U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame by Sun Valley Magazine

U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Sun Valley, Idaho | April 2, 2011

CONGRATULATIONS

Daron Rahlves, Muffy Davis and Bobby Cochran

Rahlves and Davis photos ÂŠ Getty Images, Cochran photo courtesy of the Cochran family

You are an

inspiration

as Best in the World athletes!

w w w. s k i h a l l . o r g

ta b l e

o f

c o n t e n t s

18 06

W e lc o m e M e s s ag e

H a l l o f Fa m e honored members

I s h pe m i n g â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s i n t e r n at i o n a l Fi l m f e s t i va l a n d J e r ry awa r d s

founders of freestyle

h a l l o f fa m e fac ts

s u pp o rt e r s a n d additional thanks

20 1 0 Ind u ct e e s

Bobby Cochran

M u f f y D av i s

Earl Holding

S h a n e M c C o n k ey

Glen Plake

D a ro n R h a lv e s

U . S . SKI A N D S N OW B OAR D SKI HALL O F F A M E

Project1:Hall of Fame 6

3/11/11

10:42 AM

Page 1

Congratulations

Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame Honored Class of 2010! Thank you for your contributions to the sport we all love. - SunValley Resort

w w w. s k i h a l l . o r g

Happy 75th Sun Valley!

u.s. ski and snowboard hall of fame 2010 induction ceremony | April 2011 Olympian Gretchen Fraser Racing With Style

Richard Allen

vintageskiworld.com

Glen Plake

congratulations!

board of Directors Ray Allard, Mendon, VT Tom Anderson, Marquette, MI Gretchen Besser, Morrisville, VT David Brule, Jr., Iron Mountain, MI Phillip Camp, Barnard, VT Raelene Davis, Salt Lake City, UT Brian Fairbank, Hancock, MA Stephen Gerrish, Hailey, ID Gerald Groswold, Winter Park, CO David Holli, Ishpeming, MI David Ingemie, McLean, VA Bill Irwin, Rochester, VT

Tom Kelly, Park City, UT Stephen Kircher, Boyne Falls, MI Sepp Kober, Charlottesville, VA Gene Kotlarek, Colorado Springs, CO John Lindstrom, Bonsall, CA Rudy Maki, Iron Mountain, MI Jon Mommaerts, Marquette, MI Shawn Owens, Stowe, VT David Scott, Boulder, CO Frida Waara, Marquette, MI Bernie Weichsel, Waltham, MA Trace Worthington, Park City, UT

we love you dearly.

Grandparents, Betty & Robert Wing

Congratulations Earl Holding

host committee members Graham Anderson, Sun Valley, ID Chuck Ferries, Ketchum, ID Stephen Gerrish, Hailey, ID Leroy Kingland, Bellevue, WA Gary Black, Sun Valley, ID Carol Waller, Sun Valley, ID Marc Thorsen, Sun Valley, ID Charlie McWilliams, Ketchum, ID

Betsy Barrymore Stoll, Bellevue, ID Bobby Burns, Ketchum, ID Terry Palmer, Ketchum, ID Dick Dorworth, Ketchum, ID Holley Dupont, Ketchum, ID Jim Garrison, Mercer Island, WA Megan Lengyel, Ketchum, ID

Staff Members Tom West, President/CEO Ann Schroeder, Administrator Bob Hendrickson, Gift Shop and Web site Supervisor Jeri Ahola, Registrar design and print management:

Mandala Media, LLC custom publishing division publishers of Sun Valley Magazine

Thank you for your dedication, stewardship and vision of Sun Valley Resort. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Sun Valley Magazine 4

U . S . SKI A N D S N OW B OAR D SKI HALL O F F A M E

111 First Avenue North, Suite 1M Hailey, ID 83333 www.sunvalleymag.com cover photo:

Courtesy Sun Valley Resort

C I T Y O F S U N VA L L E Y As Mayor of Sun Valley, I am delighted to welcome the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, in collaboration with its partner the International Skiing History Association to the City of Sun Valley to host “Ski Heritage Week.” The week includes skiing and snowboarding events on our prized Bald Mountain. We are especially proud that Earl Holding and Muffy Davis, two “locals,” are in the group of inductees. Additionally, we welcome representatives from our Sister City of Kitzbuhel, Austria to enjoy the festivities this week! We are very proud that Sun Valley was selected as the venue for this historic event. On behalf of the City of Sun Valley, I would like to extend a warm welcome to everyone and an invitation to come out and show your support and appreciation for this wonderful opportunity bestowed on our community! Enjoy the time you spend here,

Mayor Wayne Willich

w w w. s k i h a l l . o r g

w e l c o m e

m e s s a g e

s I travel the country to ski, and for my ski shows, I am often asked, “Why is the national Hall of Fame for ski sports in Ishpeming, Michigan?” The question that often follows is, “Where is Ishpeming, Michigan?” The answers to both are easy, but I will answer the second one first. Ishpeming is located at the center of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Its economy is based on logging and mining, which, coupled with bountiful snow, attracted thousands of Norwegian immigrants and others from northern Europe in the late 19th century. Ishpeming became a cradle for skiing in those years and its annual ski jumping tournament drew thousands, putting its skiing leaders in a position to call for the formation of a national association to develop skiing in the country. In February of 1905, the National Ski Association (NSA) was formed with Ishpeming businessman, Carl Tellefsen, elected as its first President. Ishpeming thus lays legitimate claim to being the “birthplace of organized skiing in America.” As is said to the Hall of Fame’s thousands of annual visitors, Ishpeming is to skiing what Cooperstown is to baseball. In 2010, our national museum also became the headquarters for the International Skiing History Association, the publishers of the highly acclaimed journal Skiing Heritage. In 1954, the NSA established its national museum in Ishpeming, and in 1956 started the Hall of Fame, which has recognized the leaders and achievers of skiing and snowboarding, a total of 374 individuals. Tonight, we will honor six very worthy inductees: Bobby Cochran, Muffy Davis, Earl Holding, Shane McConkey, Glen Plake and Daron Rahlves. This is the culmination of a very special week during which we have celebrated the 75th anniversary of Sun Valley and honored the first 10 skiing films to enter our newly formed Ski and Snowboard Film Institute in Ishpeming. Tonight we will also honor pioneers of freestyle skiing. Thank you for supporting our work through your presence, tribute ads and sponsorships. For the past five years, we have worked to bring the Hall of Fame to the skiing community by making the national induction ceremony available in ski resorts around the country. We will share a percentage of tonight’s proceeds with the Ketchum Sun Valley Historical Society. At the same time, plan a pilgrimage to Ishpeming. The spectacular building with 15,000 square feet of exhibits preserves a collection of over 75,000 artifacts, photos and films. It is a remarkable gift to our sport from the people of Ishpeming. You won’t be disappointed.

Bernie Weichsel

chairman, board of directors

U . S . SKI A N D S N OW B OAR D SKI HALL O F F A M E

Congratulates the

2010 Inductees! please visit

.com www.sunvalleymag Keep up to date on what’s happening on (and off) the world-famous slopes of Sun Valley.

