Skiing Heritage Journal

42 Pages·1994·3.5 MB·English

by  International Skiing History Association

SKIINGHERITAGE
JOURNALoftheINTERNATIONALSKIINGHISTORYASSOCIATION
Volume6Number! Fall1994
The One and Only INSIDE
TheOneandOnlyGreichen
GretchenEraser'sstruggletothetop.
PACF4
TheComlngofCharlieLord
ThefirsttrailJesigncronMt.Miinsfichl.
PACK211
NiceGoin'...MvLifeonSkls
Theuiitobiofirai'hyofFricdlPJeiJer.
PACK^^
READERSRESPOND
Correctionamitonimciu
PA(.K2
EDITORIAL
MaliingawPoArlCd-KclAassjournal
TIPS&TALES
LillclPuiAnnCiKicr.UI9M)
CELEBRATIONS
TheAT&TSliiin\iAward
PACF.16
SKIERS"BOOKSHELF
TitlPesA(CorKGi2v7ing
FINISHLINE
AHistoPriAaCnE'sH4i0storian
I.S.H.A.
1995GATHERING
APRIL5-9.1995
GretchenFraser,1948 ASPEN.COLORADO
Gskrieelr,chmcannForrasweornuwians.Atometrriicuam'phsofviresrttmheedablesitstEuirnotpheeanWirnatceerrs,Oainydmpfiicrsst,infitrhset eAHveseapdneqinunagMrseteaordfso:pwrTsoh.gerTaAhmsespr.eenTwhiIlenlstAbinetuntfueoaualrt
heartsofhercountrymen.SkiingHeritui-epresentsthefirstdefinitivearticle I.S.H.A.AwardBanquetwillbeheld
writtenonthisremarkableracer,herlife,andhercharacterwrittcnbyherfi-icnd. onApril8.Seethein.sertintliisissue.
theaward-winningskijournalistLuannePt'eifcrofMalibu.California.
Cc:
SkIISGHERITM.f^PM.i:2
HEADERS RESPOND
DearEditor: otherontheback.Thelasttimetheyhad BillKeilisaveteranoffortyyearsof
Whomadetheposedstudioshotsof beentogetherwasduringWorldWarII skiandsportswriling.mostlyforthe
thetwomodelsusedinthosegreatillus- whentheyweresimultaneouslydropped PortlandOregonian.WhenSports
trationsinTheodoreJohnsen'sTheWin- overGermanyinparachutesasspiesfor Illustratedwasproducing.wmething
terSportofSkccing?Andwhopainted theBritishArmy.Thewindsweptthem calledSkiReportin1955.Keilwasthe
thebackdrops'.'Andhowdidthatlady's apartandeachwascertaintheotherhad stringerforthestateofOregon.
tasseltlysohighbehindher?Andwho beencapturedandkilled.
wasthatlady'.'Couldshereallyski'? BenRinaldo. DearEditor:
TedBorch, StudioCity.California Intheinterestsofaccuracy.Iwasnot
Lexington,Massachu.setts theonewho"inventedthefirstpractical
BenRinaldoisformerpresidentofthe AluminumSkiPolein1968"...WhatI
TheWinterSportofSkeeing/a.sr/- nationalskiwriters'associationand(me inventedin1958wasthefirst(1believe)
natesasmuchforthequestionsitraises ofthelongest-serx'ingskijournalistsin light,well-balanceddurablealuminium
astheonesitanswers.Thesequestions thiscountn: pole.Millions(oratleasthundredsof
aresomeofthemanyl.S.H.A.hopeswill thousands)ofaluminumpoleswere
heansweredbyGlennParkinsonwhen DearEditor: alreadyinuseinalmosteveryrental
hepublisheshishistoryofMaineskiing. PaulValar'sarticleonthefirstT-bar operationbecausetheywerecheap,
Jahnsenmaywellhimselfhavephoto- joggedmynostalgiabutton.Myfirstex- rarelybrokeandwereeasilystraight-
graphedthemodelsai>ainsttheback- perienceandworstwasatStevensPass. enedafterbending.Thesewerethefirst
ftrawidshepaintedforthepurpose, Washingtoninthelate1940s.Theday "practical"aluminumpoles.
usinfiblackstringorwireinvisiblein beforetheT-barstarted.BruceKerr Myversioncameoutjustbeforethe
thephotos,topullthetasselintotheair. phonedthelocalpapersayingthattheT- 1960Olympics,withtoolittletimefor
Ninetyyearslater,theammynumsmodel barwouldopentomorrow.Thisresulted verymanytopracerstoswitch.The
isuiuivailahleforcomment. inalittleannouncementsayingthat Scottswerejust"themost-usedbrand"
StevensPasswasopeninga"'teabar"the inthoseOlympics.Twoyearslateratthe
DearEditor: verynextday. ChamonixPIS,Scottgotitshighest-ever
E.GR.eCtohensT-tbaamr:mIinwa1s96a1ssionciDaetnevderw.itWhe seeRmieddintgobtehaatSmtielveelnosngP,asmsuTc-hbaorf.iittona m1e9d6a6lFcIoSunitn,Por1t3iloluot.of18medalsatthe
specializedinhislastest"jerk-free"' sidehill.Beforeyoulearnedtoreallyride EdScott.Ketchum.Idaho
hryedmreaumlbiecr,tweellelscmoypicfirTs-tbTar-.baCrerrtiadeinalty1 ythoeurwaedygeusp,.yaondubfootuhghwteyroeurrepaadrytnteorfaalcle Apologiesforthetypowhichmade1958
WinterParkinthelate193()s.Wehoped offwithunsheathedskipolesafter intoI96S."Practical"wasmeanttosigni-
tthhaotseitcwoanstetmhpetbueoguisn,nislnigthoefritnhge,esnndakfeolrike gettingtoBitlhleKteoipl., fiin't"huastab.sleensbe.yEdidscSrciotmtinaantdinngosk(imeers,el"seanind-
ropetows. Portland.Oregon ventedthefirstpracticalaluminumpole.
