2020s

Farewell to Ski Pioneers: Recent obituaries

Photo: Michael Fleischhacker

January 21–26: 80th Hahnenkamm World Cup Race Week
Kitzbühel, Austria

Long considered the Super Bowl of alpine racing for those with an American sports perspective, Hahnenkamm Week is skiing’s ultimate test of guts and glory. Celebrating its 80th year, the race week culminates with the legendary downhill on the Streif, considered the most demanding, and most dangerous, downhill course on the World Cup circuit. Competitions include men’s Super-G, downhill and slalom. The race weekend can also be touted as the world’s biggest après-ski party, with upwards of 85,000 spectators annually streaming into the town of Kitzbühel, population about 8,000.

January 23 –February 2: Sundance Film Festival
Park City, Utah

Perhaps the most recognized film festival outside of Cannes, the Sundance Film Festival takes over Park City, Utah, each winter with daily screenings, panel discussions, filmmaker and audience Q and As, and such. Since 1985, hundreds of films that have launched at the festival have gained mainstream and critical acclaim. A side benefit for cinephiles who also happen to ski: The local slopes tend to be quiet during the festival, which attracts primarily non-mountain types.

February 5–9: 107th Annual Winter Carnival
Steamboat, Colorado

From skijoring down main street to the Lighted Man’s human fireworks show on Howelsen Hill, the oldest continuous Winter Carnival west of the Mississippi is an unapologetic celebration of winter. The event was started in 1914 by the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club to help frontier-town residents cope with cabin fever during the rugged northern Colorado winter.

Top exec will step down after five decades at the sport’s governing body.

Gian Franco Kasper, the president of the International Ski Federation (FIS), recently announced that he will step down this spring after 22 years at the helm of the sport’s governing organization. Both an effective and controversial executive, Kasper has held different roles at FIS for nearly 50 years.

Photo at top of page: An effective and controversial leader, Kasper’s reign has been spiked with controversy, often fueled by his off-hand remarks. DPA Picture Alliance / Alamy Stock Photo

Kasper, 75, was named secretary general of the federation in 1975 and took over as president in 1998. He succeeded the late Marc Hodler, who at 80 had headed FIS for nearly 50 years, the longest reign at any international sports organization. Under Hodler, the season-long World Cup competitions and freestyle were introduced, snowboarding competition came under FIS governance, and he exposed the bid-rigging scandal of the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Under Kasper’s reign, the number of ski and snowboarding medaling sports at the Winter Olympic Games has multiplied to more than 50, with many new freestyle events successfully geared to attracting a younger audience.

The FIS began in 1924 as a Scandinavia-based and operated organization. The first two presidents were a Swede and a Norwegian. With Hodler’s election in 1951, the FIS moved its headquarters to Switzerland, where they have remained for almost 70 years. The current headquarters are in Oberhofen, where the influential Marc Hodler Foundation is also located.

Regarding Kasper’s succession, the FIS says that it supports “a timely process for the national ski associations to prepare any applications for candidacies.” The less-than-transparent Hodler-Kasper succession process in 1998 was harshly criticized by former FIS vice-president Bjorn Kjellstrom. The betting now is on another Swiss, Urs Lehmann, 1993 world championships downhill gold medalist, President of the Swiss Ski Federation, a successful business consultant, President of the Laureus Foundation, and husband of Swiss acrobatic ski champion Conny Kissling.

Kasper’s long tenure also has been spiked with ongoing controversy, occasionally fueled by his off-hand remarks. Last year he caused worldwide headlines and brief outrage when in an interview with a Swiss journalist he sarcastically remarked that with authoritarian governments it was easier to overcome environmental obstacles to Olympic site selection. He previously found himself under the spotlight in 2005 after commenting about women ski jumpers that the physical force upon landing “seems not to be appropriate for ladies from a medical point of view.” The FIS did eventually sanction women’s ski jumping, which made its Olympic debut at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.

This season, Kasper scrapped with athletes and coaches who criticized the expanded 2019-20 alpine schedule for not providing enough time for travel and proper recuperation. Kasper conceded that the alpine World Cup circuit contains “too many races,” and then offered not much more than sympathy.

“I know it’s not easy for the athletes and also for some organizers. We are now at a certain limit, there is no question,” Kasper said at a press event in October. “But FIS is not here to prevent races but to organize races.” He did say that the FIS would look into improving its scheduling process. Without Olympic Games or World Championships this season, the current alpine World Cup schedule runs nonstop from October through March, with 44 men’s events and 41 women’s events at nearly two dozen venues.

Kasper, a former journalist, also has held leadership roles with the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency, among others. He was elected to another four-year term as FIS President in 2018, but will only make it halfway through. He will officially resign his post at the next FIS Congress in Thailand in May. --Greg Ditrinco

Wear Your Passion on Your Sleeve

Karl Johan grew up with an immutable ski uniform: a Demetre sweater. It made sense. He lived in Seattle, near Demetre’s Ballard-based factory. And his family all wore the sweaters whenever they skied. As did most Seattle-based skiers.

The factory and the brand have since shut down (Roffe purchased Demetre in 1987, and itself closed a decade later), but the sweaters still live on in Johan’s memories and closet in Sun Valley.

Marketing director for Sun Valley Culinary Institute, Johan has long collected the sweaters at garage sales, thrift stores, retro clothing stores, online—wherever he can find them. When he nabs one, he cleans it, steams it, and stashes it away. His collection can number more than 50 sweaters at a time. That number decreases whenever he holds a pop-up vintage sweater sale in Sun Valley.

Johan notes that the old-school sweaters hold up remarkably. “The designs and colors are amazing,” he says. And “they look brand new” whenever he still sees them on the slopes. He also enjoys the local angle to his soft-goods obsession, as John and Sally Demetre have long had a home in Sun Valley.

Demetre was founded in 1921 by John’s father as the Standard Knitting Company, which manufactured uniform sweaters out of its factory in Ballard, Washington, which is now a hip waterfront neighborhood of Seattle. During the time Demetre sweaters were being manufactured, Seattle was one of the largest apparel centers in the country and considered a pioneer in outerwear.

In the early 1960s, Demetre saw a business opportunity in the explosive growth of skiing, and expanded into ski sweaters. The company landed early sponsorships with the U.S. and Canadian Olympic ski teams. The U.S. Ski Team wore Demetre sweaters at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan. During its heyday, Demetre was tagged “America’s first name in fine ski sweaters,” with an ad from a 1972 issue of Skiing magazine pledging: “One look and you know it’s Demetre.”

As any skier of a certain age can confirm, Demetre sweaters were colorful, comfortable, and tightly woven to provide superior warmth. The construction resulted in a heavy-weight sweater that was virtually indestructible. Not surprisingly, many of the sweaters have survived, now 50 or so years later. And many Demetre fans have kept their favorite sweaters.

Pinterest, Ebay and other websites are full of Demetre sweaters—and memories from skiing’s golden era. One fan blissfully noted of her Demetre sweaters, “I wore them when I was skinny.” —Greg Ditrinco

Buck Hill Marks 50 With Sailer

In December 2019, Buck Hill—a small Minnesota ski area with a big racing reputation—celebrated 50 years with its legendary coach, Erich Sailer. Since founding the racing team back in 1969, Sailer has churned out an impressive roster of Olympic and World Cup athletes, including Kristina Koznick, David Chodounsky, Tasha Nelson and Lindsey Vonn. Vonn retired in 2019 with four World Cup overall titles, 11 Olympic and FIS World Championship medals, and 82 World Cup victories—a record for women, and just shy of Ingemar Stenmark’s record-setting 86 wins.

Thanks to Sailer, Buck Hill is home to one of the country’s most active recreational racing programs, drawing youth and adults from the Twin City suburbs for training, leagues and competitions. An honored member of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, the Austrian-born coach pioneered summer ski racing in the United States in 1956 with a camp at Timberline on Oregon’s Mount Hood. By 1967, his camp near Red Lodge, Montana had become the biggest in the country.

Buck Hill was founded in 1954 by Charles “Chuck” Stone Jr. and his future wife, Nancy Campbell. In late 2019, Nancy published Buck Hill: A History. To purchase a copy, email ncstone@aol.com. —Kathleen James

Snapshots in Time

1866 SONDRE NORHEIM’S HEEL
In 1733, a Norwegian military officer, Col. Jens Henrik, wrote the first ski instructions for the military. Those rules contain the first mention of heel bindings, but illustrations of military skiers throughout the 18th century show only toe straps. Despite the increased pressure of jumping and racing competition, begun in 1765 and 1767 respectively, the heel binding didn’t really catch on until Sondre Norheim’s dramatic exhibition at Mordegal a century later. “With legs drawn up, he flew like a bird.” Thus 41-year-old Norheim impressed the crowd at an 1866 jump at Hoydalsmo, near Mordegal in Telemark. Within two years, the Telemark skis—cambered at the waist, broadened at the tip—and Norheim’s new heel bindings astonished the crowd at Christiana. Sport skiing was on its way. —Ted Bays (Nine Thousand Years of Skis: Norwegian Wood to French Plastic)

1936 SISSIES, SPOILSPORTS AND MOTHER-FRIGHTENERS
The first death on the slopes shook up the small skiing fraternity of the day. An emergency meeting was called by the New York Amateur Ski Club, whose founder, Roland Palmedo, appointed Minot “Minnie” Dole chair of a committee to inquire into the causes and handling of ski accidents. The results of their questionnaires was disappointing. Only a hundred replies dribbled in. Of these, roughly half accused the committee of being “sissies, spoilsports, and frighteners of mothers.” —Gretchen Rous Besser, “Samaritans of the Snow” (Collected Papers of the International Ski History Congress, 2002

