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