CharlesDwyer.
Lakewood.Colorado
DearEditor:
InregardtoyourexcerptfromSki
PioneersaboutErnieBlake:inanylong
yearsago.Iwasthemastermindofa
seriesofskiracesonbarrelstaves,
sponsoredbythePaulMassonWinesof
SanFrancisco.Allstavesweremadeof
oldwinebarrelsdonatedbyMassonand
mountedwitharealcheapJapanesestep-
inbinding.
ThevicepresidentofMasson,Ernie
Mittelberger.camewithmeoneweekend
tothebarrelstaveraceatTaos.1took
ErnieM.intomeetErnieBlakeandthe
twoofthemfellintoeachother'sarms,
weeping,screamingandthumpingeach
aterial
SkiiscHeritage,page3
SKIINGHERITAGE
JournalortlieInternutionalSliiingHisturyAsituciatlon
A WorldClassPublication Editor:l\/lortenLund
JohnHenryAuran
EditorialBoard: MasonBeekley
Wehear"worldclass"thrownaroundprettylooselythese NickHowe
days.YetthemostimportantdecisionmadeduringtheAprilBoard GDloeungnPPfaeirfklienrson
ofDirectorsmeetingsatParkCitywastodeclareourcommitment
toestablishSkiingHeritageasthepremierinternationalworldclass I.S.H.A.BoardofDirectors
periodicalofskiinghistory. AllenH.Adier.USA PeterLunn,England
toSkiOiunrgHBeorairtdagdee.vTehloepfeudnsdaommeentcrailtecroinacoefptwoirnlsdtrcilvaisnsgatsobiterweloartleds WWaPirMteaesrsidoAenmnstBteuaetnkzal.eTySr.weiaUtszSueArrelrand JJJeairnmremytyNNuNenlunsn,onn,U,SUUASSAA
cpluarsssuiisntghaetvetrhe-hgiogahlewrilsltaenndearrgdisz.eRSekaicinhgoHneerilteavegleatondbethpeernpeexttuaolnley MDM.iiccMkkiDcHuuhlralre,alnAucBserta,rdaUyl,iSaANorway GDPleoenunngnyPPPlaeiitrfokfuie.nr,sUoUSn,SAAUSA
willoccurorappear. TedHunter.USA WilliamP,Tindale.Canada
class;InHtehraittsaigmepwliellcoanlcweapytslbieesstthreivpiongwetorboefstthreibveisntg.t"oTbheewboersltd" WAMoonrldtfregenaanLMguenLader,dt.ULSUawASrAence.USA EElkikzeahbaertthUDl,nnWnocohl.seGye.rmUaSnAy
willbeanever-changing,ever-unfoldingvisionofwhatweare
workingtobecome,withahorizonthatwillbeever-recedingand SkiingHeritageCorrespondence:MortenLund
ever-Aes.xIp.aSn.dHi.nAg..growsinmembershipandexperience,asthefaces IS4N99A,9T8oCwoBnrarkHeeislrlptooRnowdanedRn,ocNaed:e,wMAaHcsacrootnrfdoBr,de,eNkeClowenynY.eoTcrthkiec1uP2ta4r00s46o0n5a7ge,
changeinyearstocome,asmoreandbetterhistoricalwriting
becomeavailable,astechnologiesdevelop,asoursisterpublica-
atinodnstoimepmruolvaet.eHtheeribteastg,etwoilmlobveepteorpneetuwalhliyghsetrimsutlaantdeadrdtso.aWdiotpht LS.H,A,ReissuesJohnsenBook
emvoerreynuepwwasrtdepssteaphweaeds.ucceedinmaking,wewillinevitablyseestill Thecharmandnostalgiaofearly1900sskiingis
Strivingtoheworldclassstartswithassemblingthestrongest soabundantly preserved in The WinterSportof
editorialteamwepossiblycan. SkeeiiigthatI.S.H.A.hasreprintedareproductionof
MortenLund,oneofAmerica'sbest-knownskiwriters,with the64-pagcvolume.Thisuniquebookletdeservesa
40yearsofpublishedstoriesandahalfdozenskibookstohiscredit, widecirculation.
