Class of 2021
Innovator and Leader in West Virginia Snow Sports
Area Operations and/or Management
Instruction/Education
Snow Sports Industry - Sales/Rental/Retail
Edward Worden
Ed Worden’s life mirrors the history of Snow Sports in West Virginia. He was born in Davis, West Virginia, the grandson of Katheryn Worden and Belmont Cleaver. Katheryn owned and operated Worden’s Hotel, and Belmont owned a department store. Ed grew up at the Hotel and Belmont’s Store, which were vital support services for the first ski areas in West Virginia. Belmont’s Store was the first ski rental shop south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Ed started working at the Store when he was 11 years old, the year after he donned his first pair of skis.
Ed graduated from Mountaineer High School in 1965 and attended Fairmont State College, majoring in Sociology. After graduation, Ed worked as a counselor at the Davis Youth Corrections facility under the WV Department of Corrections.
Ed parlayed his early experience in retail and rental into helping friends establish other early ski shops in the region. He worked in the retail-rental shop under Bob Barton at Weiss Knob Ski Area (White Grass) and later at the Weiss Knob Ski Shop. In 1971, Ed became the rental and retail manager at the newly formed Canaan Valley Resort’s (CVR) rental shop. He also managed the retail shop at Canaan Valley Stores.
In 1974 Ed transitioned from retail to ski instruction. He earned his PSIA Level 1 Certification (Professional Ski Instructors of America) in 1987 and Level 2 in 1988. Ed also served as one of the early guides for the BOLD (Blind Outdoor Leisure Development) program. He wrapped up 22 years at Canaan as Ski School director and Mountain Manager. His work as an instructor often overlapped with working in rental and retail.
Ed moved down the road to Timberline Resort in 1992. He worked in many facets of ski school – instructor, supervisor, merit badge instructor, etc. He was dedicated to ensuring a quality experience for novice skiers and snowboarders. Ed is a recipient of the Bob & Anita Barton award for his lifetime contribution to snow sports in Canaan Valley. He retired from skiing in 2018.
Ed unquestionably loves his hometown, Davis and Canaan Valley. He is a people person with a gift for teaching. Ed developed relationships with pioneers like Bob & Anita Barton, Sepp Kober, and John Lutz early in his career. These trailblazers showed Ed that his love for people and skiing could be a way of life. Although he is retired, Ed spends several days a year on skis and is a Canaan Valley Ambassador to anyone he meets.