The Pocono Alpine Ski Educational Foundation, Inc. (PASEF) is a parent-run 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that operates and manages the alpine and snowboard snow sports programs at Camelback Resort in Tannersville, PA. It was founded at Camelback in 1995 as a legacy to Rob Corchnoy, one of the original and most enthusiastic members of the Camelback Alpine Team, who tragically passed away in 1994 as a result of injuries sustained in a skiing accident. PASEF’s mission is to support and grow snow sports competition in the Pocono Mountains, with an emphasis on safety, sportsmanship, citizenship, and the preservation of Rob’s legacy. PASEF is a certified member club of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSS), and a proud partner of Camelback Mountain Resort, which graciously provides our race and snowboard programs with one of the finest training venues in the region.
HISTORY
The Camelback Alpine Team got its start in 1991, thanks to the efforts of Bill Yoder and head coach Gus Picariello. The team started on a shoestring budget, with a handful of racers and a small but talented coaching staff. It has since grown to include scores of athletes and a core coaching staff of 30. In 1995, the team became the Pocono Alpine Ski Educational Foundation, Inc. (PASEF), a tax-deductible, non-profit foundation. It is an all volunteer organization, whose main objective is the support and development of student-athletes through the sports of alpine racing and snowboarding.
As a member club of the Pennsylvania Alpine Racing Association (PARA) and the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA), PASEF’s primary purpose is to offer its junior athletes a developmental opportunity to reach their desired goals, whether that be membership on the United States Ski Team, to earn a collegiate scholarship, or to simply enjoy their passion for the sport. PASEF is based at Camelback Mountain Resort in Tannersville, Pennsylvania, which provides us one of the finest training facilities in the region. PASEF is a purely volunteer organization, operated by parents of Camelback’s Alpine and Snowboard Team athletes. We welcome your participation as a volunteer.
🏁 Rob Corchnoy Memorial Race
The Rob Corchnoy Memorial Race has been held annually at Camelback Mountain since 1997. Sanctioned by USSA, it is one of PARA’s premier races for athletes in the Northeast/ Eastern Region. Beyond being a high-level competition, the Corchnoy Memorial is also one of PASEF’s largest annual fundraisers, and we count on the participation of all PASEF families to help bring it to life.
Volunteers are essential to the event’s success, whether you assist as a gate judge, timer, course worker, registration assistant, or race ambassador. Your time, energy, and enthusiasm directly contribute to making this event one of the most respected and memorable races in the region.
🙏 Remembering Rob Corchnoy (1978–1994)
Rob Corchnoy grew up skiing at Camelback and joined the Camelback Alpine Team as one of its original members in 1991. A High Honors student at Friends Select School in Philadelphia, Rob was deeply involved in academics, music, drama, athletics, and mentoring younger students. He was a talented and multi-dimensional young man, with passions that extended beyond skiing.
Rob also loved sailing and competed with his father in national and international sailboat racing. At the time of his tragic skiing accident in 1994, Rob was pursuing an Olympic campaign in sailing. His dream was to become a naval engineer and design world-class racing sailboats.
In addition to his academic and athletic pursuits, Rob was active in his synagogue’s youth programs and was a member of the Hebrew Honor Society. Though he was a gifted scholar with a strong competitive streak, Rob was best remembered for his laughter, his irrepressible sense of humor, and his love of terrible puns.
At his funeral, Rabbi Jerome David beautifully summarized Rob’s legacy:
“It can be honestly said that Rob accomplished more in fifteen very full years than many accomplish in a long and uneventful lifetime. Rob was a student, but he was also a teacher. He taught us how to truly celebrate life and living; and how to exalt in its challenges. He taught us how to laugh, how to imagine, and how to dream and reach for the light of the stars.”
🏆 Picariello–Yoder Cup
The Picariello–Yoder Cup is held in honor of two individuals whose vision, passion, and dedication laid the foundation for what has become one of the most respected youth alpine programs in the region. This event is named after Bill Yoder and Coach Gus Picariello, the co-founders of the original Camelback Alpine Team, which began in 1991.
Thanks to their tireless efforts and leadership, the team quickly grew from a small group of passionate young racers into a structured and competitive program. Just four years later, in 1995, their groundwork helped evolve the team into what is now PASEF (Pocono Alpine Ski Education Foundation)—an organization that continues to develop young athletes both on and off the mountain.
The Picariello–Yoder Cup serves not only as a celebration of competition, teamwork, and sportsmanship but also as a tribute to the legacy of Bill and Gus. Their commitment to athlete development, community, and the sport of ski racing continues to inspire generations of racers and coaches.
We are proud to honor their contributions with this special event—bringing together athletes, families, and coaches in the same spirit of excellence and camaraderie that started it all.
