aviation, 1996-2002: First Officer B757/767 LTU, 2002-2007: First Officer A320/330 LTU, 2007-2013: Captain A320 airberlin, 2013-2022: TRI/TRE A320, Cpt A330 Etihad Airways, 2022-present: Cpt TRI/TRE B787 Etihad Airways
First WASC: Lenzerheide 2003
Greatest WASC-Achievements: 2x IASF World Champion Snowboard PGS (2016 & 2017)
Hobbies: Snowboarding, Kitesurfing, Crossfit, Tennis, Triathlon
Motivation/Motto: Never give up, TRI harder!
Fun fact: “I participated in the WASC with three different teams: LTU, airberlin and Etihad! Anyone here who beats me? ;)”
Eileen Brennan
Secretary/Treasurer
Airline: Delta
Position: Purser Flight Attendant
Career: 1979 Eastern Airlines, from 1989 Northwest Airlines which eventually merged with Delta
First WASC: Voss 1985
Greatest WASC-Achievements: Joined the Board of Directors in 2002 & became Secretary/Treasurer in 2014
Hobbies: Skiing, scuba diving
Motivation/Motto: Her fun fact sparked her interest in scuba diving!
Fun fact: Worked as a mermaid at Weeki Wachee Springs in Florida after college. One of 10 children (5 sisters, 4 brothers)!
Position: Purser Flight Attendant
Career: 1979 Eastern Airlines, from 1989 Northwest Airlines which eventually merged with Delta
First WASC: Voss 1985
Greatest WASC-Achievements: Joined the Board of Directors in 2002 & became Secretary/Treasurer in 2014
Hobbies: Skiing, scuba diving
Motivation/Motto: Her fun fact sparked her interest in scuba diving!
Fun fact: Worked as a mermaid at Weeki Wachee Springs in Florida after college. One of 10 children (5 sisters, 4 brothers)!
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