1959 LISTEN AND LEARN
Have you reached a plateau in your skiing where nothing seems to help you improve? Then “Skiing by Ear Method” may be just what you need! Relax and learn with these 33-1/3 rpm records. $8.95 each. Money-back guarantee! —Advertisement in SKI “Holiday Gift Guide” (December 1959)

1967 WORLD CUP ACCOLADES
The winter of 1967 marked the beginning of a new era in international ski racing. For the first time in the history of the sport, the world’s best racers were rated not on the basis of one or two headline races, but on a systematic accumulation of results over the whole season. The new system proved a smashing success. So much so that the World Cup of Alpine Skiing is to become a permanent annual fixture of the sport, rivaling the Olympics and the FIS World Championships. Initially ignored by international ski officialdom, the World Cup won instant and enthusiastic acceptance by the two groups most important to the success of ski racing: the racers themselves and the press, who report the results to an eager public. —John Fry (SKI, September 1967)

1978 THE BUCK STOPS HERE
Your three-miles-a-day skier is starting to see the wisdom of the East. For the first time, Stratton (Vermont) is drawing vacationing skiers from Washington DC, Texas, Georgia and Puerto Rico. And these are not weekend skiers. “Vail, founded the same year we were, programmed itself as a vacation resort from the beginning,” says Stratton marketing manager Jeff Dickson. “It worked closely with airlines and travel agents and ski clubs to get people to come for a week. The Eastern resorts are waking up. The only way we can support the lifts we’re building is by becoming a vacation destination.”  —Morten Lund (SKI, September 1978)

1989 CLAMORING FOR THE BEST
A great perplexity hits me every time I hear skiers talking about lift ticket prices. Late last season, I skied Butternut Basin in the Berkshires. The change from eight years earlier was dramatic: lifts, lodges, trails, parking and food were greatly expanded. And instead of narrow ribbons of icy snow or rock-hard moguls, the trails were white velvet from edge to edge. As good as Colorado. What happened? Butternut has been transformed into the New Skiing, with trail systems that disperse skiers around the hill, massive snowmaking, and squads of grooming machines that work every trail by sunrise into a soft-but-firm surface that spells, “Have a ball.” Yet skiers are having a fit—those lousy lift ticket prices keep rising. —Morten Lund (Snow Country, January 1989)

2000 HIGHER POWER OF POWDER
In the 2000–2001 season, I didn’t finish 13 of the 24 races I entered. I’ve seen people lose their hair or get religion over less. But I knew I was getting better; I knew I had far more control than ever before. It just wasn’t always obvious to everyone else. And explaining myself all the time got old fast. Better to be laconic—the shrug, the smirk. People hear what they want to, anyway. … When fans or young racers ask me the Big Question, I tell them: “Go fast.” It’s the whole deal, the only tip worth taking. —Two-time overall World Cup champion and 11-time Olympic and FIS World Championship medalist Bode Miller (Bode: Go Fast, Be Good, Have Fun)

SKI LIFE

from SNOW COUNTRY / DECEMBER 1988

That’s not what I said; I said “We have six inches of powder under an ice crust.”

Why's It Called That? Mont Tremblant

The Algonquin believed that Quebec’s Mont Tremblant trembled when violated by human exploitation.

The mountain lay in the heart of Weskarini Algonquin territory, and was the home of the Great God, or Manitou. They called it Manitou Ewitchi Saga, the mountain of the great god, or Manitonga Soutana, mountain home of the spirits. In 1652, Weskarini were massacred here by invading Iroquois. Many sought refuge with French Jesuits, and were forced to convert to Catholicism.

The Weskarini believed the mountain trembled when violated by human exploitation. And so the French settlers adopted the name Mont Tremblant (“Trembling” in English). What the Weskarini meant by “trembling” is unclear; one folk-tale recounts violent storms destroying swathes of forest. Seismic activity is common. Several faults run within 50 miles of the mountain and the region has recorded at least one magnitude 6.9 earthquake in the past 250 years, and a couple of 4.5 quakes right in Ste-Agathe during the past 25 years. It’s possible that the Weskarini actually felt the mountain shake. —Seth Masia

Ski Art: Gunnar Hallström (1875–1943)

On the one hand Gunnar Hallström, Swedish painter of national-romantic scenes, was everything a modern environmentalist might honor. He settled on the island of Björko in Lake Malar, about an hour by boat out of Stockholm, and became involved in the preservation of Birka, Sweden’s oldest town, and in the maintenance of the island’s traditional farms. He persuaded the government to buy up the land and put it under protection. Today it is managed by the Riksantikvarieämbetet, the National Heritage Board.

But there is another side to Hallström’s art, first coming to notice in the early years of the 20th century. The frontispiece of Henry Hoek and E. C. Richardson’s 1907 Der Skilauf und seine sportliche Benutzung (Skiing and its Sporting Use) is a reproduction of Hallström’s skier. The original is believed to have been owned by a Munich publishing firm that later had connections with the Nazis. When the Germans were in deep financial trouble following World War I, communities printed their own money, called Notgeld. The town of Furtwangen put Hallström’s Schneeschuhläufer (Ski Runner) on its 10-mark note. That gained him a great deal of attention. In 1921, for example, the German Ski Association’s journal Der Winter called Hallström “well known.”

In the political turmoil of the 1920s and 1930s, Hallström moved to the right in Sweden and became involved in decorating with swastikas one of the lodges to which Hermann Göring fled after the failed 1923 Hitler putsch. He signed his initials in the spaces created by the squared swastika symbol, and he appears to have been involved with the pro-Nazi Swedish Carlberg circle.

Politics aside, the painting illustrated here, used both as the frontispiece to Hoek’s and Richardson’s book and as the formidable image on Furtwangen’s 10-mark note of December 1, 1918 proves his knowledge of skiing as well as his expertise in landscape depiction. —E. John B. Allen

After World War I, a German town used Hallström’s image of a skier on its 10-mark note. He was likely involved with pro-Nazi circles in Sweden. --E. John B. Allen

This article first ran in the January-February issue of Skiing History.

ISHA will honor the Swiss Academic Ski Club and the year’s best ski-history books, films and websites in Sun Valley.

The International Skiing History Association (ISHA) will present more than a dozen awards at its 27th annual banquet, to be held March 26 in Sun Valley, Idaho.

The Swiss Academic Ski Club (SAS) will be honored with ISHA’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for more than 90 years of promoting and preserving the history of the sport. Founded in 1924, its wide-ranging mission includes leading the Swiss alpine and nordic university teams, organizing races and events and publishing Der Schneehase, a highly regarded ski-history compendium. SAS Schneehase president Ivan Wagner will travel to Sun Valley from Zurich to accept the award, which focuses on SAS accomplishments in documenting ski history through 39 deeply researched and illustrated editions of Schneehase since 1924. Schneehase president Ivan Wagner will travel from Zurich to accept the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of SAS.

Tickets are on sale now for the ISHA Awards! All ticket holders are eligible for discounted lodging and lift tickets during Skiing History Week in Sun Valley. The jam-packed March 25–28 schedule includes parties, on-mountain events (retro ski day, first tracks, guided tour), history lectures and films, the ISHA Awards (Thursday, March 26) and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame induction ceremony (Saturday, March 28). For details, go to skiinghistory.org/events.

The evening kicks off at 5:30 pm with a cocktail reception in the Limelight Room at the Sun Valley Inn. Award winners will be on hand to sign and sell books and DVDs. All are welcome; cash bar. The banquet begins at 7 pm for ticket holders only. It’s a lively evening as ISHA Awards chair Rick Moulton and president Seth Masia present entertaining historic video clips and authors offer snippets of insight into their research.

At the banquet, ISHA will also present its Stewardship Award to the Holding family for their decades-long commitment to preserving the history of the Sun Valley ski resort, which they purchased in 1977.

Established in 1993, the ISHA Awards are presented every year to creators of outstanding ski history books, films and DVDs, websites, museum exhibits and other works of creative media. The winners of this year’s ISHA Awards are:

ULLR AWARD

Presented for a single outstanding contribution or several contributions to skiing’s overall historical record in published book form.

Skis in the Art of War by K.B.E.E. Eimeleus. Translation and commentary by William D. Frank, with additional commentary by E. John B. Allen

Skispuren: Internationale Konferenz zur Geschichte des Wintersports (Ski Tracks: International Conference on the History of Winter Sports) by Rudolf Müllner und Christof Thöny, editors. For a review, see the September-October 2019 issue of Skiing History.

Unique and Unknown: The Story of Biathlon in the United States by Arthur Stegen. For a review, see the November-December 2019 issue of Skiing History.

Leisure Cultures and the Making of Modern Ski Resorts, edited by Phillipp Strobl and Aneta Podkalicka. For a review, see the May-June 2019 issue of Skiing History.

SKADE AWARD

Presented for an outstanding work on regional ski history, or for an outstanding work published in book form that is focused in part on ski history.

Heja Persson!: Samisk triumf i Vasaloppet (Sami Triumph in the Vasaloppet) by Isak Lidstrom

Lost Ski Areas of the Berkshires by Jeremy Davis

Honorable Mention: Snowboarding in Southern Vermont: From Burton to the U.S. Open by Brian L. Knight

BALDUR AWARD

A new category of awards presented for books that have not been written as ski histories, but possess valuable historical content.

