Joy Piles Lucas, also known as Lucky Lucas (1917-2011) was an American ski instructor and author. [1] She was the first woman certified as a ski instructor in the Pacific Northwest. [2]
Joy Piles was born on February 15, 1917, in Spokane, Washington. [1] Her parents worked for the United States Forest Service at Barlow Pass. [2]
She began skiing in 1938, and married Jim Lucas. From 1940 the couple ran the Deer Valley Ski Lodge together in the Olympic Range. [2] Joy Lucas was certified as a professional ski instructor in 1941. [1] After World War II the couple managed Milwaukee Ski Bowl. She taught at Snoqualmie for 27 years, and only retired from ski instruction in 1992 at the age of 75. [2]
She died in Spokane in February 2011. [2]