Congratulations

Glen!

• Valley’s best Dining Guide • 6 weekly mountain-town blogs k! • Photos from Hall of Fame Wee n in Don’t miss tales from the mountai blog: our online exclusive winter sports

log yB l k N ee TAI AW UN

S RIE STO

from Rusty, Pam, Bill, Mark, Mary, Howard, Jack and all your friends at Mammoth.

MO HE T M FRO

Become a fan of Sun Valley Magazine and keep up with all that’s happening in and around the Valley!

w w w. s k i h a l l . o r g

b o bb y

c o c h r a n

B o r n :

d e c e m b e r 1 1, 1 9 5 1 c l a r e m o n t, N H

obby Cochran is the third member of Vermont’s famous Cochran skiing family to be inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, following his sisters Barbara Ann (Class of 1976) and Marilyn (Class of 1978). All four Cochran children competed on the U.S. Ski Team and were Olympians. And the Cochran family continues to make it’s mark on the ski world, Bobby’s son, Jimmy, competed in the Vancouver Olympic Games and five of the family’s grandchildren competed at the U.S. National Alpine Skiing Championships in 2010, including two who are currently members of the U.S. Ski Team. Bobby won respect for his athleticism, dedication and achievements at all levels of competition, from regional to the Olympic Games. He excelled in all of the alpine disciplines and over a four-year period, from 1969 to 1973, won seven national titles. In 1973, he was the first American to win a World Cup GS event and was also the first American to win the combined title at the famous Hahnenkamm in Kitzbuhel, Austria. Encouraged by his parents, his father would serve as the U.S. Ski Team coach in 1974, while his mother ran the famous Cochran family ski hill in Richmond, Vermont, Bobby

U . S . S K I A N D S N OW B OA R D S K I H A L L O F FA M E

showed promise from a very early age. He won the National Junior Championship in 1967, and a year later, at 16, was invited to join the U.S. Ski Team—the youngest person on the team at that time. He was a member of the Olympic Team in 1972, finishing a mere second out of first place. In 1971, besides winning three out of five CanAm races, he won the prestigious Roch Cup in the downhill. Bobby’s best year was 1973, with a World Cup Giant Slalom win in Heavenly Valley, California, winning the NCAA downhill championship and his aforementioned success at Kitzbuhel. He was presented with the Buddy Werner Award in recognition of his sportsmanship and leadership on the U.S. Ski Team. As a ski team member, he finished in the top 10 an impressive 22 times, achieving four podiums. After leaving the U.S. Ski Team, he raced professionally for three years, finishing third overall on the World Professional Tour in 1976. He then returned to school to pursue a career in medicine. Hall of Fame skiers, Steve and Phil Mahre, Cary Adgate and Greg Jones, joined the U.S. Ski Team as he neared the end of his career. They held him in the highest regard looking to him as the man to beat and from whom to take inspiration and advice.

S ev e n t i m e n at i o n a l c h a m pi o n and u.s. ski team leader

Bobby Cochran is an inspirational leader motivating some of our best skiers in the years that followed his career.

www . skihall . org

m u f f y

d a v i s

B o r n :

o c t o b e r 1, 1 9 7 2 s u n v a l l e y, i d

In 2002, at Salt Lake City, she won three Paralympic silver uffy Davis was a promising young ski medals. Over the course of her career, Muffy wound up layracer who, despite suffering a devastating claim to seven World Cup titles, including back-to-back ing and career changing injury at the overall titles in 2001 and 2002. age of 16, went on to become one of Like Hall of Famers, Jack Benedick, Diana Golden, Chris Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading international adaptive skiers in the World Cup, World Championship and Paralym- Waddell and Sarah Will, Muffy Davis is an outstanding example on how to turn a setback and serious challenge into an pic competition. As a child, she trained with and raced against Picabo Street while growing up in Sun Valley, Idaho. In February 1989, she skied off course Muffy Davis is an during a downhill training run at her home ski outstanding example on area, crashing into trees and suffering extreme how to turn a setback spinal damage. The seriousness of her injuries was daunting and she made the decision to step away and serious challenge from skiing to focus on her education. Muffy into an opportunit y. went on to become her high schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s valedictorian and then to graduate in pre-medicine from Stanford University. Despite experiencing significant paralysis, which made it take opportunity. She has become an extremely popular motivalonger for her to acquire the proper skiing skills, Muffy qualified tional speaker, working for international organizations like Coca Cola, Hewlett Packard and the World Health Organizato compete at the 1998 Paralympics and won a bronze medal. tion, to name a few. Two years later, she won a World Championship gold medal.

U . S . S K I A N D S N OW B OA R D S K I H A L L O F FA M E

world champion, paralympian and seven world cup titles

Muffy Davis overcame devastating injuries to become a world champion and a leader.

www . skihall . org

e a r l

h o l d i n g

B o r n :

n o v e m b e r 2 9, 1 9 2 6 s a l t l a k e c i t y,

arl Holding is a self-made man who earned the accolades of the ski industry and winter sports enthusiasts by restoring Sun Valley, the historic Idaho ski resort, to its original quality and preeminence, and by transforming Snowbasin from a sleepy Utah day area into the ski resort that hosted the 2002 Olympic Winter Games Downhill events. Holding was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he learned the value of a day’s labor as a youth, working several jobs during the Depression. Upon graduation from the University of Utah in 1952 with an engineering degree, Holding was offered the opportunity to move to and manage Covey’s Little America service station and motel on the western prairie of Wyoming. Within two years of taking over the property, Holding and his wife, Carol, transformed it into the highest volume service station in the country. The family went on to build additional Little America properties in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Flagstaff, Arizona and Salt Lake City, Utah. Although many people assume that the large petroleum company, Sinclair Oil Corporation, acquired Little America, it was actually the other way around. In 1976, Holding’s hard work put him in a position to buy Sinclair. This bold move changed his business from a regional chain of truck stops and motels to an oil company covering much of the territory west of the Mississippi River. In 1977, Holding purchased the iconic ski resort of Sun Valley, originally founded by Union Pacific scion Averill Harriman in 1936. The beautiful one-of-a-kind, year-round resort was in need