Ski Inc. 2020 by Chris Diamond with Andy Bigford. For a review, see the November-December 2019 issue of Skiing History.

Alpine Cooking: Recipes and Stories from Europe’s Grand Mountaintops by Meredith Erikson

The Man behind the Maps: Legendary Ski Artist James Niehues by Jason Blevins, with illustrations by Jim Niehues. For a review, see page 30 of this issue.

FILM AWARD

Presented for an outstanding contribution to the historical record of skiing in photographic or film/digital form

North Country, produced by Anthony R. Lahout, written and directed by Nick Martini

Ski Bum: The Warren Miller Story by Patrick Creadon and Christine O’Malley

Honorable Mention: Abandoned by Lio DelPiccolo, Sara Beam Robbins and Grant Robbins. For a review, see the September-October 2019 issue of Skiing History.

CYBER AWARD

Presented for creating a website that contributes substantially to the preservation, distribution and expansion of skiing’s historical record

DrySlopeNews.com by Patrick Thorne

Honorable Mention: From Chimney Corner: An Illustrated History of Slovenian Skiing by Aleš Guček.

MEMBER PROFILE: Klaus Obermeyer

Klaus Obermeyer, who celebrated his 100th birthday on December 2, 2019, embodies skiing’s history in the 20th century. Klaus was raised in Oberstaufen, Bavaria, hard up against the Austrian border and a jumping site since 1908. At age three he nailed his best shoes to a pair of slats from a fruit crate and took himself skiing. From then on, he’s been tinkering to improve ski gear and clothing.

Klaus was seven years old, and skiing on real skis crafted by Marius Eriksen, when Rudolf Lettner patented the segmented steel edge for skis. When he arrived in St. Anton as a teenaged ski instructor, he quickly found a set of Lettner edges and taught himself enough carpentry to install the edges on his own skis. He befriended St. Anton native and Arlberg-Kandahar champion Friedl Pfeifer, who soon departed for America and eventually the 10th Mountain Division.

One of his skiing students offered Klaus an apprenticeship at Maybach, in Friedrichshafen, just 25 miles from home. The company had been founded, in 1909, to build Zeppelin engines. Klaus assembled state-of-the-art engines for trucks, planes and tanks. Then it was to Neuaubing near Munich and a job designing landing gear for Dornier aircraft (not unlike Howard Head’s career drafting parts for the Martin B-26). At night, Klaus attended engineering school for three and a half years.

Klaus rarely talks about this traumatic era. The Dornier factory in Friedrichshafen was heavily bombed, but not the factory in Neuaubing. Klaus says he was desperate to get out of Germany and tried unsuccessfully to ski into Switzerland.

In 1947 Klaus finally made it to America. There he chased down Friedl Pfeifer and began teaching skiing again. That summer he did odd jobs and painted houses. With Warren Miller, he made and sold Bavarian “kugi” ties. But his technical mind saw ways to improve cold-weather comfort for his students. The first problem was terrible leather ski boots. He improved the standard double-boot design with a comfy cushioned rubber innerboot and had it manufactured by Wagner and Rieker (about 40 miles northwest of Friedrichshafen) under his own label Garmisch. It sold for $44.95. With Pfeifer he formulated and sold a high-altitude sunblock cream. Then he imported sweaters and innovative turtlenecks, Carrera goggles and nylon windshirts.

1955 was a breakthrough year. Klaus adapted the down parka (marketed to hunters since 1935 by Eddie Bauer) for skiers, using water- and windproof nylon fabric, and patented the first “flow” material for ski boots (“It was auto grease,” he confided in 1982). In 1967 he set up a production line to manufacture Bob Smith’s double-lens goggle, imported Sanmarco ski boots beginning in 1972, and introduced the first two-prong ski brake, long before major binding companies picked up the idea. Meanwhile, sales of colorful, comfortable skiwear designs by wife Nome grew, becoming the premier American skiwear brand by the early ‘70s.

Klaus still comes to the office daily, still skis, swims and rides his horses. “I really love Skiing History,” he says. “It’s so nice to have a publication that talks about the development of skiing, how it started and grew in America and worldwide. I love to read it, and to see pictures of my old friends!” —Seth Masia

Send It to a Friend

The best way to recruit a new ISHA member is to show them a copy of Skiing History. This is important because, as a nonprofit, we rely on on membership dues and donations to publish our colorful bimonthly journal, continually expand our website as a global resource for skiers and researchers, and present our annual awards.

Here’s an easy way to help us out: If you know someone who’s a likely prospect, we’ll send them a free one-time copy of Skiing History. Submit your request online at https://skiinghistory.org/send-friend-trial-membership. We’ll take it from there!

SKI LIFE

from SKIING / OCTOBER 1966

This article first ran in the January-February issue of Skiing History.

The cover of the November-December 2019 issue of Skiing History—and the accompanying painting of a ski jumper soaring over Salisbury, Connecticut—reminds me of home!

Growing up in northwestern Connecticut, my hero was Roy Sherwood, who competed in the 1956 Cortina Olympics. Roy was the constable on our lake, trying to keep a bunch of delinquents out of trouble. He was a straight shooter and a fair man, and we dedicated the lyrics “Oh Roy, oh Roy, is you the law?” to him. (Long Tall Texan by The Kingsmen, 1963).

In the spring of 1963, I stayed in Aspen at the home of Dave and Sherry Farney, along with cinematographer Dick Barrymore. We were all bagging it on the Farneys’ floor. Future Olympian Cindy Farney was just a toddler. At the time, Aspen was a small town with dirt streets and a few chairlifts. We also skied Vail, then in its first season, and the die was cast: I would get back to Colorado at my earliest excuse (CU, Class of 1969).

As a teen, I revered Buddy Werner, Billy Kidd, Jimmie Heuga and Bob Beattie—names and faces I saw featured in your fall fundraising mailing. As an adult, I was excited to attend a party for business associate and Hall of Famer Chuck Ferries at the home of Barb and Scott Henderson in Nederland, Colorado. Bob, Billy and Jimmie were there.

Having skied since age four, and having had small interactions with some of these greats, Skiing History is my favorite read, month after month.

Jonathan Williams
Denver, Colorado

Further on Redford’s Roffe

After reading “The Tale of Redford’s Roffe” in the November-December issue, I thought I’d add a personal touch to Wini Jones’ letter about Roffe’s clothing efforts for the U.S. Ski Team and Redford.

I commuted to work in Seattle with Wini via the Banbridge Island ferry from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s. She was heading into the city to design and manage at Roffe Ski Company, and me to lawyer elsewhere. Back then, I was a 6-foot-tall, 225-pound ex-football player who could not find a ski pant to fit what my future ski tailor later referred to as my “trees.”

Wini took pity in 1985. She invited me to the red-brick Roffe building in downtown Seattle—now pretty much Amazon central. It was snowing hard. Seattle was paralyzed. I walked up a few flights of stairs with Wini to the third floor, an open warehouse-type space with wooden beams. She introduced me to “Sam.” He was mid-70s, me maybe 30.

Sam was handling the tape measure. Clearly, he was a tailor. He and Wini decided on a starting size from which to construct pants for me, the mis-designed client. The result was that Sam Roffe (owner of the company) and Wini (a SKI Magazine “Woman of the Year”) designed, sewed and presented to me a pair of custom-fit, navy blue, over-the boot stretch Gore-Tex ski pants. I wore them well into my three decades at Sun Valley. Today I tuned Wini’s Völkls for Christmas at Whistler. Great magazine!

Tom Hayward
Bainbridge Island, Washington

For recent obituaries go to Lives.

Who needs powder? A Minnesota resort goes to the mat for its future.  By Greg DiTrinco

There is an annoyingly capricious component of the sport of skiing. It’s called snow. Both skiers and resort operators alike have to deal with the seasonal limits of their passion—and their business model. So what if you removed the unpredictability of snow from the sport?

Buck Hill, Minnesota, aims to find out. This mighty mite of a ski area, tucked in a few miles south of the Twin Cities, is perhaps the biggest supporter of a small, but growing segment of the industry: four-season skiing. The resort has installed an all-year skiing surface to create—in theory—an endless winter. Now a few seasons into the radical experiment, “It took a while, but I’m pleased with where we are,” says Dave Solner, Buck Hill’s CEO and co-owner...

Next winter, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame will induct up to eight new honored members, selected from a ballot of 15 nominees. But the ballot of 15 was chosen from a list of 71 skiers nominated by their friends and family. It took two rounds of voting, by a selection committee of 25 chaired by Jeff Leich of the New England Ski Museum, to break ties. Fewer than 11 percent of those nominated will be chosen by the electorate, numbering about 365 ski-sport veterans. The odds are long, and not likely to improve.

The field wasn’t always this crowded. Long-time ski-show promoter and Hall of Famer Bernie Weichsel recalls that when he was elected chairman in 2009, “We had to beg people to submit nominations. The Hall simply wasn’t very well known.”

Between 1985 and 2008, there were 14 years when the Hall found four or fewer inductees. At that point the selection committee instituted new criteria, and nominations began to grow after 2011, when the Hall partnered with ISHA for a gala event in Sun Valley. By organizing a reunion of professional freestyle skiers, Weichsel boosted attendance at the Hall’s induction banquet to about 600, and drew national attention. Weichsel also promoted the Hall at trade shows and ski resorts. One result: Baby boomers in the ski business began nominating their friends.

