About PACCSA
PACCSA members enjoy all aspects of cross-country skiing, from back-country exploration to casual skiing, touring and racing. PACCSA works for the cross-country ski community throughout the year by
- giving free ski lessons to the general public
- providing for the next generation of skiers by supporting a youth ski team, the Yellowjackets
- organizing and participating in trail maintenance at ski areas including Laurel Mountain and Laurel Ridge
- grooming trails at Laurel Mountain
- maintaining webcams at Laurel Ridge and Laurel Mountain
- organizing an annual race
- and providing information about cross-country skiing here and on facebook
Current Board members are:
- Naomi Jarvis, President, Race Director, Website Manager, Lesson Coordinator
- Jim South, Vice President, Yellowjackets, Webcams, Legal Advisor
- Charles Nash, Newsletter Editor
- Rick Garstka, Treasurer
- Sally Smales, Secretary
- Elizabeth Beech, Yellowjackets, Social Media
- Brian Joly, Board Member At-Large
- Bob Mazur, Trail Coordinator and Webcams
- Scott Rugh, Board Member At-Large
Previous Board members: Mike Blessington, Sheila Confer, Alice Cottone, Bruce Cox, Elly Fisher, David Jenkins, Kelly Kruper, Joanna Margaret and Denny McDonough.
PACCSA was created in 1986 when the Laurel Highlands Ski Touring Association, founded in 1983, changed its name to the Pennsylvania Cross Country Skiers' Association. It was incorporated as a PA non-profit corporation in 2004. Rick Garstka was President for 20 years from 1990 to 2010, when PACCSA gained a full Board of Directors. In 2012 PACCSA attained 501(c)(3) federal non-profit status, thanks to the hard work of Board member Jim South. Donations to PACCSA are IRS tax-deductible items.
In 2009 the youth team Yellowjackets was created by Naomi Jarvis, with the help of Ann Satsangi and Jason Zimmerman, and today it continues to thrive under the leadership of Jim South. In 2011 the purple trail at Laurel Ridge State Park was created by PACCSA, Yellowjackets and DCNR. In 2012 the red and orange trails at Laurel Ridge State Park were extended using PACCSA funds and a PA state grant to DCNR, PACCSA and Fay-Penn. In 2013 we purchased equipment for grooming the trails at Laurel Mountain. Now in 2024 we are fundraising to buy a new snowmobile.