U . S . S K I A N D S N OW B OA R D S K I H A L L O F FA M E

u t

of the attention to detail that was Holding’s trademark. He began with a beautification project of planting thousands of trees, then added one of the world’s largest snowmaking systems. Five new high speed detachable quad lifts were built on the mountain and several stunning new day lodges and restaurants. Holding’s love of the western outdoors marks many of his endeavors; he personally oversaw the design of the new lodges including maximizing their breathtaking mountain views. The new Sun Valley Nordic Center hosted the International Special Olympics in 2009. Holding became involved in northern Utah’s Snowbasin in the early 1980s when it was a small day area. He was enthralled by the mountain’s potential as an undeveloped treasure. Through continuous attention to detail and design, Holding was able to build new lifts, lodges and restaurants at Snowbasin in time to host the 2002 Men’s and Women’s Downhill and Super G Olympic events. In addition to building Snowbasin, Holding supported the Olympic dream by building the five-star Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City to host Games’ sponsors, and dedicating his 800-room Little America Hotel as the headquarters for Olympic officials. His tireless efforts to bring the games to Salt Lake City were instrumental in their success. Earl Holding is acknowledged as an important contributor to the outstanding success of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, leaving a long-term legacy of quality and service. Skiers and the entire ski industry have benefited from the Holding family’s passion for developing first-class ski resorts at Sun Valley and Snowbasin.

visionary leader and owner of sun valley and snowbasin

Earl Holding, seen here with Gretchen Fraser, is acknowledged as an important contributor to the outstanding success of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, leaving a long-term legacy of quality and service.

www . skihall . org

sh a n e

m c c o n k e y

d e c e m b e r 3 0, 1 9 6 9 - 2 0 0 9 v a n c o u v e r, b . c ., C a n a d a

hane McConkey was the most influential skier of his generation. He developed and popularized “freeskiing,” worked to change and develop ski technology, and appeared in 26 ski films, influencing the enjoyment of the sport for millions of skiers. Shane was born in Canada to skiing parents. His father, Jim, was a highly regarded big mountain skier in his own right whose accomplishments eventually earned him recognition in the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame. His mother, Glenn, was a ski instructor who raised Shane alone from the age of three on in Santa Cruz, California. By the time he was 17, Shane was respected as a technically perfect skier and among the top 20 ski racers in the country. He completed his high school training at Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont. Shane’s hero was Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark, but despite his ability and drive, his smaller physique limited his opportunities as a ski racer. In 1993 he decided to enter, for fun, the Pro Mogul Tour and won the second event he entered, at Copper Mountain. The next year he won the South American Freeskiing championships and was second at the World Extreme Skiing Championships. He repeated his South American Championship in 1995 and took the U.S. National Freeskiing title as well. In 1996 he founded the International Freeskiers Association and was it’s overall World Tour Champion. He

U . S . S K I A N D S N OW B OA R D S K I H A L L O F FA M E

continued to compete in freeskiing and extreme skiing events, including the X-Games, until 2001. Shane then went on to star in 26 ski industry films for several producers, including Matchstick, Teton Gravity Research, Warren Miller, Scott Gaffney and Nick Nixon. In 1997, when a knee injury kept him off the slopes, he invented the character “saucer boy” whose antics brought hilarity to an otherwise serious ski industry. His comedic, fun loving personality was forever present on the screen and off. In 1998, he pioneered the development and application of “rocker” design in skis, elevating the tips and tails, reducing the camber and increasing the enjoyment and versatility of skis, especially in deep powder and extreme vertical situations. From 2004 to 2009 he worked with K2 in the development of the K2 Pontoon. This development of rocker reverse camber technology was applied not only to skis but also to snowboards throughout the industry, increasing the ease, forgiveness, playfulness and sweet spot benefiting all participants in a wide variety of on slope conditions. It can be argued that this would not have happened without his passion and influence in driving it. Shane McConkey was a pioneer ski base jumper whose feats included opening the Whistler Blackcomb Peak 2 Peak gondola by base jumping off a cabin at its highest point. He died in a ski base jumping accident in the Italian Dolomites on March 26, 2009, while performing for a film production.

i n f l u e n t i a l b i g m o u n ta i n s k i e r a n d i n n o vato r o f s k i ro c k e r t e c h n o l o g y

Shane McConkey was a pioneer ski base jumper whose feats included opening the Whistler Blackcomb Peak 2 Peak gondola by base jumping off a cabin at its highest point.

www . skihall . org

G l e n

P l a k e

B o r n :

S e p t e m b e r 9, 1 9 6 4 L i v e r m o r e , CA

len Plake has been called the “Pied Piper of Skiing.” With his signature, multi-colored Mohawk hairstyle, he is the most recognizable and quite possibly the best-known skier in the world. From his appearances at the smallest of ski areas in the United States to his descents of the world’s most challenging mountains and his innumerable film, television and print media appearances, Glen has done more than anyone to promote the love for skiing to millions of people. Glen grew up skiing from the age of two in South Lake Tahoe, where his mother enrolled him in ski school. Glen honed his skills through ski racing and free skiing between stints on the U.S. National Moguls Ski Team circuit. He was later crowned three-time World Hot Dog skiing champion. In 1988, his performance in the Greg Stump production, “Blizzard of Aaahhs,” launched a whole new genre of ski films, which had a major impact on the way people viewed skiing and its possibilities. Other major and influential film appearances have included “Steep,”“The Edge of Never,” “License to Thrill,” and “Fistful of Moguls,” to name a few. As an extreme skier, he has challenged and completed in over 100 ascents and descents of some of the world’s biggest mountains. In 2009, Plake did a ski descent of the Arete de

U . S . S K I A N D S N OW B OA R D S K I H A L L O F FA M E

Peuterey of Mont Blanc in Italy. In 2008, he climbed and skied the 20,000 feet of the Callangate in Peru for the filming of “Reel Thrills.” A climb and ski of the 22,000 foot Kullu Pumori in India in 2006 included a 4,500 vertical ski descent on slopes ranging from 45 to 55 degrees for the filming of “Himalaya Experience.” Glen is also famous for his innumerable surprise visits to local ski areas throughout the country as part of his “Down Home Tour.” Traveling in his motor home with his wife, Kimberly, Glen spends time visiting small to medium-sized ski areas to be with and encourage the local patrons of the sport. He is a strong believer in the importance of these areas as the foundation of skiing in America. To this end, he has recently completed his Level One Instructors certification with the PSIA and lends his name to the ski industry’s annual “Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month” in January. Through this work he keeps in touch with the needs and expectations at the local level, which has assisted his work in product development. Both Elan in Slovenia and Dalbello in Italy maintain a work area for Glen’s various projects at their factories. Glen is a true adventurer, enjoying off-road racing, all forms of water ski competition, and anything else that involves “gasoline and gravity.”

Skiingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pied Piper and the most recognizable skier in the world

As an extreme skier, Glen Plake has challenged and completed in over 100 ascents and descents of some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest mountains.

www . skihall . org

d a ro n

r h a l v e s

B o r n :

j u n e 1 2, 1 9 7 3 w a l n u t c r e e k, c a

aron Rahlves is the most accomplished Ameri- and he could not keep himself out of competitive skiing for can downhill racer of all time. He retired from very long. He poured his energy into the new sport of Skier alpine ski racing following the 2006 Olympic Cross and became an integral figure on the first U.S. Ski Cross Games with seven national titles, 12 World Team. En route to earning a berth on the 2010 Ski Cross Cup victories, including a win in the famed Olympic Team, Daron achieved a World Cup podium and a Hahnenkamm combined downhill in Kitzbuhel, Austria. He was victory at the X Games. also the 2001 world champion in the Super G. Several of his victories were significant to i n 2 0 0 3 , r h a lv e s s p e d to American ski history. In 2001, at the World v i c t o r y o n t h e h a hN e n k a m m Alpine Ski Championships, he won the Super G downhill, the most gold beating out Austrian legends Stephan Eberharter and Herman Maier on their home course prestigious honor in in St. Anton, Austria, silencing a crowd of tens of alpine skiing. thousands of raucous and highly partisan supporters of the Europeans. Two years later, in front of a similar crowd of 60,000, he sped to victory on the HahnenHe is a true multi-sport athlete, winning the World Expert kamm downhill, the most prestigious honor in alpine skiing. Championship in jet skiing in 1993, earning victories in exAltogether, Daron would earn nine wins in World Cup treme skiing events and competing in motocross. He has given downhill events, the most by any American ever, to go along back to his sport through advising younger members of the with three World Cup Super G wins. In 2005, he capped his U.S. Ski Team, promoting skiing to youngsters and serving great career with a silver in the downhill and a bronze in the on the California Governors Council on Fitness and Sports. giant slalom at the FIS World Championships. Daron is also involved with the Level Playing Field Fund, a The competitive spirit burns deep within Daron Rahlves program designed to encourage under-privileged athletes.

U . S . S K I A N D S N OW B OA R D S K I H A L L O F FA M E

o n e o f t h e m o s t s u c c e ss f u l at h l e t e s i n u . s . s k i t e a m h i s to ry

Altogether, Daron Rhalves would earn nine wins in World Cup downhill events, the most by any American ever, to go along with three World Cup Super G wins.

www . skihall . org

h a l l

o f

fa m e

h o n o r e d

Cary Adgate, 2008 Emile Allais, 1999 Thomas Gary Allen,* 1992 Graham Anderson, 1984 Reidar Anderson,* 1971 Debbie Armstrong, 1984 Monte Atwater,* 1979 John Henry Auran, 1999 Asario Autio,* 1966 Hermod Bakke,* 1972 Magnus Bakke,* 1972 John Balfanz,* 1980 Merrill “Mezzy” Barber,* 1999 Dick Barrymore, 2000 Arthur J. Barth,* 1956 LeMoine Batson,* 1969 George Bauer, 1991 Robert Beattie, 1984 Bill Beck, 2000 Fred Bellmar,* 1988 Jack Benedick, 2009 Sepp Benedikter,* 1977 Nelson Bennett, 1986 Eric Bergoust, 2007 William B. Berry,* 1976 Wallace “Bunny” Bertram,* 1981 Ralph Bietila, 1975 Paul Bietila,* 1970 Walter Bietila,* 1965 Georgene Bihlman, 2002 Ernest Blake,* 1987 Julius Blegen,* 1968 Edward Blood,* 1967 Junior Bounous, 1996 Clare Bousquet,* 2003 John Bower, 1969 Burton Boyum,* 1965 Dr. David Bradley,* 1985 Dr. Harold C. Bradley,* 1969 Steve Bradley,* 1980 James R. Branch,* 1994 Bill Briggs, 2008 Alexander Bright,* 1959 Clarita Heath Bright,* 1968 Wendell Broomhall, 1981 William “Sarge” Brown, 1990 David “Darcy” Brown,* 2005 Fred Bruun,* 1970 Jan Bucher, 1993 Siegfried Buchmayr,* 1977 Richard Buek,* 1974 John Caldwell, 1983 Stu Campbell,* 2009 John P. Carleton,* 1968 Nelson Carmichael, 2008 Jake & Donna Carpenter, 2007 James H. “Red” Carruthers,* 1990 Hannah Locke Carter, 1973

Gloria Chadwick,* 1986 Suzanne “Suzy” Chaffee, 1988 Howard Chivers,* 1973 Warren Chivers,* 1971 John J. Clair, Jr.,* 1970 Elizabeth Clifford, 1978 Barbara A. Cochran, 1976 Marilyn Cochran, 1978 Cal Conniff, 1990 Ernst Constam,* 2003 J. Negley Cooke,* 1978 Nancy R. Cooke,* 1972 Doug Coombs,* 2009 Christin Cooper, 1984 Thomas Corcoran, 1978 Susan Corrock, 1976 Edmund Couch,* 1976 Mitch Cubberley,* 2007 James Curran,* 2001 Alexander Cushing,* 2003 Christina “Kiki” Cutter, 1993 Sally Deaver,* 1978 Edna Dercum, 1991 Max Dercum, 1983 Ralph A. “Doc” DesRoches,* 1977 Arthur Devlin,* 1963 Godfrey Dewey,* 1970 Ernest Dion,* 1984 Brooks Dodge, 1978 Charles M. “Minnie” Dole,* 1958 Henry Percy Douglas,* 1968 Richard Durrance,* 1958 Edwin D. Eaton,* 1980 William T. Eldred,* 1970 Frank Elkins,* 1974 Jimmy Ellingson,* 1975 Dr. Raymond Elmer,* 1959 John Elvrum,* 1968 Alan Engen, 2004 Alf Engen,* 1959 Corey Engen,* 1973 Sverre Engen,* 1971 Sigi Engl,* 1971 E.O.”Buck” Erickson,* 1974 Stein Eriksen, 1982 Ted Farwell, 1992 Barbara Ferries, 1978 Charles Ferries, 1989 James Flaa,* 1974 Luggi Foeger,* 1973 Walter Foeger,* 2005 Donald Fraser,* 1972 Gretchen K. Fraser,* 1960 Sverre Fredheim,* 1973 John Fry, 1995 Michael Gallagher, 1988 Dodie Post Gann, 2001 Charles Gibson,* 2001

U . S . S K I A N D S N OW B OA R D S K I H A L L O F FA M E

m e m b e r s Ned Gillette,* 2000 Hans Gmoser,* 2002 Diana Golden,* 1997 Nathaniel L. Goodrich,* 1971 James Griffith,* 1971 Harold Grinden,* 1958 Gerald Groswold, 1986 Thor B. Groswold, 2004 Thor C. Groswold,* 1970 Henry Hall,* 1967 Halvor Halstad,* 1977 Alf Halvorson,* 1968 Anne Heggtveit Hamilton, 1976 Joan Hannah, 1978 Selden J. Hannah,* 1968 W. Averell Harriman,* 1969 Fred Harris,* 1957 Anders Haugen,* 1963 Lars Haugen,* 1963 A. Andrew Hauk,* 1975 Howard Head,* 1979 Ole Hegge,* 1970 Erling Heistad,* 1966 James R. Hendrickson,* 1971 James Heuga, 1976 Harry Wade Hicks,* 1969 Clarence “Coy” Hill, 1974 Cortlandt T. Hill,* 1970 Harold S. Hirsch,* 1990 Marc Hodler,* 1981 Katharine Peckett Holman,* 1982 Carl Holmstrom,* 1973 Aksel Holter,* 1956 John Hostvedt,* 1969 Dr. Frank Howard,* 1987 Carl Howelsen,* 1969 Sally Neidlinger Hudson,* 1971 James Hunter, 1978 Hjalmar Hvam,* 1967 Chiharu “Chick” Igaya, 1971 Fred Iselin,* 1972 Tom Jacobs, 2007 William C. Janss,* 1979 John Jay,* 1981 H. Devereaux Jennings,* 1989 Sven Johanson,* 1975 Jannette Burr Johnson, 1970 William Johnson, 1984 Jimmy Johnston,* 1996 Robert Johnstone 1991 Gregory Jones 1978 W. David Judson, Jr.,* 1997 Alice Damrosch Kaier,* 1969 William Winston Kidd, 1976 Barbara Kidder-Lee,* 1977 Jill Kinmont, 1967 Everett Kircher,* 2007 H. William “Bill” Kirschner,* 2001

