On October 2, 2003, DCSki.com was awarded with a “Stars of the Industry” award from the West Virginia Division of Tourism. DCSki received top honors in the “Best Web/Internet/E-Magazine Article” category, in recognition for DCSki’s series of “Firsthand Reports” published throughout the winter season.

DCSki Firsthand Reports are written by columnists as well as guest authors, and provide a detailed and candid look at visits to area resorts.

During the 2002-2003 winter season, DCSki published a number of Firsthand Reports covering resorts within the state of West Virginia. Stories which contributed to the recognition include John Sherwood’s Firsthand Report from the White Grass Touring Center and M. Scott Smith’s Firsthand Report from Snowshoe Mountain Resort. Additional Firsthand Reports covered resorts such as Timberline.

In selecting DCSki for the award, judges selected from West Virginia State College noted that “you get a great overall picture of every place [DCSki] writes about. Readers learn about the people, the place, good and bad.”

Award categories for the “Stars of the Industry” awards include Editorial Coverage, Advertising, and Industry Recognition.

Retired West Virginia state parks chief Cordie Hudkins received the Oshel Craigo Lifetime Achivement Award, in recognition of service provided from 1965-2000 to West Virginia State Parks.

Gail Lowry Price, director of the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau, was named Tourism Professional of the Year.

The best print article was a three-way tie between “Riding the Midland Trail” by Beth Gorczyca (appearing in the Huntington Herald-Dispatch), “Getting an Education in Wheeling” by Jerry Haines (appearing in the Baltimore Sun), and “Discovering West Virginia’s Highlands,” by D. Gail Fleenor (appearing in Blue Ridge Country Magazine.)