Tom Kelly retired in 2018, supposedly, after three decades as the communications chief for U.S. Ski and Snowboard, a role that took him around the world each year with the Olympics, World Cup and other events. So how is the guy even busier now?

This was the question at a back table during Ski Utah’s inaugural Yeti awards night Wednesday as CEO Nathan Rafferty rattled off a long list of Tom Kelly highlights from “telling the story of America’s greatest ski racers” and expressed amazement at how he hasn’t slowed down since. Kelly won the association’s first President’s Award.

There’s the weekly column for The Park Record, and the Last Chair podcast for Ski Utah. He still contributes to ski journals including the National Ski Association’s. He still frequently speaks and emcees events and discussions, announces races, and is a key part of Utah-Salt Lake City’s Olympic bid committee. He’s also a business partner with Bode Miller, on the board of the Alf Engen Ski Museum, and has a hand in a bunch of other ventures through his communications consultancy, including youth organizations.

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But how? How does he keep track of all this, never mind do all of it?

“He doesn’t sleep,” his wife, Carole, answered. “No, really. He does not sleep.”

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Kelly, under his trademark straw hat, shrugged. “It’s true.” No more than five hours, anyway. “Sleep is overrated.”

Park City Mountain’s Jake Schoenfeld won the first Snowmaker of the Year award. At least during prime times for his craft, he might not sleep all that much either.

“Snowmakers, you guys work 24 hours a day sometimes,” said Chad Linebaugh, Sundance Resort’s general manager and Ski Utah’s board chair. “What’s the best hour of your day for snowmaking?”

Sunrise, Schoenfeld said definitively, speaking from experience.

Park City Mountain snowmaking manager Chad Avery nominated Schoenfeld with this: “Jake takes time out of his work day to make sure our staff feels seen and heard. He creates a culture of inclusiveness. He takes the time even if there are more important things to do to train our staff and make sure they have the tools to be successful. Even though snowmaking is not a direct guest-facing department, Jake provides excellent customer service by ensuring the snow we make is the best possible quality for our guests to enjoy.”

Representatives of Utah ski resorts gathered a couple of hundred strong on the rooftop at Industry SLC in the old factory part of town for the presentation and obvious camaraderie. Some took home artistic and fragile trophies glass blown at Sundance out of old wine and beer bottles, mostly. The presenters fretted about the wind and told the award winners they were on their own once they handed over the trophies.

There was Patroller of the Year Mikey Ericson, from Snowbasin, and Instructor of the Year Greg Solberg, from Eagle Point Resort. Lift Operations Professional of the Year Cowboy Dan Lin, from Brian Head, is known as the happiest man on the mountain and everyone’s best friend, the presenters said; no coincidence there.

Pascal Begin, head of Nordic Valley, earned his blown glass for the Chairperson’s Award the hard way. A lift broke just before the season began, and then their only building burned down. Everyone could laugh now about coming together just when their season was on the line, a reminder of how small and tight Utah’s ski resort community really is.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to honor the incredibly hard-working employees who make the ski industry what it is today at the first-ever Ski Utah Yetis,” said Rafferty. “We hope to continue this ceremony for many years to come.”

Awards and recipients:

• Back of House Food & Beverage Professional of the Year: Jeffrey Sanich, Brighton Resort
• Front of House, Food & Beverage Professional of the Year: Steffan Eklund,  Solitude Mountain Resort
• Groomer of the Year: Steve Wakefield, Sundance Mountain Resort
• Guest Services Professional of the Year: Alexis Croce, Snowbird Resort
• Instructor of the Year: Greg Solberg, Eagle Point Resort
• Lift Mechanic of the Year: Skyler Bair, Nordic Valley Ski Resort
• Lift Operations Professional of the Year: Dan “Cowboy” Lind, Brian Head Resort
• Parking Attendant of the Year: Quinn Case, Alta Ski Area
• Patroller of the Year: Mikey Ericson, Snowbasin Resort
• Snowmaker of the Year: Jake Schoenfeld, Park City Mountain
• Terrain Park Groomer of the Year: Michael Dennett, Brighton Resort
• Chairperson’s Award: Pascal Begin, Nordic Valley Ski Resort
• President’s Award: Tom Kelly
• Member of the Year: Jeffrey Gelder Lewis, Gelder Generational Wealth