AJ Kitt, 2003 Steve Knowlton,* 1975 Arthur Knudsen,* 1973 Sepp Kober,* 2009 William Koch, 1976 Richard Kohnstamm,* 1992 Gene Kotlarek, 1982 George S. Kotlarek,* 1968 Felix Koziol,* 1974 Dr. Hans Kraus,* 1974 Kathy Kreiner, 1976 J. Vernon Lamb, Jr., 1992 Sigrid S. Laming,* 1972 Otto Lang,* 1978 Bob Lange,* 2000 Roger Langley,* 1958 William Lash, 1983 Andrea Mead Lawrence, 1958 David Lawrence,* 1966 Col. George Emerson Leach,* 1969 Paul Leimkuehler,* 1981 Anton Lekang,* 1977 Doug Lewis, 2007 Harry Lien,* 1969 Hilary Lindh, 2005 Grace Carter Lindley,* 1966 John Litchfield, 2002 Dr. Amos R. “Bud” Little, 1965 Earle B. Little,* 1972 Robert Livermore,* 1977 Morton Lund, 1997 Sir Arnold Lunn,* 1968 Ronald MacKenzie,* 1971 L.B.”Barney” MacNab,* 1970 George Macomber, 1973 Phil Mahre, 1981 Steve Mahre, 1984 Rudy Maki, 1982 Ole Mangseth,* 1968 William C. “Bill” Marolt, 1993 Toni Matt,* 1967 Rudolph Mattesich,* 1983 Lawrence Maurin,* 1966 Helen McAlpin,* 1968 Dave McCoy, 1967 Penny McCoy, 1978 John McCrillis,* 1966 Ernie McCulloch,* 1969 Anna McIntyre, 1998 Liz McIntyre, 2008 Tamara McKinney, 1984 Malcolm McLane,* 1973 Robert McLean,* 1959 Marilyn S. McMahon,* 1986 Fred H. McNeil,* 1958 C. Allison Merrill,* 1974 Roy Mikkelsen,* 1964 Strand Mikkelsen,* 1974 Warren Miller, 1978 Earl A. Miller,* 1994 Frederick W.”Fritz” Mittelstadt,* 1999 Tommy Moe, 2003 Webb Moffett,* 1999 Rolf Monsen,* 1964 Name, Year Inaugurated

*Deceased

John E. P. Morgan,* 1972 Jonny Moseley, 2006 Richard “Dick” Movitz,* 1970 J. Stanley Mullin,* 1973 Dorothy H. Nebel,* 1972 Cindy Nelson, 1976 Nels Nelson,* 1971 George A. Newett,* 1970 Byron L. Nishkian,* 1976 Sondre Norheim,* 1974 Jerry Nunn,* 2003 Klaus Obermeyer, 1997 Robert Oden,* 2002 Casper Oimoen,* 1963 Hal O’Leary, 1994 Willis S. Olson, 1972 Ragnar Omtvedt,* 1967 Sigurd Overby,* 1976 Fred Pabst,* 1969 Roland Palmedo,* 1968 Julie Parisien, 2006 Robert Parker, 1985 Peter Patterson, 1978 Guttorm Paulsen,* 1971 Roger A. Peabody,* 1976 Roland Peabody,* 1979 Olav Pedersen,* 2000 Ernest O. Pederson,* 1968 Paul Joseph Perrault, 1971 Eugene Petersen,* 1965 Douglas Pfeiffer, 1987 Friedl Pfeiffer,* 1980 Penelope “Penny” Pitou, 1976 Harry Pollard,* 1976 Wayne Poulsen,* 1980 Walter Prager,* 1977 Charles A. Proctor,* 1966 Charles N. Proctor,* 1959 S. Joseph Quinney,* 1975 Gustav Raaum, 1980 Nancy Greene Raine, 1969 Wilbert Rasmussen,* 1988 Jack Reddish,* 1969 Carroll Reed,* 2002 Robert H. Reid,* 1975 Ben Rinaldo,* 1985 Paul Robbins,* 2009 Ernest Robes,* 1987 Wendell Robie,* 1964 Martha Rockwell, 1986 Diann Roffe, 2003 David Rowan,* 1996 Sepp Ruschp,* 1978 Birger Ruud,* 1970 Sigmund Ruud,* 1970 Joseph B. Ryan,* 1977 Benno Rybizka,* 1991 Suzy H. Rytting, 1988 Erich Sailer, 2005 Ansten Samuelstuen, 2009 Enzo Sarafini,* 1977 Magnus Satre,* 1963 Paul Ottar Satre,* 1971 Jean Saubert,* 1976

Willy Schaeffler,* 1974 Herbert Schneider, 1992 Hannes Schneider,* 1958 Otto Schniebs,* 1967 Walter Schoenknecht,* 1979 Hannes Schroll,* 1966 Edward Scott,* 1999 Peter Seibert,* 1984 Lloyd Severud, 1970 Albert E. Sigal,* 1971 Albert F. Sise,* 1983 Preston Leete Smith, 2000 Herman Smith-Johannsen,* 1969 Betsy Snite,* 1976 Harald Sorensen,* 1973 Dr. J. Leland Sosman, 1999 Dr. Richard Steadman, 1989 Sigfied Steinwall,* 1969 Josef “Pepi” Stiegler, 2001 Dr. Merritt Stiles,* 1975 Nikki Stone, 2002 Hans Strand,* 1975 Marthinius Strand,* 1958 Michael Strauss, 2001 Picabo Street, 2004 Erling Strom,* 1972 William Tanler,* 1998 Clif Taylor,* 1979 Dorice Taylor,* 1984 Edward F. Taylor,* 1956 Hans “Pepi” Teichner,* 1967 Helmut Teichner,* 1983 Carl Tellefsen,* 1956 Lowell Thomas,* 1966 Conrad Thompson,* 1966 John A. Thompson,* 1970 Linda Meyers Tikalsky, 1982 Arthur Tokle,* 1970 Torger Tokle,* 1959 Birger Torrissen,* 1972 Ralph J. Townsend,* 1975 Olav Ulland,* 1981 Jakob Vaage,* 1976 Paul Valar, 1985 Paula Kann Valar,* 1970 Lucile Wheeler Vaughn, 1976 Chris Waddell, 2009 George H. Watson,* 1969 Donna Weinbrecht, 2004 Wallace “Buddy” Werner,* 1964 John Wictorin,* 1970 Marian McKean Wigglesworth,* 1966 Sven Wiik, 1981 Sarah Will, 2009 Eugene Wilson,* 1982 Anthony Wise,* 1988 Warren Witherell, 1998 Henry S. “Bem” Woods, 1966 John Woodward, 1998 Betty Woolsey,* 1969 Trace Worthington, 2006 Gordon Wren,* 1958 Rhoda Wurtele, 1969 Katy Rudolph Wyatt,* 1966 www . skihall . org