istheneweditor-in-chiefandwillbespendingaboutone-halfofhis I.S.H.A'sreprintisaperfectfacsimileofthe
timeonHeritage,forwhichhewillbecompensatedbyI.S.H.A. originaldelightfulillustrationswithanintroduction
Lund'seffortswillbebackedbyavolunteerEditorialBoardof byMortenLundandMasonBeekley.andanafterword
GcelsesnonrPpaurbkliincsaotni,onfoSrnmoewre.dVciitro.vr:aDnodufgouPnfdeeirffocrf,Hefroirtmaegre'esdiptroerdeo-f bAmyeGrliecnannaP.arkinson.Itisagenuinepieceofskiing
SaHknoidwien1g,99Mc3augrrareezcniitpnlieye:nStJkooihfinnoguHreMnafirgnysatzALiuirnfaeent^,immfeoosrAtmceherixeepdveiertmioeernnoctfeSAdkwiwarMriatdge:ra,zNiiancnkde buyRTehseerWvinetetro |r ^
yourstruly. SportofSkeeing
Thewishesofourreaderswillbemo.stimportanttoHeritage's foryourselfand
successasaworldclasspublication.Hearingwhatourreaders friends;writea
want,thentranslatingtheirwishesintoaHeritageperpetually checkmadeout
improvingandperpetuallybecomingevenbetterthanexpectedwill to I.S.H.A. for
bethemostimportantcriterionofsuccessinourEditorialBoard's $15.00 for the
efforts. first copypost-
WorkingtowardHeritage'snever-completely-reachedgoal paid ($8 of it
willneverbe.seenasdiscouraging.Itwillbeforeverexciting,al- tax-deductible).
waysrewarding,constantlyenergizing. Mailyourorder
ucppeonerrnfiptooeilHdtndeiuuircaenialglttagpooogufaerlass.sikustiiWoiteinnmtigobshfhhayirotsykhtuoiiorsnurhyggew—oloiapntlahaannwnddiitlefsalxicndwaimeontavrcilekindlage-locpqsltuiuhaenpissgpsstortpetthuxo.ebcwleHailepcrlrraedeitnt-icaaeoengmn.ei!envOweeiunrlrtl- TwtNooeitwIwh.nSy.oHHHiua.lrrAl.tcR,fhoo4ear9cdd9..k
—WMasonBeekley,I.S.H.A.President Conn.06057.
46WK-CEG-LPE
SameHiiKiuoii,page4
The One
And Only Gretchen
ByLuannePfeifer
andtheSkiingHeritageEditorialBoard
Tendaysbeforeshefinallylostherlast agraciousfinale,onethattouchesonthe
race,theoneagainstherovvnheart,Gretchen coreofthewoman.
Fraserwentskiingwithfriendsacrossthe There has neverbeenanyone like
fieldsnearherhomeatElkhorninSun GretchenFraser,eitherbeforeorafterthose
Valley.Gretchenwaseventhenstillvi- twoconsecutivecelebrateddaysat St.
brant,fulloflife,eveninthemidstof Moritzinwhichsheburstupontheworldof
mourningfortherecentlossofherhusband skiingwithaforcefelteventodaybythose
offiftyyears.Gretchen'sownhealthwas whocareaboutthesportanditshistory.
uncertain:itwouldhavebeennaturalto AtSt.Moritz,GretchenFraserwasin
withdrawintoseclusion.Shecho.seinstead herfirstOlympicsafterafour-yearlayoff
Americancombinedchampion,1941
AHiddenHeroine
LastFebruaryGretchenFraserdiedather
homeinSunValleyandSkiinf>Heritage's
editorial staff began to cast about for
biographicalarticles;itfoundo—nlyasingle
substant—ialpiecehadbeendone byLuanne
Pleiler inthe4()-someyearssinceGretchen
hungupherracingskis.Thelackofcelebra-
tionofthisgreat"FirstLadyofSkiing"called
foranimmediatemid-coursecorrectioninthe
trajectoryofthisissueofSkiingHeritage.
TheeditorsaskedPfeifer.alongtimeski
writerandfriendofGretchen's.toexpandher
originalarticlewiththehelpoftheedtorial
staff.Theresultisadefinitivepieceofjour-
nalistichistory.
TlieOneamiOnlyGretchenwillhavetodo
untilabook-lengthbiographycanbewritten,
towhichInternationalSkiingHistoryAsso-
ciationshalllenditsresourcesasfreelyas
Gretchengavetothespoilsheli\edandlo\ed.
Cci
5w/.vcHeritace,page5
Onthecourse:OlympicSlalom,Si.Moritz,1948
thathadleftheronlyarelativelyshorttime levelseveralnumbershigherontheRichter talentrarerthenthannow.Shelovedskiing
torecovertheformthathadmadeherU.S. scale.Thedayaftershewonhersilver, andwasatthesametimepassionateinher
combinedchampionsixyearsearlier.At GretchenFraserwontheOlympicspecial loveoffamily,andextendedthattotheless
28,almost29.Grctchcncouldbesaidlobe slalomoutright. fonunaiearoundher.Theserichbequests
pastherprime.Therewasanotherpoor ThiswasthefirsttimeanAmerican werefoundationstonesinGrelchen"sown
omen:thewomen'straininghadbeenso hadwonamajoralpineF.inopeanraceof lifetocome.
badlymishandledthatthewomenhadbeen anykind,letalonean01\nipicgold.Itwas Gretchen'sotherparcntwasakindand
soundlybeateninthepre\iousSwisscham- afustrayofhopethatAmericanswouldnot unusuallysupportivefatherwhoencour-
pionships. alwaysremainonthemarginsofalpine agedhisdaughterina.scopeofactivity
Ne\eilheless.inherfirstrace,thedown- racingandthatitwaspossibletocompete unusual forthetime.WillibakIAlphons
hill. this"over-the-hill" racerfrom the onequaltermswiththebest,giventheright KunigkwasaGermanimmigrant,aself-
American Northwesttook a fifth place circumstancesoftrainingandtalent. taughtengineerknownas"thefatherof
againstthebestintheworld,shatteringalot HowdidsomeoneraisedintheAmeri- Tacoma"swatersupply,"thelongtimehead
ofpreconceptions.Fromthenon,Gretchen canNorthwestinthoseearlydaysmanage ofthisparticularcity'sutilityinthestateof
justkeptgettingbetter.Toanyonewho toacquirethecourageandtheskilltodefeat Washington.
