Dick Butler thanks his dad -- a New York dairy farmer -- for teaching him, at an early age, the joy and love of skiing and of the outdoors. A former water skier and instructor, and a member of the USA Water Ski Association, Dick brings a wide range of personal experiences to winter sports writing.

Mike Roth's love for skiing started 36 years ago, when after college he visited Rock Candy Mountain outside of Troy with a group of college friends. From that day on he has had a passion for skiing and a love of the winter. He has been offering ski reports and commentary on the radio and through the Times Union for the the past 10 years. He also is a contributer to http://blogs.timesunion.com/ski/

A Clifton Park resident, Mike is a partner in the architectural firm of Stracher, Roth, Gilmore Architects in Schenectady.