They say the people make the place, and at Palisades Tahoe, we couldn’t agree more. Behind every chapter of our mountain’s history are the people whose passion, dedication, and contributions have helped build the community we know and love today.
Forged is an annual celebration honoring the individuals, families, coaches, athletes, and community members who have left their mark on Palisades Tahoe and Olympic Valley. At the heart of the tradition is a monument created by local artist Toni Standteiner, recognizing the people and places that have shaped our mountain and community’s history and culture.
On November 28, 2026, the Palisades Tahoe community will come together for the third annual Forged celebration, welcoming a new class of honorees. Gather with us as new names are added to this living tribute and we celebrate the legacy behind us, the community around us, and another winter ahead.
Meet the five new inductees who will be joining the Forged legacy this year:
Meet the 2026 Inductees
Mark “Sully” Sullivan
Sully ran the race team for many years. He succeeded Ernst Hager in the early 1990s and held the position until health concerns caused him to retire around 2012. Sully had a hand in bringing up just about every athlete who is already on this Forged list. Under Sully’s tutelage, the Palisades Tahoe Ski Team established itself as a dominant force in the West and ultimately rivaled every team in the country for U.S. Ski Team inductions.
Sully was named National Coach of the Year in 2004, among many other regional honors. He passed away in 2014 from cancer, but his legacy lives on in this valley as one of the great characters who dedicated his life to skiing and this resort.
Tom Day
Tom Day is a longtime Olympic Valley-based cinematographer and professional skier who has helped capture the spirit of skiing and mountain culture for more than four decades. Beginning his ski-film career in 1984, Tom became known for his work with Warren Miller Entertainment, documenting world-class skiing, snowboarding, and mountain adventures.
His deep roots in Olympic Valley and connection to the Tahoe ski community make him a notable local creative, with a career dedicated to showcasing the beauty, adventure, and culture of the mountains.
Learn more about Tom’s story in our Days on the Mountain blog, written by JT Holmes.
JT Holmes
JT Holmes is a world-renowned professional skier, BASE jumper, and stunt performer who grew up skiing at Palisades Tahoe in Olympic Valley. A longtime member of the Palisades Tahoe community, JT developed his skills on the mountain’s iconic terrain before building an international career in big-mountain skiing, ski films, wingsuit flying, and Hollywood stunt work.
With more than 30 ski-film appearances, he embodies Olympic Valley’s adventurous spirit and legacy of pushing the boundaries of mountain sports.
Get to know JT in our Palisades Tahoe Athlete Spotlight blog.
Sherry McConkey
Sherry McConkey is a longtime Lake Tahoe local, philanthropist, yoga instructor, and founder of the Shane McConkey Foundation. Following the loss of her husband, legendary professional skier Shane McConkey, in 2009, Sherry dedicated herself to preserving his legacy through environmental conservation, youth education, and community initiatives.
Deeply connected to Olympic Valley and Palisades Tahoe, she helps carry forward Shane’s adventurous spirit through events like the Pain McShlonkey Classic and programs that inspire future generations to make a positive impact.
Read more about Sherry’s work and her impact on the Tahoe community in Moonshine Ink’s Sherry McConkey: Giving Back, One Challenge at a Time.
Mike & Dave Hatchett (Honored Together)
Mike and Dave Hatchett are Tahoe’s own. They are the brothers who put Palisades Tahoe on screen for the world. In 1992, they founded Standard Films here and launched the Totally Board (TB) series, which became the defining big-mountain snowboard franchise of its era and ran for three decades. Dave rode, Mike filmed, and together they documented the explosion of snowboarding at Palisades Tahoe and across the Tahoe backcountry, carrying it to a global audience.
Results & Impact: Standard Films pioneered big-mountain snowboarding and helicopter cinematography, logging roughly 100 first descents in Alaska in the 1990s. Their films launched and elevated a generation of riders, including Damian Sanders, Tom Burt, Noah Salasnek, and fellow Forged inductee Jeremy Jones. Mike was named one of TransWorld’s Most Influential People in Snowboarding and went on to produce 50 episodes of the Standard Snowboard show. Standard’s footage continues to supply the industry and Hollywood.
Lasting Change: More than filmmakers, the Hatchetts made Palisades Tahoe a global snowboarding landmark and shaped how the world sees the sport. Their cameras gave this mountain and its riders a stage, and that influence is stitched into snowboarding’s identity. Honoring them recognizes the storytellers who carried Palisades Tahoe’s name to the world.
Celebrating the Legacy of Palisades Tahoe
From the coaches who shaped generations of athletes to the filmmakers, adventurers, and storytellers who shared our mountain with the world, each Forged inductee represents a unique part of Palisades Tahoe’s history.
The Forged tradition is a reminder that a mountain’s legacy extends far beyond its peaks and trails. It lives on through the people who build its community, push the boundaries of sport, and inspire the next generation.
Join us on November 28, 2026, as we celebrate the newest members of the Forged community and honor the people who continue to shape the story of Palisades Tahoe.