knewher.herperformancethereafteratthe afieldofracersmaturedandtestedonthe Theearly 1930swerenotablefora
1948 Olympics was simply the ay homogroundsofalpineskiing? numb—erofcircumstancesfavorableloski-
GretchenFraserwas. Itisalittle-knt)\vnstory.Onewayto ing amongthemthebeginningsofthe
Thenextrace,thecombinedslalom, sumitup,perhaps,isthatGrclchcn'svicto- institutioncalled"'theweekend,"andthe
washerbreakthrough:sheplacedanas- rieswereneverjustamatterofrawtalent, electionin1932ofFranklinRoosevelt,the
tounding second. Addedtoherfifth in ofwhichtherewasasufficientquantity,but presidentwhofoundedtheCivilianCon-
dovMihill,thisgaveherthesilverinalpine ratheramatterofadeep,characteristic servationCorps,oneofwhosejobswasto
combinedchampionship. stabilitywhichgaveheragreatabilityto cutskitrailsfromcoasttocoast;thiswas
Theforceofthatsimplestatementis rapidhandsurelyseizetheopportunities thedawnofanewerainwhichthesporthad
easilymeasured. thatpresentedthemselves. beguntospreadandgrowlikeahardy
Gretchenwasthefirstskierfromout- Theseopportunities,ifyouwill,began mountainevergreen.
sidetheEuropeanAlpstowinanOlympic atbirth.HermotherwasClaraKunigk. AndGretchenKunigkwasdestinedto
alpinemedal. bomClaraAndersoninTonsberg,Norway, growinracingstaturerightalongwithit.
TheEuropeanpresswasincredulous. thecountrythathadgi\enbirthtoskiingas Christmas 1932waswhenGretchen
YetGretchenwasabouttoraisetheshock sport.ClaraKimigkknewhow toski.a icimiiniicd)
SkiisgHeritage,pace6
Gretchen
(continued)
—
andherbrotherBill,twoyearsolder,gottheirfirstskis Gretchen Butskiingrosetofirstplaceinheresteeminthewinter.Her
wasthen13.Theirmotherthentookthembothoft"ontheirfirstski brothergothisdri\crs'licensein193.5.andthetwoofthembegan
trip,toParadiseLodgeinMt.Rainicr"sParadiseValley,some60 todrivetoMt.Rainierweekends,sometimestakingthei—rmother
milesoff.wherelaythenearestreliablesnowfields. along:free-heelbindingsletthemclimbusingsealskins itwas
Rainierisanenormousvolcanicconethataffordsadizzying downhillskiingandskimountaineeringallinone.TheParadise
alpineexposure,risingasitdoeshighaboveitssurroundings.Itwas Lodgeinstructor.KenSyvcrson,knewsomebasicalpinetechnique
atRainierintheI9.3()sthatthosesoulsfr—omTacomawithsome butBillandGretchenKunigkneverbotheredwithformallessons.
inklingofthesportwereapttocongregate butSt.Moritzitwas Herenthusiasmgrew:Bill'swanedinfavorofsailing,ayear-
not."Itwasabigdaywhentherewereadozenskisleanedagainst roundsportinTacoma.Someweekends.Gretchenandhermother
theinn."BillKunigkremembers. woulddrivetoRainierwhileBillwentsailinginPugetSound.
NeverthelessRainierwas In1935Gretchenbeganto
tobecomethefocusofPacific win some ofthe races she
Northwestracing.Paradisewas entered.Thatwasalsotheyear.
runundertheauspicesofthe Americapickeditsfirstalpine
NationalParkService,which Olympicskiteam,whichmust
builtParadiseLodgeandhired havewidenedGretchen"sper-
instructorstorunaskischool. ceptionsofthesportbecausethe
The instructors, in turn, western—tryoutswere heldat
encouragednovicestoimprove, Rainier aspartofthefirst
settingupaseriesofweekend U.S.nationalalpinecombined
racesopentoallcomers.Gretch- championships.
en.onceshelearnedtoskiabit MorethanlikelyinAprilof
fromhermother,beganenter- 1935. apigtailed 16-yearold
ingtheseracesforthefunofit. stoodonthesidelineswatching
Shealsohadthechanceon thecountry'smosttalentedrac-
Rainiertowatchsomeverygood erscompete.Shemusthavebe-
skiers.Thefirstbigraceinthe guntohaveaninklingofwhatit
Northwest took place on meanttogotoanOlympics,and
Rainier,the 1934SilverSkis. perhapsthereformedadeepand
Theconceptwasathrowback:a lastingdesiretodojustthat.
massstartinwhichtheracers Itwasherfirstopportunity
poledofftogetherfromCamp towatchatopworldracer,one
Muirat 1().()()() feet and ran whosetechniquewassuperiorto
3-1/4miles,dropping5.000ver- thoseoftheAmericancompeti-
ticalfeettoParadiseLodge.It tors:HannesSchroll,anAus-
waswonbya Universityof trianfromBischofshoven.near
Washington—undergraduate. Salzburg,yodeledasheraced
Don Fraser thefirst time downthecourse,winningboth
Gretchen could havecaught slalomanddownhill,amazing
osfigthhteoNforhetrhwfeusttu"reshmuossbtarnedm,aornke- Gretchen,ageag1e83m,osa.n,dwmiotthhheerrbrotherBill, athnedcoAnmterroilc.a(nScshrwoiltlhwahsisqusipcekeldy
ablepioneerskiers. hiredtoruntheskischoolat
VeteranskijournalistNick BadgerPassinYo.semite.)