During his tenure on the selection committee (beginning around 2005), U.S. Ski Team communications chief Tom Kelly made sure that champion athletes got nominated. That’s a rich source: With the addition of freestyle and snowboarding to the FIS schedule, and new events in alpine and nordic competition, the number of medalists and World Cups has tripled. For instance, at the 1984 Olympics, American skiers won five medals of 87 available (5.7 percent). In 2018, Americans took home 14 medals of 255 awarded (5.4 percent). That’s triple the number of medalists who will eventually find their way into the Hall of Fame. Pro freestylers and prominent snowboarders also build the count of Hall nominees.
According to newly elected Hall chairman David Ingemie, the board of directors wants to limit nominations to people with national, as opposed to regional, influence. Another challenge is that people who are well known for leading large organizations—corporate executives, for instance—tend to pull more votes than innovators, regardless of their universal influence, who worked behind the scenes. For them, the odds are long indeed.

—Seth Masia

A new coalition of volunteers, ski areas and landowners team up nationwide to restore historic ski trails—and launch a backcountry movement. By Jeremy Davis

The power of the people is gaining traction deep within the hardwood glades of New England, and spreading to the backcountry nationwide. Nonprofit groups, passionate skiers, landowners and ski areas are moving beyond traditional rivalries to band together to reopen historic trails.

New England is full of such remnants of its skiing past. More than 600 rope-tow and lift-served areas have closed in the past 80 years, along with downhill trails unserved by lifts. The Granite Backcountry Alliance (GBA), based in northern New Hampshire, is part of a new movement that’s looking to skiing’s past as a path to its future. The GBA, 400 members strong, recently resuscitated the long-lost Maple Villa Trail, in Intervale, N.H., on the outskirts of North Conway.

Though the unofficial hub of this trail reclamation phenomenon is anchored in the history rich—and therefore opportunity rich—mountains of New England, just about anywhere there are skiers, there are historic trails being rebooted—or at the very least, backcountry skiers banding together to preserve access to popular routes...

Ski Museums of the World 2018

Updated March, 2021

By E. John B. Allen

AUSTRALIA

Mount Buller, Victoria

National Alpine Museum of Australia, Inc.

Level 1 Alpine Central, Summit Road, Mt. Buller, Victoria 3723

Curator: Michelle Stevenson

E-mail: info@nama.org

Tel: +61 418 976 338

Website: www.nama.org.au

Open Winter: Saturday 12.00 – 15.00

Open Summer: Saturday 11.00 – 15.00.  Every second Thursday 11.00 – 15.00.

Admission: Free

Thredbo, New South Wales

Thredbo Ski Museum

Thredbo Historical Society, P.O. Box 6, Thredbo, NSW 2625

Contact: Christina Webb

E-mail: via website

Tel: +61 2 9449 7610

Website: www.thredboskimuseum.com

Open: 26 December – 26 January (closed Mondays)

            February, March, April, October weekends and public holidays

            July - September daily (closed Mondays)

            Call for hours

 Closed: May, November, December 1 – 25

Admission: Free

AUSTRIA

Damüls, Vorarlberg

FIS Skimuseum Damüls

Kirchdorf 138, 6884 Damüls

Director/Curator: Christian Lingenhöle

E-mail: info@damuels.travel

Tel: +43 5510 6200

Website: www.damuels.travel

Open: December—April, and June—September: Tuesday and Friday 15.00—18.00

Closed: May, October, November

Admission: Free

Emphasis on Vorarlberg skiing and ski production and competition. Victor Sohm, Hannes Schneider, Georg Bilgeri featured.

Haus im Ennstal, Steiermark/Styria

Wintersportmuseum

Schlossplatz 189, 8967 Haus im Ennstal

Director: Willi Wawra

E-mail: wintersportmuseum@haus.at

Tel: +43 3686 2207-17

Website: www.haus.at/de/kultur/wintersportmuseum.php

Open: Tuesdays 10.00 – 12.00 and Wednesdays 16.30 – 20.30 and by appointment

Admission: €2 ($2.50), children: €1 ($1.25)

Hinterstoder, Oberösterreich/Upper Austria

Alpineum Hinterstoder

4573 Hinterstoder

Contact: Sabrina Plursch

E-mail: hinterstoder@pyhrn-priel.net

Tel: +43 7564 5263 99

Website: www.alpineum.at

Open: Monday—Friday 8.00—12.00 and 14.00—17.00

           Weekends by arrangement

Admission: Adult €4 ($5), Child €2.20 ($2.50), Family €8 ($10)

Exhibits showing change from mountain farm village to summer and winter tourism. Strong on local skiing with downhill simulator and avalanche detector exhibits.

Hirschegg, Vorarlberg

Wintersportmuseum im Walserhaus

Walserhaus, Walserstrasse 64, 6992 Hirschegg

E-mail: info@walserhaus.at

Tel: +43 5517 5114 460

Website: www.walserhaus.at

Open: Monday-Saturday 9.00—17.00.  Sundays and holidays 8.00—15.00

Admission: Free

Hochpillberg, Tirol

Schimuseum Hotel Grafenast

Bio-Hotel Grafenast, Pillbergstrasse 205, 6130 Hochpillberg

E-mail: sehnsucht@grafenast.at

Tel: +43 5242 63209

Website: www.grafenast.at

Open: By appointment

Admission: Free

Private collection of the Unterlechner family.

Lilienfeld, Nieder Österreich/Lower Austria

Bezirks-Heimatmuseum mit Zdarsky-Skimuseum und Archiv

Babenbergerstrasse 3, 3180 Lilienfeld

Director: Heinz Eppensteiner

E-mail: tourismus@lilienfeld.at or bez.heimatmuseum-lilienfeld@aon.at

Tel: +43 2762 52478 or +43 2762 52478

Website: www.zdarsky-ski-museum.at

Open: Thursday, Saturday, Sunday 16.00-18.00

Admission: Adult €5 ($6.25), Student €2.50 ($3)

Best museum for Mathias Zdarsky

Mürzzuschlag, Steiermark/Styria

Winter!Sport!Museum!

Wienerstrasse 13, 8680 Mürzzuschlag

Director: Hannes Nothnagl

E-mail: office@wintersportmuseum.com

Tel: +43 3852 3504

Website: www.wintersportmuseum.com    

NB:  Museum is being reorganized; probable reopening date is January 2019, admission hours and fees will be announced.

Large museum, excellent collections, good library.

Seefeld, Tirol

Olympic and Nostalgia Exhibition (1964, 1976 Winter Olympic Games) in the Rosshütte Panoramic Restaurant above Seefeld

E-mail: info@rosshuette.at

Tel: +43 5212 2416-0

Website: www.seefeld-sports.at                  

Open: call to find out dates and times

Admission: Free

St. Anton am Arlberg, Tirol

The Museum of St. Anton in the Kandahar Haus

Rudi-Matt-Weg 10, 6580 St. Anton am Arlberg

E-mail: office@museum-stanton.com

Tel: +43 5446 22690

Website: www.museum-stanton.com

Open: Winter: 12.00—18.00.  Summer not announced (April 2018)

Admission: Adult €4 ($5), Child €2 ($2.50)

Local history.  Emphasis on Hannes Schneider period.

Werfenweng, Salzburg

Salzburger FIS Landes-Skimuseum

Weng 138, 5453 Weng

Director: Hans Müller

E-mail: info@skimuseum.at

Tel: +43 664 50 000 96

Website: www.werfenweng.eu/EN/129-FIS-Landes-Skimuseum.html

Open: May—October: Monday, Friday, Sunday 13.00-17.00

            November—April: Monday, Friday, Sunday 14.00—18.00

Admission: Adult €5 ($6.25). Senior/Student €3.50 ($4.50), Child €2.50 ($3) Family €10 ($12.50)

Local history with emphasis on Rudolf Lettner’s steel ski edges.

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Gröbming, Steiermark/Styria

Heimatmuseum Gröbming

Dr. Franz-Xavier-Mayr Strasse 123, 8962 Gröbming

Contact: Hubert Pleninger

E-mail: pleninger@aon.at

Tel: +43 664 960 5006 or +43 3685 22 573

Website: www.museum-gb.at

Open: From 18 June 2018—31 October: Thursday 16.00—19.00 and Sunday 10.00—12.00.     

            Other times by appointment.

Admission: Free

Local museum including small regional ski development.

Jochberg, Tirol

Bergbau- und Heimatmuseum

Schulgasse 3, 6373 Jochberg

Curator: Anneliese Hechenberger

E-mail: info@museum-jochberg.at

Tel: +43 664 330 6302

Website: www.museum-jochberg.at

Open: Year round: Tuesday 17.00—19.00

            Group arrangements can be made for other times

Admission: Free

Small collection of ski material.

Kitzbühel, Tirol

Museum Kitzbühel

Hinterstadt 32, 6370 Kitzbühel

E-mail: info@museum-kitzbuehel.at

Tel: +43 5356 67274

Website: www.museum-kitzbuehel.at

Open: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 14.00—18.00

            Thursday 14.00—20.00 and Saturday 10.00—18.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: €6.50 ($8).  Free for under 18.

Many paintings by Alfons Walde.

Lech, Vorarlberg

Walsermuseum Lech-Tannberg

6764 Lech

E-mail: museumvereine@aon.at

Tel: +43 5583 2213 36

Website: www.vorarlbergermuseen.at/museen/walsermuseum-lech-tannberg/information

Open: Wednesday and Friday 15.00—18.00

Admission: Free

Ski display among many others.