I s h p e m i n g ’ s i n t e r n at i o n a l s k i

f i l m

f e s t i v a l

he Ski and Snowboard Film Institute is an organization, under the umbrella of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and the International Ski History Association, dedicated to preserving and presenting the best ski films ever made. The first 10 films were chosen by the Institute’s steering committee of ski filmmakers, media experts and ski writers. There are many kinds of ski films. There are industry sponsored films which are usually short. There are feature films, there is racing coverage, and documentaries about expeditions, people and places. Selected films must have skiing as a main plot component, and can be selected because they are cinematically innovative, reflective of an era, portray a revolutionary style of skiing or notable persons, are dramatically or stylistically unique, or have contributed to society in a significant and meaningful way. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame has over 1,000 films currently in its collection. This general population of ski films is saved and conserved to preserve our sports collective history, but in order to reflect the artistry of ski films and values of the sport, the Institute will identify the best 100 films ever made, The Snow 100. Films will be inducted annually and presented in the International Ski Film Festival. If they are not already part of the collection, copies will join the films in a special exhibit at the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum in Ishpeming. 22

U . S . S K I A N D S N OW B OA R D S K I H A L L O F FA M E

film selection committee Allison Pobrislo Greg Stump Joe Jay Jalbert Roger Brown Rick Moulton

Lisa Densmore Bernie Weichsel Charles Sanders Paul Ryan Ken Campbell

his is the debut of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum’s newly formed Ski and Snowboard Film Institute that the Ski Hall of Fame and the International Ski History Association has formed to showcase The Snow 100—the Best 100 Ski Films ever made. The Sun Valley Opera House will host this premier year when the first 10 films are inducted Tuesday evening at 7:00 PM. The makers of the films will be awarded a “Jerry,” echoing and honoring Jerry Simon, who passed away last summer. Simon was a pioneer in producing ski shows from 1964 on when he opened his first show in partnership with Harry Leonard. In the early 1970’s, he established the first International Ski Film Festival, which annually showcased the best ski films from each season. Crested Butte, a festival sponsor, created a sleek statuette called “The Jerry,” in Simon’s honor, to be awarded to the best film. Ski film producers came to regard it as their Oscar. Unlike Simon’s festival of old which judged an annual crop of films, Ishpeming’s International Ski Film Fest celebrates the best ski films of all time and a film must have already stood the test of time for 10 years before becoming eligible.

Ski and Snowboard Film Institute I n d u c t e e Aw a r d s

t h e 2 0 1 1 “ J e r r y’ s ” Honorees in order of their history.

Photographs courtesy: Rick Moulton, Keystone Productions

1. “ D e r

W e i s s e

R au s c h ”

( W h i t e

Dr. Arnold Fanck can be said to have originated the ski film genre in 1920 with his film “Das Wunder des Schneeschuhs,” which also starred the great Austrian ski technique pioneer Hannes Schneider. Fanck shot his films each winter, and screened them the following autumn to enthusiastic western and central Dr. Arnold Fanck European audiences to build anticipation for the coming winter season, thus starting a time-honored marketing tradition later adopted by American ski film makers including John Jay and Warren Miller. “Der Weisse Rausch” is the culmination of a decade of breakthough European Mountain films that offer such amazing black and white cinematography that some are part of The New York’s Museum of Modern Art’s Film Collection. This was the first such feature to include synchronized sound scenes, shot on a sound stage in Berlin. The production is accompanied by complete original symphonic score composed by Paul Dessau. Some of the back-light action scenes caught huge shadows cast by passing ski-

2. “ T h e

B e s t

o f

J o h n

J ay ”

“The Best of John Jay” is a compilation of the most memorable segments culled from the later periods of a half-century of work amassed by ski filmmaker John Jay. As Jay “performed” his humorous film narrations at screenings throughout the United States live from the stage over recorded backJohn Jay ground music (a popular ski film technique that he certainly pioneered), this collection is limited to those later segments for which his audio performance was recorded. John Jay began his ski filmmaking career as a hobby after graduating from Williams College in Massachusetts in 1938. Among Jay’s first pre-World War II efforts were “Ski America,” “Skis over Skoki,” “South for Snow” and “Ski Here Senor.” Those films introduced scores of American skiers to the wonders of ski travel to exotic locations, including the Andes of South America.

E c s t a s y ) 1 9 3 1 (Dr. Arnold Fanck)

ers reflected on snow curtains of crystal. The film was shot largely in St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria. Though Fanck’s works—perhaps owing to the participation of future Third Reich film director Leni Riefenstahl and other of her associates—have been retrospectively characterized by some as “pre-fascist,” Fanck claimed to have been striving only to illustrate the freedom available in the mountains and the thrills of participating in winter sports. His star, Hannes Schneider, in fact, was an ardent anti-Nazi, and the comedic Der Weisse Rausch is devoid of even the suggestion of political content. The final ingredients utilized by Dr. Fanck in making his historic films were the athletic prowess and passionate enthusiasm of the skiers whom he filmed. Der Weiss Rausch contains a selfdescription as part of its opening credits that continues to serve as a perfect subtext for the film: We were no actors, The acting went into our legs, And what they do on their skis May still make you laugh today. -dr. arnold fanck

1 9 3 8 - 7 6 (John Jay) At the outbreak of World War II, Jay served as an officer in the famed 10th Mountain Division, frequently using his films as a recruiting tool to entice others to join him in the ski troops. Jay then created and preserved a great film record of the 10th Mountain’s difficult and inventive military training at Mount Rainier in Washington state and at Camp Hale in Colorado. Following the war, he picked right up where he left off with a 1945 ski lecture film entitled “Hickory Holiday,” the first in a series of some 35 more ski films he made over consecutive years, filling auditoriums coast to coast every Fall until the late 1970s. For a period of nearly five decades, John Jay’s creative and comedic ski films continued to popularize the sport, the resorts, its stars, and the notion of skiing as a “family affair” in the United States. During that time, he brought pleasure to untold thousands of skiers through his art, helped to fuel the skiing boom years of the 1960s, and paved the way for the dozens of ski filmmakers who followed in his footsteps. www . skihall . org