Howe,writingintheNewEnglandSkiMuseumjournal,saysthat Gretchen'sfuturewas.thereafter,inamannerofspeaking,in
youngFraserwas"...aproteanfigureoftheoldschool.He"d thehandsofAustrians.
prevailedintheepicMt.Rainierdownhillswiththeirinfamous AnotherAustrian,CountFelixSchaffgotsch.arrivedinthe
geschmozzelstarts,ahigh-speedmeleewht)scendwashastenedby U.S.in1935tobeginsearchingtheAmericanmountainsatthe
theintroductionofsteeledgeswhichcutthelegsofnearbyracers. behestofAverellHarriman.chairmanoftheboardofUnionPacific
hHeemwaadsenhaimseodwtnosbkoitsh,tphoele1s9a3n6dObloyomtps.i"cnordicandalpineteams; Rraaiclirnogafdu,tuares.earchthatwouldhavemuchtodowithGretchen's
Gretchenatthetimehoweverwasmoreinterestedinsports "Ave"Harrimanwasastrong-willedyoungtycoonwhohad
thaninboys.Inthesummersherode.Bythelimeshewas16.she impetuouslydecidedtohaveUnionPacificbuildAmerica'sfirst
wasanaccomplishedhorsewomanwholo\cdtoridefast.Somuch high-altitudeskilodge.Itwastobecompa—rableinluxurytothose
sothatsheenteredthefiatracesinthestatefair,theonly16-yearold enjoyedbyhisEuropeancontemporaries suchalodgebeingan
girljockeyinthestateofWashington.Thisspoke\olumesonthe amenityasvetunavailableinAmerica.Harriman'sinitialmotiva-
scopeoffreedomgrantedhereventhenbyherparents,andthe tion,heonceadmitted,wasalongthelinesof"Iftheycanhaveit.
fiercejoyincompetitionwithwhichshewasendowed. whycan'tI?"Andhaveithewould.
Ci
SkiisaHrKiTACK,page7
CountSchalfgotschwasacasual,rathersocialskierwhose
mother(theCountess) maintained a vacation apartment in
St.Anton,apioneerresortthathudthemosthighlyregardedski
schoolinEurope.Hannes.Schneider,whoseschoolitwas.had
inventedtheAiibergtechniqueusedtheworldover..SoSchaffgotsch
wasinmanywaysqualifiedtofindacongenialplaceforthevery
firstAmericanalpineskihotel,andwasverymuchlookingforward
tospendingthe1936winterinsearchoftheperfectplace,atUnion
Pacific'sexpense.
ToaddtotheinfluencesslowlydrawingGretchenKunigkinto
seriousracing,thewinterof1936wasalsothefirstwinterthaiOtto
LangtaughtskiinginAmerica.Hewasahandsome26-year-old
whohadbeenatophandintheSchneiderskischool.Therehehad
becomequitewellacquaintedwiththesonsanddaughtersofJ.J.
Hill,theheirsoftheGreatNorthwestPacificRailroadfortune.
Inparticular.LanghadbeenbefriendedbyJeromeHill,and
wasintroducedtohisfriendKatharinePeckett.ThePccketlfamily
Above:Herfirstpairofskis,Christmas1932
Below:Clara,BillandGretclieiionRainier,1933
Right:PacificMorthwestChampion.1937
inturnownedPcckett'sOn.SugarHillnearCannonMountain.New
Hampshire,liwasnotstrictlyspeakinganalpinelodge,having
beenbuiltasasummerresort,andofferedskiingnomorethanafew
thousandfeetabovesealevel.ButPeckett"swasoneofthefewand
far-belv\eenlodgesopenyear-roundinsnowcountryontheAmeri-
cancontinentatthetime.
Moretothepoint.Peckett"ssupportedNewEngland'sfirst
resortskischool.Thatbeingthecase.KatharinePeckettprevailed
onLangtocometoAmericaandteachatPeckett's.
Langarrivedlofindarathersmall,informalskischoolledby
SigBiichmayr.afellowSalzburger.Theentireterrainconsistedof
asidehilllawnandthesummertimegolfcoursejustoutsidetheinn.
(ainiiniwJ)
SKIISGHERlT.m^PAGE8
Gretchen
(continued)
But.inIhoseinnocentdays,agoodnumberoflaterveryinfluential outofthesnowplowhabitintosomethingmoresuitable,notingthat
AmericanskierslearnedtheirArlbergtechniqueatPeckett's. "Herwell-balancedpersonalityandpoiseforonesoyoungim-
JeromeHillhadtakenacabinatPeckett'sandvsaseditingthe pressedmefromthefirsttime1mether.Furthermore,herinfectious
16-millimeterfootagehehadshotinEurope,hopingtomake senseofhumormadeheradelightfulcompanion..."
America'sfirstinstructionalfilm.ByApril.Hillhaddecidedto "Inaveryshorttime.Idetectedthatthisyoungladyhadthe
makeafreshstart,thislimein.^.'S-millimeter;heandLangiell determinationanddoggedncsstogoplaces...Shegraspedtheim-
Peckett'sforMt.RainierinApril.Whenthecamerawassetup.Otto portanttechnicalpointsveryquicklyandimprovedrapidly."
