Five Join Colorado Snowsport Hall of Fame
Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame inducted five new members to their Hall of Fame on Sunday, August 21, 2022.
Here's a brief story on these remarkable people. Much of it was taken from the May news release.
“It is always such an honor to announce the incoming Hall of Fame class and to celebrate their stories,” said Jennifer Mason, Executive Director of the Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame. “This Class is represented by individuals who love snow sports and have dedicated their lives to improving it.”
The 2022 Class of the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame:
------------------------------------
John Dakin | Sport Builder
John’s work across his entire career as a public relations professional has been a great benefit to Colorado. But notable in that career was his time spent in direct contact with global news media during 1989, 1999, and 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships in Colorado. It provided him with a unique platform to tell Colorado’s story with worldwide impact. His impact is befitting recognition in the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame.
Tom Kelly warmly introduced John to the crowd and posted about the event. The Vail Daily had a nice write-up of the induction.
----------------------------------------------------
Ron LeMaster | Inspirational
For five decades, Ron has brought his engineering and science acumen to the analysis of ski technique and has continuously contributed to the formation of skiers, ski coaches, and instructors all over Colorado, the USA, and the world. His writing and photographic skills have provided a unique perspective for elucidating the intricacies of ski technique from its most basic to its most highly developed levels. A Colorado native having spent most of his life here, Ron, through his authorship of works considered the standard in ski technique analysis, has brought renown to his home state around the skiing world.
Ron was tragically killed in November 2021 at Eldora mountain in an accident.
One of LeMaster’s key traits was curiosity. With him it was always about how one skier makes a turn using hip angle but another skier with a different body type might make the same turn using more knee. He was never locked into one method of skiing versus another; his mind was open, and he loved to observe how many ways one thing could be accomplished.
From an excellent tribute to Ron LeMaster from Daniel Egan in Explore Big Sky
-----------------------------------------
Peter Rietz | Sport Builder
Peter has spent the entirety of his career in pursuits and positions that have defended and benefitted the ski industry. He has devoted countless volunteer hours contributing to the safety of employees and guests of ski areas. Peter was a contributing author on the last two amendments to the Colorado Ski Safety Act and a co-author of “Your Responsibility Code.” Positions include Special Counsel for the National Ski Area Association for thirteen years and founding member/past president of the Association of Ski Defense Attorneys, a global group networking amongst attorneys that defend ski areas. His passion for educating employees on proactive risk management is unparalleled.
Peter owns a law firm in Dillon, Colorado.
-----------------------------------------------------
Jeannie Thoren | Sport Builder
Jeannie is a skier with a mission – a crusader for women skiers – to create ski equipment to “fit” women according to their body type. Her motto is “Women Aren’t Small Men,” and she has been perfecting skis and boots for the past four decades to enhance women’s ability to ski. The Thoren Theory evolved to help women skiers improve their technique through equipment modification. In 1986, she built the first women’s specific ski in the Blizzard factory in Mittersill, Austria. In 2005, Dynastar/Lange hired her to perfect the Dynastar Exclusive Carve Ski, which won the 2007 Gear of the Year Award. In 2009, she opened Vail’s 1st Women’s Ski Shop. From 2018 to the present, Jeannie has been a partner with the Steadman Philippon Research Institute’s Bio Motion Lab in Vail to study the effects of ski boots concerning ACL Injury risk in women. Jeannie has elevated the skiing experience for women across Colorado and globally through her dedication, tenacity, and perseverance.
Here's an excellent article about Jeannie in Mountain Women Magazine
---------------------------------------------
Chester (Chet) Upham | Sport Builder
Loveland is Colorado’s longest operating privately owned ski area. For over fifty years, Chet was the owner (with family) and “hands-on” President of Loveland Ski Area. Chet’s operating vision, values, innovations, forward-looking development, vigilante investment, good business sense, and employment of loyal and devoted Clear Creek County employees created this iconic, mid-sized ski area that offers an unparalleled, affordable, and classic family-oriented mountain experience. His vision influenced the industry through many Loveland “alumni” who went on to have an impact on the Colorado ski industry. Five of his former employees are Colorado Snowsports Hall of Famers.
Chet’s dedication and love for the ski area were legendary. He invested both time and money to build an affordable ski experience and wanted everyone who came to Loveland to feel as though they were guests of the owners. One of his favorite quotes was “if we’d get a dime, we’d spend it on improvements up there (Loveland),” the Upham Family said. That philosophy continues today and Chet’s Dream endures
Here's a great piece from the Summit Daily regarding Chet's induction.
Chet believed in Dreamin Big and Being Bold!
Gretchen Bleiler 2019 Athlete
In addition, the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame is excited to welcome Gretchen Bleiler to the stage at this year’s celebration. Gretchen was inducted as an Athlete in 2019 but could not make the induction ceremony. We are thrilled to honor her alongside the Class of 2022.
Colorado’s most successful snowboard athlete, Gretchen Bleiler, made her mark as an athlete, an entrepreneur, and an advocate for causes important to her.
In a professional career that spanned nearly 20 years, Gretchen was the top star in her sport of halfpipe from 2002 through 2010, winning four X Games gold medals, World Superpipe Championships gold, and two Van’s Triple Crown titles. She dominated qualifying for the 2006 Olympics and won Olympic silver.
Following her Olympic medal, she used the platform to speak about her firsthand experiences with climate change around the world and build a business base as an athlete entrepreneur, working with brands to design innovative environmentally minded signature products. She is a strong voice with Protect Our Winters
Fellow Hall of Famer John Dakin wrote about her induction in 2019 in her hometown Aspen Times
--------------------
Also honored was
Lifetime Achievement: Chan and Melitta Bergen
Top of the Hill: The National Brotherhood of Skiers
Competitor of the Year: Mikaela Shiffrin
Collegiate Athlete of the Year: Filip Forejtek
Collegiate Athlete of the Year: Katie Hensien
Adaptive Athlete of the Year: Thomas Walsh
Here's more complete info from the Museum
The Summit Daily News has a complete write-up of these honorees as well. Very much worthwhile reading.
The Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame was founded in 1975, and all visitors to Vail should make time to visit and learn. It's as rewarding as a deep powder day in the back bowls.