3. “ S u n

Va l l e y

S e r e n a d e ”

A musical film vehicle that offered an idealized view of America’s first destination ski resort of Sun Valley, “Sun Valley Serenade” glamorized skiing in America among the general population in a way that has never truly been duplicated. Partially due to the popularity of its swing music soundtrack, and it’s release as a romantic but patriotic diversion just at the outbreak of World War II (a war that would later take

“ SKI

T i m e ”

Roger Brown

6. “ T h e

T h e

O u t e r

L i m i t s ”

The film dramatically declares a search for skiing and living beyond current “limits,” opening and closing with super slow motion summersaults into Jackson Hole’s notorious Corbett’s Couloir (named for the film’s co-creator, Barry Corbet), Corbet, who sadly suffered a broken back in a helicopter crash during filming that paralyzed

L a s t

o f

t h e

S k i

“Ski Time” was Warren Miller’s 34th annual fall ski excitement film and offers a good example of what, up to this film, were his popular trade marks—that wily, understated, often ironic sense of humor that ran through a stylized narrative as it shifts from various skiing locations. But this film also featured Scott Schmidt flying off the Palisades at Squaw Valley, and in these scenes it opened the door to a new school of American bred, “big mountain freeskiers.” It also raised the bar for the fall lecture films in a way that Greg Stump would take to heart. There is no question that Warren Miller’s name is synonymous with the ski film genre, and “Ski Time” is an appropriate entrée for any fan of skiing seeking an introduction to his incredible body of work.

1 9 6 7 (Roger Brown & Barry Corbet’s Summit Films) him from the waist down, still insisted upon editing the movie into something up-lifting and inspirational. Its release marked a seminal moment for ski films—a breakthrough in ski action and daring (for the time) that was combined with a radical up-grade in cinematography. Today’s mountain films, so many of which seek to expand our notion of “the possible,” can trace their origins to this ground-breaking work of artistry.

B u m s ! ”

A feature length “mocumentary” purporting to follow the lives of three skiers keeping the dying tradition of ski bumming alive in late 1970’s Europe, Barrymore captured the passion for fresh tracks and love for the sport that still persists today Dick Barrymore

the life of the film’s star bandleader Glenn Miller), the film enjoyed enormous distribution and so had proportionately huge influence on public perceptions of the sport. Austrian ski meister and film maker Otto Lang directed the skiing sequences filmed in Sun Valley, which featured future 1948 Olympic medalist Gretchen Fraser acting as the skiing stand-in for Sonja Henie. The skiing sequences of fellow Austrian ski champion Friedl Pfeifer, who was joined by Lang in front of the camera in certain sequences, remain artistically inspiring, and were groundbreaking at the time.

1 9 8 3 (Warren Miller)

Southern California skier and surfer Warren Miller credits seeing a John Jay ski film lecture, on a trip to Sun Valley in the late 1940s, with inspiring him to embark on a career that made him one of the most famous, successful and innovative action sports film makers of all time. Warren Miller Realizing that a large part of Jay’s success was based upon wit and humor, Miller similarly used his own keen sense of ironic narrative to augment his spectacular film footage each year, and built an enormous and loyal following which continues to pack theatres every fall to see the new “Warren Miller” ski film.

5. “ S k i

1 9 4 1 (Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone)

U . S . S K I A N D S N OW B OA R D S K I H A L L O F FA M E

1 9 6 9 (Dick Barrymore)

among its most fervent devotees. Featuring Ron Funk, Ed Ricks and Mike Zuettel and a thin plot, (the boys win big in Monte Carlo and go on a skiing spree), it was obviously constructed with loving care and gentle humor, “The Last of the Ski Bums!” is now itself a time capsule for rediscovering a lost world of skiing in that post-groovy era.

7. “ S k i

Paul Rayn

“ T h e

Dick Barrymore

R a c e r ”

1 9 6 9 (Paul Ryan)

Filmmaker Paul Ryan raised the bar with two groundbreaking Lange films he made in Europe, “Ski Racer” and “Karli,” the former of which must be considered to be one of the most artistically groundbreaking ski films ever made. Shot in cinéma vérité style with interviews of World Cup athletes inter-

P e r f o r m e r s ”

1 9 7 1 (Dick Barrymore)

Known for the excellent film work of Barrymore and the quality of skiing he depicted, the film also achieved cult status for capturing what is frequently heralded as the world’s first “Wet T- Shirt Contest.” Thus, the film not only inspired freestyle ski events across the country, but also

“ L e g e n d s

o f

cut to action, Ryan utilized the beat of a psychedelic rock soundtrack to speed up his edits, anticipating a style later adapted to MTV-type music videos. The result is an exciting, fastpaced and dramatic narrative which features Poncho McCoy, Jean Claude Killy, Spider Sabich, Billy Kidd, Kiki Cutter, and many others of the world’s greatest ski racers. Thanks to Ryan, their superlative athletic accomplishments are preserved on film for all time.

A m e r i c a n

A rollicking schuss, tracing skiing’s beginnings in America, Moulton carefully reconstructs the story of New World alpine skiing through interviews with 24 U.S. ski pioneers, all of whom have since passed on. This incredibly important document

popularized Wet T Shirt Awards Ceremonies as a tour staple for years afterward. “Did the ’70’s freestyle movement happen because of The Performers or did the movie simply document what was happening? The fact this argument even exists is testament to the power of Barrymore’s genius and the talents displayed on and off the slope in this film” – Mike Jaquet

S k i i n g ”

1 9 8 3 (Rick Moulton)

of ski history features Sel Hanna, Dick Durrance, Toni Matt, Barney McLane, Gordie Wren, Lowell Thomas and many more skiing legends whose words and deeds are preserved forever in first person narratives. Made in association with the New England Ski Museum, the film took five years to assemble and is a lasting tribute to the sport.

Rick Moulton

10.

“ B l i z z a r d

Greg Stump

o f

A a h h h ’ s ”

A break-through film for Greg Stump which brought a new generation of skiers onto center stage, “Blizzard of Aahhh’s” is one of the most cohesive, beloved and influential ski films of all time. Glen Plake, Scott Schmidt and Mike Hattrup were featured as the new front men for the skiing, the prototypes for the talented, fearless and irreverent

1 9 8 8 (Greg Stump) new class of Big Mountain skiers not content to go about their business quietly. Stump’s film marked a departure from the annual ski lecture film tradition. It upped the ante, seeking to create new “heroes” for a new generation by turning the trio loose in the extremes of Chamonix, France. The rest of the ski film industry had to keep up by going big or going home, a trend for better or worse that continues more than two decades later. www . skihall . org

f o u n d e r s

o f f r e e s t y l e

ver since down-mountain skiing really got going more than one hundred years ago, there have always been “freestyle skiers”—folks who didn’t need to run gates to prove their prowess on snow. Folks who tapped into their imaginations in their use of terrain features, who tried different moves to express their gymnastic capabilities, who exuded joie de vivre in their down-mountain sorties.   Freestyle competitions started as a way for skiers to show off their “style,” and have fun doing it. It was a form of rebellion—this was the late 60’s after all!—against the structure of organized skiing, mainly in ski schools run by instructors from the European Alpine countries. They basically advocated what might best be called ”disciplines”—you had to race in a certain prescribed way, ski and teach in a certain way. Going freestyle became a way to break away from the “you ski this way, you turn here” approach to learning and enjoying the sport of skiing. But