Lang.solo,silentlyandfiavvlessiydemonstratedtheentirebasic Meanwhile,theAmericanskiracingworldintowhichGretchen
repertoryofArlberg. wouldsoonenter,wasmaturing.Foronething.SunValleyhad
Lang,intheprocess,fell inlovewiththevastsweepof inauguratedthenation'smos—timportantcompetitionintheform
Rainier'sslopesand letthe ParkServiceknowhewouldbe ofthe1937HarrimanCup afirst-classalpinerace,withlop
availabletoruntheskischoolatRainieriftheywereinterested.Of lalcniimportedatagreatdealofexpense.Harrimanhadrea.soned
coursetheywere,anddrewupacontractforthecomingseason. that"InFurope.theKandaharracewaswellknownsoitwasmy
Meanwhile,asthe1936winterwaned.Count.Schaffgt)tsch's ideathatweshouldstiutaskiracesimilartoit.Iwantedtodoitto
searchforUnionPacifichadcometoaconclusion.About700miles helpthesportbecauseweweresofarbehindtherestoftheworld
castofRainier,thecounthadselectedasthesitefortherailroad's inskiingtalent."
alpinehotelanuninhabited,sunny,well-protectedstretchofbox Almostsimultaneously,Gretchenwonherfirstbigrace:skiing
canyonsheeppasturewhichSteveHannagan,newlyhiredtodo fortheWashingtonSkiClubofSeattleatMt.SpokaneSkiClub's
public relations, called "Sun PacificNorthwestchampion-
Valley." Bythenextwinter. ships,sheplacedthirdinthe
SunValleywouldhavealodge, downhill,secondincombined
aswimmingpool,andthefirst andwontheslalom.Nowthat
twochairlifisintheworldatthe wasprogress.OttoLanghad
disposal ofguests: Harriman touchedhisprotegewithalittle
movedfast. Austrianmagic.
Thatfallof1936atRadio TheracerGretchenhad
CityMusicHail,HillandLang's beateninslalomwasnoslouch.
SkiFlightopenedonthesame GraceCarterwasfrequently
billwithSnowWliileandflie numberonenationallyinthe
Seven Dwarfs. And Lang ensuingseasonsofU.S.ski-
openedtheWest'sfirstofficial ing.Thelinesofaworldcla.ss
ArlbergschoolatParadiseInn racerwerebeginningtoshow
inDecemberwithKenSyverson undertheadolescentformof
ashisassistant. 17-year-oldGretchen.
At that point, standing The winner,coinciden-
there,askingtobetaughtwhat- tally.ofthePacificNorthwest
everLangcouldteachher.stood men's—combined was Don
apig-tailcd. 17-year-oldhigh Frascr rightthenandtherea
schooljuniorfromTacomawith romancebetweenchampions
thesensetherewasagreatdeal haditsbeginningandwasto
moretoknow. flowerthenextwinter.
Andtherecertainlywas. Inthemeantime,asifto
AsLangrecallsinhisA rewardhisprodigy.OttoLang
BirdofPassai>e(FalconPress gaveGretchenacliancetoski
1994)."...Gretchen...couldski inabigHollywoodmovieas
downthesteepestslopesinal- anactiondoubleforanew
mostanytypeofsnovvinthis star,SonjaHenie.
sIsnnoowwpplloowwiIspaosniteixocne.lWlehnitlsetotph-e justTbheeenfasbiuglnoeudsbSyonjDaarhrayld
gapinanyprecarioussituation, ZanucktoaTwentiethCen-
itcanbecomehabit-forming..." tury Fox contract on the
"Shewaslittlemorethana strengthofdeepdimples,lilt-
beginner."herecalledrecently. ing Norwegian accent and
ButLangwassotakenby threeOlympicwomen'sskat-
Gretchen'sextraordinary grit .\flerwinningtheOlympicSlalom, ingtitles.Topumpupherfirst
thathespentconsiderablelime carryingherscarredGroswoldskis,St.Merit: 1948 filmwithabitofheroicaction
duringthewintergettingher hardtogetinfigureskating.
Copyrightedmaterial
Skiim,Hi:ritm:i:,i'm.i:9
Zanuc—kdecidedtothrowinsomeexotic chargeofthecameracrewwithdetailed
stuff skiing. directionsfortheactionscenes.
Thestudiosentashootingscriptto LangsummonedGretchenandshe
Langtosolicithishelpfindinglocations handledherpartcreditably,butshewasn't
andLangreportedbackthathehadfound quitereadyforthecornicejump,soLang,
them,hiMarch.Heniearrived,headingan wearingablondwigandsqueezedinto
entourage that includedco-starTyrone Henie'sblouseslitdowntheback,jumped.
Power(anewface),directorDavidButler SonjaherselfappearedinThinheonly
andacameracrewtoshootskifootage inclose-ups.afanblowingherhairback
climaxinginabigdropoffacornice. andsceneryHashingpastbehindherona
A»i»rv^^itigSonjaski(goodstride,no rearprojectionscreen.Butthefilmwasthe
ilizedshe'dneedadouble. startofthesport'songoingromancewith
1GretchenFraser,whohad Hollywoodthatearlyinthegamedidso
jndbodytype,todoublefor muchtopromotetheideaofresortskiing.