Mariazell, Steiermark/Styria

Mariazell Heimatmuseum

Wienerstrasse 35, 8630 Mariazell

E-mail: mariazeller.heimathaus@aon.at

Tel: +43 3882 431 26

Website: www.mariazeller-heimathaus.at/heimathaus/wintersport

Open: Call ahead for days and hours

Admission: Adult €6 ($7.50), Youth €3 ($3.75), Family €12 ($15)

Small section of skis among local history artifacts.

Saalbach, Salzburg

Skimuseum und Heimathaus Saalbach-Hinterglemm

Dorfplatz 36, 5753 Saalbach

E-mail: gemeinde@saalbach.at

Tel: +43 664 4767 807

Website: www.saalbach.or.at/de/einrichtungen/heimathausskimuseum

Open: July-August: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 14.00—18.00

            End of May, June, September: Tuesday, Thursday 14.00—18.00

            Winter: 14.00—18.00

Admission: Adult € 4.50 ($6), Child €2 ($2.50), Family €9 ($11.25)

Wien/Vienna

Österreichisches Olympiamuseum: this is the virtual museum of the Austrian Olympic Committee

E-mail: office@olympia.at [the e-mail of the Austrian Olympic Committee]

Tel: +43 1799 5511 [telephone of the Austrian Olympic Committee]

Website: www.olympia.at/museum

Vordernberg, Steiermark/Styria

Erzbergbahn- und Wintersportmuseum

Hauptstrasse 140, 8794 Vordernberg

Contact: Helma Moitzi

E-mail: office@erzbergbahn.at

Tel: +43 3849 832 or +43 3849 6246

Website: www.vordernberg.at/geschichte/museum.html

Open: By appointment

Admission: Adult €2 ($2.50), child €1 ($1.25)

This railway museum also exhibits ski material.

Innsbruck, Tirol

Österreichischer Alpenverein/Austrian Alpine Association

Olympiastrasse 37, 6020 Innsbruck

Contact: Veronika Raich

E-mail: veronika.raich@alpenverein.at

Tel: +43 512 595 47-19

Website: www.alpenverein.at

Closed: while looking for new premises (April 2018). 

Available: Lists of ski material from the Alpine Clubs of Germany, Austria, and the South Tirol can be found at www.historiches-alpenarchiv.org.

.

Schruns, Vorarlberg

Montafon Folk Museum and Montafon Archive

Kirchplatz 15, 6780 Schruns

Director: Michael Kasper

E-mail: info@montafoner-museen.at

Tel: +43 5556 74723

Website: www.montafoner-museen.at

Open: Museum: 12 June—26 October 2018: Tuesday—Friday and Sunday 14.00—18.00

            Archive: By appointment

Closed: Monday and Saturday

Admission: Adult €5 ($6.25), Youth and Child Free

Regional museum that also contains ski material and much documentation.

CANADA

Banff, Alberta

Canadian Ski Museum West

Cascade Plaza, 317 Banff Ave., Banff, AB T1L 1C1

Tel: 43 762 8484

Website: www.Banffnationalpark.com/Banff-activities/Banff-museums/Canadian-ski-museum-west

Open: When shopping plaza is open

Admission: Free

Variety of a few artifacts hung in shopping mall.

Revelstoke, British Columbia

Revelstoke Ski Museum (part of Revelstoke Museum and Archives)

315 First St. West.  Box 1908, Revelstoke, BC  VOE 250

Curator: Cathy English

E-mail: curator@revelstokemuseum.ca

Tel: 250 837 3067

Website: www.revelstokemuseum.ca

Open: Monday—Friday 10.00—17.00, Saturday 11.00—17.00. 

Admissions: Adult $5, Seniors/Teens $4, Family $12

Western Canadian Rocky Mountain skiing.

St. Sauveur, Quebec

Musée du Ski des Laurentides/Laurentian Ski Museum

30 Ave. Fillon, St. Sauveur, Québec JOR 1RO

Curator: Nancy Belhumeur

E-mail: Nancy@museeduski.com

Tel: 450 227 2564 x 222

Website: www.museeduskideslaurentides.com

Open: Tuesday—Wednesday 10.00—17.00

            Thursday—Monday 10.00—18.00

Admission: Free

Early skiing in the Laurentians, Emile Cochand, ski trains and village-ski growth.

Associated with the Musée du Ski des Laurentides is the Historical Directory of Québec Ski Sites, a virtual museum

Director: Pierre Dumas

E-mail: info@museeduski.com

Tel: 450 227 2564 x 222

Website: www.museeduskideslaurentides.com/index.php?q=node/221

Ca. 700 past and present ski areas, includes 444 alpine areas with lifts and 98 jumps, and ca. 12,500 documents.

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Banff, Alberta

Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies

111 Bear St., P.O. Box 160, Banff AB T1l 1A3

Head archivist and Librarian: Elizabeth Kundert-Cameron

E-mail: info@whyte.org

Tel: 403 762 2291 x 332

Website: www.whyte.org

Open: 10.00—17.00

Admission: Call before any research visit

Library and photographic records.

Calgary, Alberta

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

169 Canada Olympic Way SW, Calgary, AB T3B 6B7

Director: Interim director Janice Smith

E-mail: jsmith@cshof.ca  

Tel: 403 776 1061

Website: www.sporthall.ca

Open: September—June: Wednesday—Sunday 10.00-17.00

            July—August: Monday--Sunday 10.00—17.00

Admission:  Adult Canadian $12 ($9.50), Senior $10 ($8), Youth $8 ($6.50), Family (4) $35 ($28)

London, Ontario

The International Centre for Olympic Studies at University of Western Ontario

1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5B9

Director: Michael Heine

E-mail: via website

Tel: 519 661 4113

Website: www.uwo.ca/olympic/about/contact_icos.html

Open: Essential to inquire

Admission: Free

Olympic research center contains Avery Brundage papers. Publishes annual Olympika and edited papers of biennial symposia on Olympic research.

Rossland, British Columbia

Rossland Museum and Discovery Center

P.O. Box 26, 1100 Hwy 3B, Rossland, BC VOG 1YO

Director: Joelle Hodgins

E-mail: info@rosslandmuseum.ca

Tel: 250 362 7722

Website: www.rosslandmuseum.ca

Open: Mid-May—end June: Tuesday—Sunday 10.00—17.00

            July—August: Monday—Sunday 10.00—18.00

            Rest of year: Wednesday—Saturday 12.00—17.00

Admission: Adult Canadian $10 ($8) Senior/student $8 ($6.50), Youth $5 ($4), Family (4) $24 ($19)

Small display, emphasis on early skiing from 1896 with Olaus Jeldness.

Thunder Bay, Ontario

Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame

219 May Street South, Thunder Bay, ON P7E 1B5

Exec. Director: Diane Imrie

Curator: Kate Dwyer

E-mail: nwosport@tbaytel.net

Tel: 807 622 2852

Website: www.nwosportshalloffame.com

Open: Tuesday—Saturday 12.00—17.00

Admission: Canadian $3 ($2.50)

Whistler, British Columbia

Whistler Museum and Archives

433 Main St., Whistler, BC VON 1B4

Director and Curator: Bradley Nichols

E-mail: info@whistlermuseum.org

Tel: 604 932 2019

Website: www.whistlermuseum.org

Open: 11.00—17.00 with extended hours Thursday

Admission: Free

Local skiing with emphasis on Olympics 2010.

CHINA

Changchun, Jilin

Vasaloppet museum

Changchun Jingyuetan Park, 5840 Jingyue St., Changchun

Tel: +86 431 8964 5455

Website: www.vasaloppetchina.com

Open: The museum is closed and only open on request.  I am told that it is difficult to make connections with the museum.  The website given and phone number are those for the Chinese Vasaloppet race organization.  There are no specific people, website or telephone for the museum.

CZECH REPULIC

Harachov, Liberec Region

Ski Museum Harrachov

Nový Svet 378, Harrachov 512 46

E-mail: turistik@sklarnaharrachov.cz

Tel: +420 603 470 113

Website: www.giant-mountains.info/tourism/ski-museum-harrachov.harachov.html and www.liberecky-kraj.cz

Open: January—December: Wednesday—Friday 14.00—17.00 and Saturday 10.00—17.00

Admission: 70 Koruna ($3.50), Senior 50 K ($2.50), Child 20 K ($1), Family 150 K ($7)

Local development of skiing and especially jumping.

Jilemnice, Liberec Region

Krkonosske Muzeum in Jilemnice Castle

Zamek 75, 514 01 Jilemnice

Director: Jan Luštinc

E-mail: kmjilemnice@kmap.cz

Tel: +420 481 543 041

Website: www.kmjilemnice.cz

Open: January—April: 8.00—16.00

            July—August: 8.00—12.00 and 13.00—17.00

            November—December: 8.00—12.00 and 13.00—16.00

 Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult 70 Koruna ($3.50)

Graf Harrach and early skiing in area.

Nové Mesto na Morave, Vysočina Region

Horacké Muzeum

Vratislavovo námĕstí 114, 592 31 Nové Mesto

E-mail: horacke.muzeum@nmnm.cz

Tel: +420 566 216

Website: www.hm.nmnm.cz

Open: October—April: Tuesday—Saturday 9.00—16.00

            May—June: Tuesday—Sunday 9.00—16.00

             July—August: Tuesday—Sunday 9.00—17.00

             September: Tuesday—Sunday 9.00—16.00

Closed:  Monday

Admission: Adult 40 Koruna ($2), Senior/student 20 Koruna ($1)

Late 19th century skiing in area.

