2024 Legacy Award
Innovator and Leader in West Virginia Snow Sports
Racing & Events
Thisbe Cooper
Thisbe M. Cooper was the driving force behind the development of junior ski racing in West Virginia. As the founder and longtime president of the Timberline Race Team, she laid the foundation for a program that would go on to shape generations of young athletes and elevate the state’s presence in competitive skiing.
From the early 1980s through the early 1990s, Thisbe led the Timberline Team with vision, grit, and a deep commitment to the sport. What began as a local NASTAR-style racing league, with events at Timberline, Canaan, and Snowshoe, quickly evolved under her leadership into a USSA-certified program. Eventually, the team joined the PARA league (Pennsylvania Alpine Racing Association), opening doors for racers from West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia to compete at a higher level.
During her tenure, she guided the successful merger of the Canaan and Timberline race teams - transforming two small programs into a unified, powerhouse ski team. Along the way, she helped bring in talented coaches and essential race equipment, ensuring the team had the necessary resources to grow and
compete. Under her leadership, athletes began training and competing not only in Slalom and Giant Slalom but also in Super-G and Downhill, expanding the team’s capabilities and ambitions.
Behind the scenes, Thisbe quietly took on the countless duties needed to keep a team running smoothly. From coordinating race events at Canaan and Timberline to helping organize travel and training opportunities, including summer sessions in Oregon, she ensured that her racers were given every chance to succeed. Many team members went on to compete at the Eastern Regional Finals in all four events, a testament to the program she helped build.
Though she would say she was just one of many dedicated parents, those who knew her best would tell you otherwise. Thisbe Cooper was the driving force behind the Timberline Team. Her leadership, persistence, and care transformed it into a well-oiled machine, helping to elevate junior ski racing across West Virginia.
Her legacy endures in the athletes she mentored, the coaches she empowered, and the vibrant ski racing culture she helped cultivate. The West Virginia Snow Sports Museum is proud to recognize Thisbe Cooper with a Legacy Award for her lasting contributions to the sport and to the community that grew around it.