IofthefirstHollywoodfilm Inthenextseason.Gretchenwonthe
)rateskiingscenes.ThinIce. 1938PacificNorthwestdownhillandher
itely.theweatherclosedin firstNorthwestcombinedchampionship.
oiebicrcveipsorsuiisvvlaeytegdeaqtyutsai.rntgeSrbosentjbtauetraatnchd-e Dmaonn.BFaroratrsihevrwidnegirdeatthiSenuvsinatemVdaeltilonetythheietim1Fe9en.b'3r8sueHavarerynrtit.-o ThewiStn.nMeurri..t.za,ll1d9o4l8ledup,
payinghigh-pricedtalentfor trainforit.Theraceitselfsanktoapoor
omearomantictrystfrom secondinGretchen'sthoughtsagainsther andbeganthedifficultprocessofintegrat-
ageeventuated, rapidlydeepeningromancewithDonFraser. ingtheseintoherowntechnique.Herper-
udioordereditsstarsback HarrimanhadnewlyhiredFraserto formanceinthetrainingwassomewhat
R.wEhilCeOButRleDrlef—tLans:in rViteawplraleessyesnSotkoibtCvhlieuobur.essDoturhatrtiaGnnrgdetthcteohterrnaaicwneaisnfgoirwnelSeou\kn,c uranceevreMntoo,swtbauttuctishfhooernlwutanhaseteo1lb9yv.4i0otuhwasoilmyteetnha'emsytnoeeuavnmeg.r
thatHarrimancouldnotresisttakingmat- reallytraveledatiywhcrc.
<wJnohritlhlw.estMlS.laSlpoomk.anMte.Spokane tperrcs-riancteohbiasnqouwenththaendnse,wasnn(hoeu'ndcjiunsgtamtatdhee hadbTeheenisllla-tsetdarfroerdS1a9pp4o0rWoi.nJtaepranO,lbyumtpwiacss
jmbined.Mt.Spokane up)ofGretchen'sandDon'sengagement. takenawayafterJapaninvadedChinain
ThechancesDonwouldproposesoonhad 1937andgiventoFinland:then,inSeptem-
ownhill.Mt.Hood justthenconsiderablyescalated. ber 1939.GertnanyinvadedPolandand
alom.Mt.Hood Inthe1938Harriman.Gretchencame WorldWar11 wasoti in Europe.Then
iiInnpiCCnuueppCoCDmoobwmnibhniienldel.d..MStSu.unnHVoVaoalldlleeyy bhineirn:tehdairnd—eixnocnedllolywennGthriaslclheoawCniadnrgtserefocgroonGtdreaithncehacedonm'o-sf RwrauecsrisenigcaacniacnrevelaeldreedwdaennFditnGloranentdic.ihidTecnhfi'eisiii1lnc9t4eh0ronlGadt.aimoneasl
compete seconBdotsheasshoenaonfdsDeorinouFsrarsaecirnwg.eretiamed ber1B9u3t9.aGsriefticnhceonmKpeunnsiagtkiaonnd,DinonNoFvreasme-r
Jii.ll1elS.Dl"loMaGwpllnioahnmnie.ilClSSo.lumanSbluioVnnmae.lVdlaS.eluylgSeauyrnBVoawllley ttwsroeiaantisthnoeeGnrwr,1ie9wtat4ahnc0sdhtOehotlenvheyawwrtm.aopwsmiaecisnnsv'tkihsiteettmdeeoataommmeSafnfutotnerrVwttahhhleeelne11y99t33ht89eo tnwVoaeoolrwkleeGtsmyrhiaeexitttorrhceihssieeneodtrnctio'unksmpeTbpdathiicronoeouemcsndtaeo.kgareelatoetntfphdiiesnnmpggo1o:r9bvte4selD0.tdoenrnta.otiSwSouahnnse-
iiilllASDlloapwlinonhmei.lClAo.smApbseipnneend,Aspen cthaimrdeHsoeiugtnwioafifsctahtnehteAwuicsnotgarsci.hanoifnGtrheetcAhmeenr'isclaifne aSNluasgnaacnrydBRweooywnnlotlhtdehsaf,tirsisthpewrociunmrgarnean'stswwSeoillmlv,aenrb'eBsealtslilnaag-l
EllSlalom,Yoscmlte TwKhaoenmde"anAh'aKsr"teswalama,slFoErmiuerdaolnpdPef'ecsifoemmrob,si1tn93epfdrteAswrtilinbgneierorgu.-s lEinroamstechrehsammUponivioeondn,ttoPoaDdceoinfivit.ceIrhffeioernleDdxoinosf'fesiacnseoe,nw,jbtouhbte
tcompete openmeet,soPfeiferineffectwasthe1936 Gretchenkeptonracing.Shelookthirdin
worldchampion.Gretchenmaynothave thenationalslalomandfirstinthedownhill
icTrvoutDownhill.SunValley knowntheenormousreputationthatcame atAspentobecome1941Americanalpine
'icTryoutCombined.SunValley withwinningtheAK.butshedidknowthat women'scombinedchamp.