ESTONIA

Otepää, Valga County

Talispordimuuseum (Otepää Winter Sports Museum—a branch of the Estonian Sport and Olympic museum, but concentrating on winter sports)

Tehvandi Sports Center, Valga mit 12

Contact: Jana Mae

E-mail: info@spordimuuseum.ee or jana@spordimuuseum.ee

Tel: +372 766 3670 or +372 501 6082 (Jana Mae)

Website: www.spordimuuseum.ee/info/otepaa-talispordimuuseum.ee

Open: Wednesday—Friday 11.00—17.00

            Saturday—Sunday 11.00—16.00

Admission: Adult €2 ($2.50), Senior/student €1.50 ($2), Family (4) €5 ($6.25)

General collection with emphasis on cross-country skiing.

Tartu

Eesti Spordi-ja Olümpiamuuseum/Estonian Sport and Olympic Museum

15 Rüütli Street, 51005 Tartu

Director: Daimar Lell

E-mail: info@spordimuuseum.ee

Tel: +372 730 0750

Website: www.spordimuuseum.ee

Open: Wednesday—Sunday 11.00—18.00

Closed: Monday and Tuesday

Admission: Adult €6 ($7.50), Family (4) €15 ($18.50)

Olympic exhibits.

FINLAND

Helsinki

Suomen Urheilumuseo/Sports Museum of Finland

Olympiastadion, Paavo Nurman tie 1, FI-00250 Helsinki

Director: Pekka Honkanen

E-mail: urheilumeseo@urheilumuseo.fi

Tel: +358 9 434 2250

Website: www.urheilumuseo.fi

Closed: For renovations.  Will reopen in 2019. Admission hours and fees will be announced

Displays, library especially strong in Finnish newspapers and periodicals.

Lahti, Päijänne Tavastia Region

Lahti Hiihtomuseo/Lahti Ski Museum

Sports Center (Urheilukeskus), Salpausselänkatu 8, P.O. Box 113, FI 15110 Lahti

Curator: Suvi Kuisma

E-mail: hiihtomuseo@lahti.fi

Tel: +358 50 398 5523 or +358 50 398 5521

Website: www.ladenmuseo.fi

Open:  Tuesday—Friday 9.00—17.00

            Saturday—Sunday 11.00—16.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult €10 ($12.50), Senior/student €7 ($8.50)

Impressive displays, good library

FRANCE

Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise (Besse-en-Chandesse), Puy-de-Dôme

Musée du Ski

Maison de la Reine Margot, 11 Rue Boucherie, 63610 Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise

Owner and Curator: Pierre-André Chauvet

Tel: +33 4 7379 5730

Open: During school holidays: 9.00—12.00 and 14.00—18.00

            Other times only by telephone arrangement

Admission: €4.50 ($6)

Large and excellent private collection, small library.

Grenoble, Isère

Musée du Ski is part of the Musée Dauphinois

30 Rue Maurice Gignoux, Cedex 1000, 38100 Grenoble

Director: Olivier Cogne

E-mail: musee.dauphinois@cg38.fr

Tel: +33 45758 8901

Website: www.musee-dauphinois.fr

Open: 1 September—31 May: 10.00—18.00

           1 June—31 August: 10.00—19.00

Admission: Free

Excellent collection, much from Rossignol, good library.

Les Rousses, Jura

Le Grand Tétras

705 route des Rousses, 39220 Les Rousses, Jura

Owner: Roger Tangueley and Stéphane Tangueley

E-mail: grandtetras39@aol.com

Tel: +33 3846 05113  

Website: www.legrandtetras.troumad.org/Le_musee.html

Open: Thursday 17.00—19.00

Closed: April and October to Christmas

Admission: Free but call ahead

Large and excellent private collection, especially material from the Jura.

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Albertville, Savoie

Maison des Jeux Olympiques d’Hiver

11, rue Pargoud, 73200 Albertville

Director: Claire Grangé

E-mail: contact@maisonjeuxolympiques-albertville.org

Tel: +33 44793 77571

Website: www.maisonjeuxolympiques-albertville.org

Open: Monday—Saturday 10.00—13.00 and 14.00—19.00

           Sunday 14.00—19.00

Admission: Adult: €4 ($5), Senior/student €3 ($3.75), Family (3) €11 ($13.50)

Winter Olympic material from 1992.

Chamonix, Haute Savoie

Musée Alpin

89 Ave. Michel Croz, 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

E-mail: via website

Tel: +33 450 539 998 (Tourist office)

Website: www.chamonix.com/musee-alpin,49-187321,fr.html

Open: 7 April—7 May: 10.00—12.00 and 14.00—18.00.  Closed Tuesday

           8 May—25 May: 14.00—18.00.  Closed Tuesday

           1 July—2 September: daily 10.00—13.00 and 14.00—18.00

            3 September—30 September: 14.00—18.00.  Closed Tuesday

           22 October—4 November: 10.00—12.00 and 14.00—18.00.  Closed Tuesday

           22 December—7 January: 10.00-12.00 and 14.00—18.00.  Closed Tuesday

Closed: See above

Admission: Adult €5.90 ($7). Youth and child free

Local museum, much mountaineering material.  Includes winter sports. Library.

Nice, Alpes-Maritimes

Musée National du Sport (moved from Paris in 2014)

Stade Allianz Riviera, Bd. des Jardiniers, 06203 Nice cedex 3

E-mail: contact@museedusport.fr

Tel: +33 4892 24400

Website: www.allianz-riviera.fr/fr/le-musee-national-du-sport

Open: May—September: 10.00—18.00

           October—April: 11.00—17.00

Admission: Adult €6 ($8) for permanent or temporary exhibit

                              €8 ($10) for permanent and temporary exhibit

                              Free for youth and free on first Sunday of each month October-April

PARIS

Club Alpin Français/French Alpine Club

24 avenue Laumière, 75019 Paris

E-mail: via website

Tel: +33 1537 28700

Website: www.ffcam.fr

Open: Tuesday—Wednesday 9.00—17.30

           Thursday—Friday 9.00—18.00

           Saturday 9.00—12.00

Admission: Free, but call ahead

Many documents of the CAF.  Other CAF sections hold regional library materials too.

GERMANY

Bernau im Schwarzwald, Baden-Württemberg [Schwarzwald/Black Forest]

Ski-Köpfer-Museum—a digitalized museum with texts

Kaiserhausstrasse 27, 79872 Bernau im Schwarzwald

Contact: Walter Strohmeier

E-mail: info@ski-koepfer.de

Tel: +49 7675 1600 25 and +49 7675 1088

Website: www.ski-koepfer.de

Information and details: Contact essential

Braunlage, Niedersachsen/Lower Saxony [Oberharz]

Heimat- und Skimuseum

Dr.-Kurt-Schroeder-Promenade 4, 38700 Braunlage

Director: Jürgen Schütz

Email: mail@museum-braunlage.de

Tel: +49 5520 1646

Website: www.museum-braunlage.de

Open: Tuesday and Friday 10.00—12.00

Closed: November to mid-December

Admission: Adult €2.50 ($3), Child €1.50 ($2)

Braunlage in late 19th century.

Hinterzarten, Baden-Württemberg [Schwarzwald/Black Forest]

Schwarzwald Skimuseum

Hugenhof, Erlenbruckerstrasse 35, 79856 Hinterzarten

Director: Brigitte von Savigny

E-mail: info@schwarzwaelder-skimuseum.de

Tel: +49 7652 982 192

Website: www.schwarzwaelder-skimuseum.de

Open: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 14.00—17.00

            Saturday, Sunday 12.00—17.00

Closed:  Monday

Admission: Adult €5 ($6.25), Youth €1 ($1.25), Family €8 ($10)

Exhibits on Black Forest, Georg Thoma and Sepp Allgeier.

Kempten, Bayern/Bavaria [Allgäu]

Alpinmuseum

Marstallgebäude, Landwehrstrasse 4, 87439 Kempten

Contact: Christine Müller Horn

E-mail: museen@kempten.de

Tel: +49 831 2525 740

Website: www.kempten.de/alpin-museum.html

Open: Tuesday—Sunday 10.00—16.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult €4 ($5), Youth €2 ($2.50), Family €8 ($10). First Sunday in month free

History of the Alps, Alpinism and Skiing. Wilhelm Paulcke, Mathias Zdarsky, Georg Bilgeri featured.  Good library.

Fischen, Bayern/Bavaria [Allgäu]

Skimuseum Fischinger Heimathaus

Geschwenderhaus, Hauptstrasse 3, 87538 Fischen

Contact: Florian Ruppaner

E-mail: info@skimuseum-fischen.de

Tel: +49 175 202 1404

Website: www.skimuseum-fischen.de

Open: Call ahead for hours

Admission: Call ahead

Local heroes and excellent historical ski repair shop.

Nesselwang, Bayern/Bavaria [Allgäu]

Skimuseum Nesselwang

Hauptstrasse 20, 87484 Nesselwang

Contact: Tourist Office

E-mail: info@nesselwang.de

Tel: +49 8361 9230 40

Website: www.nesselwang.de/museen-in-nesselwang.html

Open:  Call ahead for hours

Admission: Call ahead

Skiing in Allgäu.