U . S . S K I A N D S N OW B OA R D S K I H A L L O F FA M E

at its core it was a way for skiers to say to not only their peers but to all who watched them ski down some of the most challenging runs on any big mountain located nationwide: “Hey I’m the King of this Mountain and I don’t have to run gates to prove it!” This newfound desire for independence found an outlet first in “Style” events held primarily in New England, and some “galende” jump events (Big Air, before that term was known!) held primarily in Alta, Utah. Then, in early March of 1971 (40 years ago!) in one magical week, two milestone events in separate parts of the country occurred that altered the course of skiing history. In New England, Waterville Valley hosted the First National Championship of Exhibition Skiing, meanwhile in the Rockies, Aspen staged K2’s Hot Dog Skiing event. The Waterville competition sprung from the very creative mind of Doug Pfeiffer, then editor-in-chief of Skiing Magazine who has rightfully been called the “Father of Freestyle Skiing,” working together with Waterville

Left: Sun Valley Hot Dog Skiing event in the winter of 1973-74; BELOW: Sun Valley Ski Ballet event.

founder, and ex-U.S. Team racer, Tom Corcoran. (Pfeiffer likened Freestyle to “an indigenous American folk art, like jazz”.) Within a few days, and on one of the more storied locations in skidom – Aspen’s Ridge of Bell - ski world legend and one of the ski world’s greatest film makers, Dick Barrymore, brought to life his vision for a ski “event” in Aspen. Yes it was more of a party than a competition – including some amazing “get it on skiing” on the mountain. It was a party on the mountain and in town for a couple thousand of Dick’s friends coming together for a spring bash on Aspen Mountain as Dick’s cameras rolled. Out of this exercise came a film that helped define Hot Dog skiing to all skiers, K2’s “The Performers!”    Both these events/competitions helped propel a movement across the country–-and later the world, that saw what came to be quickly called Freestyle Skiing grow in stature and exposure. This culminated in a number of professional (i.e., money

prizes as opposed to amateur trophies) competitions, first organized by the International Freestyle Skiers Association (IFSA) in the winter of 1974 followed in subsequent years, by events organized by the American Freestyle Skiers Association (AFSA) and the Professional Freestyle skiers Association (PFA) These competitions were sponsored by the likes of Chevrolet, Midas Mufflers, Colgate, Diet Pepsi and Beconta, among others and involved most major ski companies of the day. And of course, the money meant big advertising budgets and not surprisingly national TV channels became quite interested in airing this spectacular new sport.   The “professional“ era ended, though, in the late 1970’s—for a number of reasons (stories for another place and time)—but the story, and the sport, didn’t end there. In fact, after a short hiatus it became organized under the International Ski Federation (FIS), the world-wide governing body of competitive skiing (of www . skihall . org

Left: Judge holds up his score for a Hot Dog Skiing event. BELOW: Mogul event in Sun Valley, winter 1973-74.

all types). It quickly evolved with development of a FIS World Cup and World Championships in the 1980’s, a demonstration event at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, followed by full Olympic status in 1992. Today it remains one of the premier, and one of the most popular, events in the Olympics. It has proven itself as a crowd pleaser, drawing huge numbers of spectators and big TV ratings, as one of the featured competitions every four years at the Winter Olympic Games. Freestyle is a sport that lives and thrives!! Freestyle skiing—the only international ski discipline that originated in the United States—helped create legends of many runs, like Exhibition here in Sun Valley, and was a key component in the explosive growth witnessed by the U.S. ski industry in the 1960’s and 70’s. But Freestyle Skiing, more than anything else, owes it success, notoriety and unabashed exciting legacy to a whole bunch of skiers—male and female, from the East, Mid-West and West; a truly National phenomenon. On Saturday, April 2nd many of these athletes—as part of the 2011 U.S. Ski And Snowboard Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony

U . S . S K I A N D S N OW B OA R D S K I H A L L O F FA M E

in Sun Valley—will be the first group to be honored with the Hall of Fame’s new Founder Award as a “Pioneer Of Freestyle Skiing” Many of these Pioneers—really legends—are in attendance tonight here in Sun Valley. They will be honored during a special presentation during tonight’s ceremony which includes a special tribute video, produced by Stan Larsen, a Freestyler himself! The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame is glad to salute these inspiring athletes who helped establish Freestyle Skiing as not only a new and exciting ski competition, not only for their athletic prowess, but as much for the energy and fun they bought to the international ski community. Skiing as a sport and a lifestyle is more exciting and more fun because of Freestyle Skiing—and because of that we owe a big thanks to the Pioneers of the sport we honor this week here in Sun Valley.   Prepared by Bernie Weichsel with assistance from Doug Pfeiffer and Tom Kelly. Photos courtesy Sun Valley Resort.

CLIMB TO SKI h a l l o f fa m e Founded by the National Ski Association of America (now the USSA) in 1954.

•

The current building, comprising over 15,000 square feet of exhibit space opened in 1992 at a cost of just over $2 million.

•

Major exhibits include: the founding of Sun Valley - the first ski resort in America; 10th Mountain Division Tribute; the story of the ancient Birkebeiners; the first chair lift in America (from Sun Valley); the Honors Court of Honored Members; plus hundreds of skis.

•

The collections include the first Olympic Medal won by an American skier, a bronze in ski jumping won by Anders Haugen in 1924. Gretchen Fraser’s Olympic gold and silver medals, and the first American medals in alpine skiing are also on display.

•

The building is the headquarters of the International Skiing History Association.

•

The Roland Palmedo Library has one of the largest collections of books and journals on skiing in the country.

•

Over 100 hours of films by John Jay are stored at the museum. The best of these have been transferred to a digital format. This was done through a grant of $106,000 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

•

Except for special project grants, the Hall of Fame’s operations are financed through donations, memberships, sponsorships and fund raising special events.

•

Anyone may submit a nomination to elect an individual to the Hall of Fame. Nominations are reviewed by a national selection committee and voted on by a panel of over 100 experts in skiing and snowboarding. Successful candidates must receive 60% of the ballots cast. • Inductees receive the Medal of Honor, which represents the highest level of achievement possible in ski sports. •

Visit the Hall of Fame’s web site: www.skihall.com to see biographies on each of the 374 honored members.

Photograph: Ives Garneau

•

Glen Plake, alpineXtrem Team

f a c t s

www.salewa.com

Congratulations to our inspiring and extraordinary sister,

Muffy Davis! www . skihall . org