Pauline Borovicka Arias didn’t start skiing until she was in her 40’s, following her treatment for colon cancer. Skiing became her love.
She was the first woman to be President of the Miami Ski Club and then together with another past president, she founded the Florida Ski Council.
Pauline’s cancer continued to plague her—but never stopped her. Over the years she had recurrences of cancer in her lungs twice, breast cancer, and then leukemia. She had to have a knee replaced and still skied with a brace. She looked to overcome each episode with the determination to get back on the ski slope.
The year she died was the only time in 40 years that Pauline wasn’t on the ski slopes.
Pauline, as nurse by profession, used every vacation to ski. Then when she retired, she and Vince would plan out every week of ski season, skiing an average of 12 weeks straight.
And at every resort she visited, she raced. The number of individual medals she won overflowed a drawer. As she got older, she got faster. Year after year she qualified for NASTAR Nationals. And she won her age category in her 70’s. And she won one of the first Platinum Medals instituted by Nastar.
Pauline finally succumbed to her health battles in 2009 shortly before Nastar Nationals. Nastar Officials sent her family a 2009 bib and a last gold medal for Pauline. In addition, they agreed to a request by the Florida Ski Council to create a permanent award in her memory. Each year, the FSC provides a replica trophy of our Pauline’s Cup to be awarded to the Platinum winner in the Female 80 + category.
See the amazing women who have continued Pauline’s love of skiing and have won Pauline’s Cup, click here https://www .nastar.com/photos/paulines-cup-winners