Oberwiesenthal, Sachsen/Saxony [Erzgebirge]

Oberwiesenthal Ski Museum

Karlsbaderstrasse 3, 09484 Oberwiesenthal

Contact: Brigitte Roscher

E-mail: info@oberwiesenthal.de

Tel: +49 373 487 521

Website: www.oberwiesenthal.com/urlaubsziel/sehenswertes/skimuseum.htm

Open: 1 April—2 December: Monday—Friday 9.30—17.00

                                                 Saturday—Sunday 10.00—13.00

           2 December—31 May: daily 9.30—17.00

Admission: Adult €5 ($6.25), Youth free

Planegg, Bayern/Bavaria

Deutsches Skimuseum

Hubertusstrasse 1, 82152 Planegg

Director: Gerd Falkner

E-mail: gerd.falkner@deutscherskiverband.de

Tel: +49 898 5790 211

Website: www.deutscherskiverband.de/ueber_uns_skimuseum_uebersicht_de,348.html

Open: Monday—Friday 8.30—16.00 and by appointment

Admission: Free

Excellent displays, good library but no longer holds the Luther Archive.

Reit im Winkl, Bayern/Bavaria

Skimuseum Alfons Dorner

Contact: Franz Höflinger

E-mail: via website

Tel: +49 8640 800 200

Website: www.reitimwinkl.de/winterurlaub/skimuseum

Open: Winter: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 15.00—17.00

           Summer: Tuesday, Thursday 15.00—17.00

Admission: Free with guest card

Excellent displays from c.1880s on.

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Hannover, Niedersachsen/Lower Saxony

Niedersächsisches Institut für Sportgeschichte (Lower Saxony Institute for Sport History)

Ferdinand-Wilhelm-Fricke-Weg 10, 30169 Hannover

E-mail: info@nish.de

Tel: +49 511 1268 5060

Website: www.nish.de

Open: Essential to call

Admission: Essential to call

Documents relating mostly to Lower Saxony including the Harz.

Köln/Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen/North Rhine Westphalia

Deutsche Sporthochschule/German Sports University

Institut für Sportgeschichte

Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933 Köln

Director: Stefan Wassong

E-mail: sporthistory@dshs-koeln.de

Tel: +49 221 4982-3740

Website: www.dshs-koeln.de

Open: Essential to call

Admission: Free but essential to call

Best library for ski materials in Germany. Now holds the Luther Archive.

Köln/Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen/North Rhine Westphalia

Deutsches Sport & Olympia Museum

Im Zollhafen 1, 50678 Köln

Secretary: Jennifer Guthof

E-mail: info@sportmuseum.de

Tel: +49 221 33609-0

Website: www.sportmuseum.de

Open: Tuesday—Friday 9.00—18.00

           Saturday—Sunday 11.00—19.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult €6 ($7.50), Family (4) €15 ($18.50)

Concentrates on 1936-1972 Olympic Games. Comparatively little on skiing.

Leipzig, Sachsen/Saxony

Leipzig Sportmuseum

Am Sportforum 10, 4105 Leipzig

Director: Gerlinde Rohr

E-mail: sportmuseum.Leipzig@t-online.de

Tel: +49 341 98051 12

Website: www.leipzig-online.de/sportmuseum-leipzig.html

Open: Monday—Friday 8.00—16.00

Admission: Inquire

Large general collection with some ski material.

Peiting, Bayern/Bavaria

Museum im Kloesterle

Kapellenstrasse 1, 86971 Peiting

E-mail: kloesterle-museu@gmx.de

Tel: +49 8861 59961

Website: www.peiting.de/tourismus/.../peiting/museum-im-kloesterle

Open: June—September: Monday—Friday 8.00—12.00

                                          Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 14.00—16.00

                                          Thursday 14.00—18.00

          October—May: Monday—Friday 8.00—12.00

                                     Thursday 14.00—18.00

Admission: Inquire

Skiing is one section of the museum.

Winterberg, Nordrhein-Westfalen/North Rhine Westphalia

Wintersport Museum Neuastenberg (sometimes called the Westdeutsches Wintersport Museum)

Neuastenbergstrasse 17, 59955 Winterberg

E-mail: info@skimuseum-winterberg.de

Tel: +49 2981 2636

Website: www.skimuseum-winterberg.de

Open: Saturday and Sunday 15.00—17.00 and by appointment

Admission: Adult €3 ($3.75), Child €1.50 ($2)

ITALY

Montebelluna, Treviso

Museo dello Scarpone/Museum of the Boot

Vicolo Zuccaareda 5, 31044 Montebelluna

E-mail: info@museoscarpone.it

Tel: +39 423 303282

Website: www.museoscarpone.it

Open: Monday—Friday 9.00—12.00, 14.30—17.30

           Saturday 16.00—19.00 and Sunday 15.30—19.00

Admission: free

Largest collection of ski boots (among others) including, for example, those of Alberto Tomba.

Torino/Turin, Piemontese/Piedmont

Museo Nazionale della Montagna ‘Duca degli Abruzzi’/National Museum of the Mountain ‘Duke of the Abruzzi’

Piazzale Monte del Cappuccini 7, 10131 Torino

Director: Aldo Audisio

E-mail: post@museomontagna.org

Tel: +39 116604 104

Website: www.museuomontagna.org

Open: Tuesday—Sunday 10.00—18.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult €10 ($12.50), Child €7 ($8.50)

Although this is a mountaineering museum, there is much on skiing here, film is specialty.

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Temù, Brescia

Museo della Guerra Bianca/Museum of the White War

Via Roma 40, 25050 Temù

Tel: +39 334 648 7127

E-mail: info@museoguerrabianca.it

Website: www.museoguerrabianca.it

Open: Essential to email or call for hours

Admission: Adult €7 ($8.50), Child €4 ($5)

Ski material of World War I mountain warfare.

TORINO/TURIN

Club Alpino Italiano, Sezione di Torino/Italian Alpine Club, Turin Section

Via Guiseppe Barboux 1, Torino

E-mail: segreteria@caitorino.it

Tel: +39 11 54 6031

Website: www.caitorino.it

Open: Monday 14.00—18.30

           Tuesday—Friday 10.00—18.30

Admission: Free

Although a mountaineering society, the library has interesting ski material.

JAPAN

Nagano, Nagano Prefecture

Nozawaonsen-mura/Ski Museum (also called Japanese Ski Museum)

9780-4 Toyosato, Nozawaonsen-mura, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano Prefecture

E-mail: info@nozawaski.com

Tel: +81 26985 3418

Website: www.nozawaski.com/summer/skihakubutsukan.php

Open: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 9.30—16.00

Closed: Thursday, Sunday

Admission: Adult 300 yen ($3), Student 150 yen ($1.50)

Displays European background and then development of skiing in Japan.

Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture

Sapporo Olympic Museum

1274 Miyanomori, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0958

Director: Masashi Abe

Tel: +81 11 641 8585

Website: www.sapporo-olympiamuseum.jp

Open: 28 April—4 November: 9.00—18.00

           5 November—26 April: 9.30—17.00

Admission: Adult 600 yen ($6), Senior 450 yen ($4.50), Child free

Many displays, especially of Olympics. Prince Takamatsu and Dr. Seishichi Ohno ski collections.

LIECHTENSTEIN

Eschen

Geissmann Collection

Rainer Geissmann, Renkwiller, Eschen

E-mail: Geissmann.rainer@adon.li

Private collection of Swiss Schwendener skis. Essential to E-mail for appointment.

NORWAY

Kongsberg, Buskerud

Ski Museum in Bergverksmuseet/Ski Museum in the Mining Museum

Hyttegata 3, Kongsberg

E-mail: bergverksmuseet@bvm.no

Tel: +47 9191 3200

Website: https://norsk-bergverksmuseum.no/skihistorisk-samlung

Open: 2 January—16 May: Tuesday—Sunday 12.00—16.00

           18 May—26 August: daily 10.00-17.00

           28 August—23 December: Tuesday—Sunday 12.00—16.00

Admission: Adult 90 NOK ($11.50) Senior/Student 70 NOK ($9), Child 50 NOK ($6)

The ski museum is part of the Mining museum.  Especially strong in Kongsberg region and Birger Ruud materials.

Lillehammer, Oppland

Norges Olympiske Museet/Norwegian Olympic Museum

Maihaugveien 1, 2609 Lillehammer

E-mail: post@lillehammer.no

Tel: +47 6128 89000

Website: www.ol.museum.no

Open: September—May: Tuesday—Sunday 11.00—16.00

           June—August: daily 10.00-17.00

Admission: Adult 135 NOK ($17), Senior/Student 95 NOK ($12), Child 65 NOK ($8), Family NOK 335 ($43)

Excellent displays on all Olympics but especially those held in Norway in 1952 and 1994, and the Youth Olympic Games in 2016.

Morgedal, Telemark

Norsk skieventyr/ /Norwegian Ski Adventure

3850 Kvitseit, 3848 Morgedal

Director: Kristi Marie Tveit

E-mail: kmt@vtm.no

Tel: +47 3506 9080

Website: www.vest-telemark.museum.no/...norsk-skieventyr-skimuseet-i-morgedal

Open: 26 January—30 April: Tuesday—Friday 10.00—17.00

                                                Saturday 11.00—17.00

                                                Sunday 11.00--1800

           1 May—14 June: Monday—Friday 10.00—17.00

                                        Saturday 11.00—17.00

                                        Sunday 12.00—17.00

          15 June—15 August: daily 10.00—18.00

           16 August—31 August: Monday—Friday 10.00—17.00

                                                   Saturday 11.00—17.00

                                                   Sunday 11.00—18.00

             1 September—16 December: Tuesday—Friday 10.00—17.00

                                                             Saturday 11.00—17.00

                                                             Sunday 11.00—18.00

Admission: Adult 100 NOK ($13), Senior/Student 80 NOK ($10), Child 50 NOK ($6.50), Family 250 NOK ($32)

Part of the Vest-Telemark museum system, good displays with special attention to Norheim (house available for visit) and Bjaaland.  Good library.