Pfeiferwasthebestslalomracershehad Shehadmadeitallthewaytonumber
lieDownhill.St.Moril/. everseen.(PfeiferwastowintheU.S. oneintheU.S.A.
lieCombinedSlalom, nationalslalomchampionshipthenexttwo Gretchenwasnowtwenty-two.nota
lJliieefrSAoplempciicnaoelmpCSeoltmaibltiioomnned sbeeahsionnGdsresrtuocnmnheienngo,fqtuPhifecekoilnfyelry'stsaiwmsemstohhoeethernattmeioroenvdae.ls)e oynoluyngservaecnerw,biunttesrhses'idncheadshael'adtef(isfrtsoatrntsi.tiIentpuwpeaeJsdl
Skll\GHEKlTM.r..PACE10
—
withthegasstationmanagers sheshowed
thesamedefttouchwithpci>pleinbusiness
she'dshowninskiingandrehab.
Not until the winterof 19—47 did
Gretchenfinallygetbacktoracing after
fourseasonsofnoracingatall.Shebarely
madeittothePacificNorthwestChampion-
shiptune-upforthe1947Olympictrialsat
SunValley.
AtSunValley,thepressfocusedon
the hot-shot 14-year-oidfromVermont.
AndreaMead.TimeMagazineputAndrea
onthecover.Gretchen.now27.laughingly
calledherself"aretread"buteasilymade
theteam,beatingMeaddownRuudMoun-
taintowinthedownhill. Gretchenalso
finishedfirstinthecombined."Theyhadto
takeme."sheoncerecalledcalmly."After
all.Ihadwon."
Thewomenweretoldtogetphysically
fitontheirownoverthesummerandad-
monished "... notto wearhigh heels."
Gretchenrecalled,"soourAchillestendons
wouldn'tgetshon."InEuropeduringpre-
Owloymmepnicwetrreaiansisn—igginnedthreotwaitnitnegrcooafc1h9e4s8.frtohme
themen'steam eightdifferentandsome-
onskisandfoursinceshe'dhadherI'irst 1941. whatresentfulmenineightdaysoftraining.
Formallesson. The1942season'sraces,nevertheless, Gretchenrecalledthat"Everyday.wewere
Thatwinter.Gretchenagainhelped wereheldasscheduledandGretchentook sittingaroundwaitingforoneoftheboysto
Hollywoodputitsglamortoworkpopular- theonlynationaltitleshehadnotyetwon. comealong.,\ndwcbecameverydiscour-
izingskiinghy(again)doublingtorthe the women'sslalom championship, at agedandmixedupwithsoiTianycoaches,
durableSonja.thistimeinTwentiethCen- Yosemite.ThenU.S.racingshutdownfor eachpushingadifferenttechnique."
turyFox'sSunValleySerenade.Itwasto theduration. AfterfinishingpoorlyintheSwiss
becomethemostwidely-seenskinimofall DonEraserbecameagunneryinstruc- championships,thewomenwererescued
time(aprintstillplaysdailyatSunValley torintheU.S.Navy.OnceDonwentover- bytheirindomitablemanager.AliceKiaer.
OperaHouseatfivep.m.and.almostthat seasasagunneryofficeronthecarrier whocameupwithfundstohireSwisscoach
often,playsasaTVre-run). Essex.GretchenwentbacktoSunValley, WalterHaensli.finally.
Ithadbeenprovenunnecessarytoship whichhadclosedandturneditsfacilities "Haenslitoldus."Gretchensaid,"we
thestarstoamountainforaskifilm:Twen- overtotheNavytorehabilitatewarcasual- hadbeentrainingtoolongandtoohard."
tiethCentur—ykeptthemhome.Thebulkof ties.Gretchenbegantoworkasavolunteer Haenslisetupasensibletrainingsched-
thenK)\ie rightdowntoGlenn—Miller withthewoundedwhocameHoodingback uleandgavethewomenpointerswithout
playing//HappenedInSunValley hap- fromthePacific. tryingtorevamptheirentiretechnique.He
penedinHollyuDod.Exceptofcoursethe Herwonderfulspiritandwarmthwere andthewomen spenteveningstogether
skiaction,whichwaslllmedinSunValley hugelyappreciatedbythemen;sheshared applyingwaxcombinationstotrythenext
byOttoLang, now assistantski school thedespairoftheirstruggle,andcheered day. Haensliplaneddownthefrontsof
directortoFriedlPfciferandsecondunit theirsmallvictorieswithherpreciousknack Gretchen'sGr—oswoldskistomakethem
directorforDarrylZanuck:Lang'smajor ofsayingtherightthing.Althoughthelifts moreflexible theskislooked"asifIhad
scenewasthelongsequenceinwhichin- werenotrunning,sheclimbedandskiedfor chewedonthem."Gretchenremembered.
structorHansHauserasJohnPaynechases theexerciseandtogetawayforawhile. Twenty-eightnationsand932athletes
after"GIrheatdchtoenvoalsunStoenejramHyentiiem.esoasnotto optedInto19t4a6ke.tthheeowpaprorwtaismiotvyert.oDbouynoEurtasheirs gGartihsesroendsfaotrtShte.fiMrosrtiptozstiwnartWheinCtaenrtOolnymo-f
loseamateurstatus."Gretchenrecalled. uncle'sgasandoildistributorshipinVan- picGames.TheSwissdeployedthefirst
Butthefunandgameswerealmostover. couver.Washington.Thebusinesskeptthe electric-eyetimingsystem,whichwould
Earlythefollowingseason,theon- Eraserscomfortablywellofffromthenon. limedown toahundredthofasecond.
goingworldwarcametotheUnitedStates butatfirstitwasastruggle.Gretchendid SkaterDickButtonkickedthingsoffforthe
intheattackonPearlHarborinDecember theheavybookkeepingandcorresponded AmericanOlympicteam,winningthefirst
Cci