Oslo

Holmenkollen Skimuseet/Holmenkollen Ski Museum

Kongsveien 5, 0787 Oslo

Director: Åslaug Midtdal

E-mail: 

Aslaug.midtdal@skiforeningen.no

Tel: +47 917 69 758

Website: www.skiforeningen.no/en/holmenkollen/skimuseet

Open:  October—April: 10.00—16.00

             May—September: 10.00—17.00

             June—August: 9.00—20.00

Admission:  Adult 140 Kroner ($18), Senior/Student 120 Kr ($15), Child 70 Kr (49), Family (4) 350 Kr ($45)

The world’s most comprehensive ski museum.  Call ahead for research purposes.

Tromsø, Troms

Polarmuseet, Polar museum

Søndre Tollbodgate 11, 9008 Tromsø

E-mail: via website

Tel: +47 776233 60

Website: www.uit.no

Open: 1 January—14 June: 11.00—17.00

           15 June—15 August: 9.00—18.00

           16 August—31 December: 11.00—17.00

Admission: Adult 60 NOK ($8), Senior 30 NOK ($4), Family (4) 120 NOK ($16)

Tickets can be purchased for both the university museum and the polar museum.

Fridtjof Nansen, Roald Amundsen and also Helmer Hanssen and Hjalmar Johansen with Amundsen to S. Pole.

Tromsø, Troms

Tromsø Universitetsmuseet/Tromsø University Museum

P.O. Box 6050 Langnes, 9037 Tromsø

Contact: Anita Maurstad

E-mail: postmottak@tmu.uit.no

Tel: +47 776 450 01

Website: https://uit.no

Website for skis: www.unimus.no/etnografi/tmu/samling/index.php

Open: 1 June—31 August: 9.00—18.00

           1 September—31 May: Monday—Friday 10.00—16.30

                                                  Saturday 12.00—15.00

                                                   Sunday 11.00—16.00

Admission: Adult 60 NOK ($8), Senior/Student/Child 30 NOK ($4), Family 120 NOK ($16)

Tickets can be purchased for both the University Museum and the Polar Museum

General exhibits on northern life, especially Sami culture.  Some ski material including ca. 25 skis.

Trondheim, Trøndelag

Skimuseet Sverresborg, part of the Sverresborg Trøndelag Folkmuseet

Sverresborg Allé 13, Postboks 1107, 7020 Trondheim

E-mail: post@sverresborg.no

Tel: +47 7389 0100

Website: www.sverresborg.no

Open: Tuesday—Friday 10.00—15.00

           Saturday—Sunday 12.00—16.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult 125 NOK ($16), Senior/Student 110 NOK ($14), Child Free

Ski museum is among a large number of buildings which comprise the Folk Museum of the area

Trysil, Hedmark

Trysil-Knut Ski Museum

Vestsidevegen 4, 2420 Trysil

E-mail: rvingels@gmail.com

Tel: +47 918933 77

Website: www.expology.com/trysil-knut

Open: By appointment only: Tuesday—Sunday 12.00—19.00

Admission: 40 NOK ($5)

Small museum, nice displays.

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Alta, Finnmark

World Heritage Rock Art Centre—Alta Museum

Altaveien 19, 9518 Alta

Director: Harriet Hagen

E-mail: post@altamuseum.no

Tel: +47 41756330

Website: www.alta.museum.no

Open: 2 January—13 May: Monday—Friday: 9.00—15.00

                                             Saturday—Sunday: 11.00—16.00

           14 May—8 June: daily 8.00—17.00

            9 June—19 August: daily 08.00—20.00

           20 August—14 September: daily 08.00—17.00

           15 September—30 December: Monday—Friday 9.00—15.00

                                                             Saturday—Sunday 11.00—16.00

Admission: Summer/Winter (1 May—30 September/1 October—30 April): Adult 115/75 NOK ($16/10), Senior 105/65 NOK ($13/8), Student 100/55 NOK ($13/7), Child 35/20 NOK ($5/3)

Impressive rock carving. Exhibition jumping and Bjorn Wirkola.

Elverum, Hedmark

Norsk Skogbruksmuseet/Norwegian Forestry Museum

Solørvegen 151, 2407 Elverum

Director: Bjørn Bækkelund

E-mail: skogmus@annomuseum.no

Tel: +47 6240 9000

Website: www.skogmus.no

Open: 24 June—13 August: 10.00—17.00

           Rest of the year: 10.00—16.00

Admission: Adult 110 NOK ($13.50), Senior 80 NOK ($10), Youth/child 60 NOK ($7.50)

Concentrates on forestry, hunting and fishing and few skis on view. To see the 100 skis in storage appointment must be made for Monday-Friday 10.00—15.30 at bookingskogmus@annomuseum.no.

Oslo

Norskfolkemuseum/Norwegian Folk Museum

Museumveien 10, Bygdøy, 0287 Oslo

Conservator: Morten Bing

E-mail: post@norskfolkemuseum.no

Tel: +47 2212 3700

Website: www.norskfolkemuseum.no

Open: 15 May—14 September: daily 10.00—18.00

            15 September—14 May: Monday—Friday 11.00—15.00

                                                     Saturday—Sunday 11.00—16.00

Admission: Adult 130 NOK ($17), Senior/Student 100 NOK ($13), Child 40 NOK ($5), Family 260 NOK ($33)

The ski material is digitalized at www.digitalmuseum.no/search/?q=Ski&aq=owner%3F%3A%22NF%22

.

POLAND

Cieklin, Subcarpathian Voivodeship

Muzeum Narciarstwa w Cieklin: Stanisław Barabasz Ski Museum in Cieklin

38-222 Cieklin

Director: Wiesław Czechowicz

Scientific Director: Leon Rak

E-mail: muzeumnarciarstwa@op.pl; leorak1964@gmail.com and lrak@ajd.czest.pl

Tel: +48 791 994 591

Website: www.muzeum-narciarstwa.pl

Open: Wednesday 9.00—14.00

           Saturday 9.00—11.00

           Other times by arrangement

Admission: Free

Tadeusz Wowkonowicz and Stanisław Barabasz archives, and local ski development.

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Warsaw

Muzeum Sportu i Turystyki/Museum of Sport and Tourism

Pope Jan Pawell (John Paul) II Olympic Center, ul. Wybrzeże Gdyńskie 4, 01-531 Warszawa

Director: Tomasz Jagodziński

E-mail: muzsport@muzeumsportu.waw.pl

Tel: +48 225 603 780

Website: www.muzeumsport.waw.pl

Open: Wednesday—Friday 9.00—17.00

           Saturday—Sunday 10.00—17.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: 12 zloty ($3.50).  Saturday: Free

Skiing presented among other sports. Large library, museum publications.

Zakopane, Maloposkie/Province of Lesser Poland

Muzeum Tatrazańskie/ Museum of the Tatra Mountains

ul. Krupówki 10, 34-500 Zakopane

Director: Anna Wende-Surmiak

E-mail: biuro@muzeumtatrzanskie.pl

Tel: +48 182 0152 05

Website: www.muzeumtatrzanskie.pl

Open: 1 January—30 April: Wednesday—Saturday 9.00—17.00

           1 May—30 September: Tuesday—Saturday 9.00—18.00

           1 October—31 December: Wednesday—Saturday 9.00—17.00

           Year round Sundays: 9.00—15.00

Library open: Tuesday—Friday 8.00—16.00

Archives open: Tuesday—Friday 8.00—15.00

Admission: 7 zloty ($2)

Ski material and excellent photographs among much local history.

RUSSIA

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Moscow

State Historical Museum

Red Square 1, Moscow 109012

Tel: +7 495 692 4019

Website: www.shm.ru (but there is nothing about skis)

Information about the few bog skis held in this museum comes from Natalia I. Astashova, “Skis from the Archeological Collections of the State Historical Museum,” in Karin Berg et al (Eds.), History of Skiing Conference Holmenkollen, Oslo 16. – 18.9.1998.  Holmenkollen: Skiforeningen, 1998, 89-94.

St. Petersburg

Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography

University Embankment 3, 199034 St. Petersburg

Website: www.kunstkamera.ru (but there is nothing about skis)

Tel: +7 812 328 0812

Information about the few skis held in this museum comes from Tatyana Shrader, “Skis in Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (The Kunstkammer),” in Karin Berg et al (Eds.), History of Skiing Conference Holmenkollen, Oslo 16. – 18.9.1998. Holmenkollen: Skiforeningen, 1998,  13-15.

SLOVENIA

Begunje, Gorenjska/Upper Carniola

ELAN Alpine Ski Museum

4275 Begunje na Gorenjskem

Director: Tomaž Šlibar

E-mail: info@elanskimuseum.com

Tel: +386 453 511 09

Website: www.elanskimuseum.com

Open: 15 April—15 September: Tuesday—Thursday 10.00—19.00

                                                    Friday—Saturday 10.00—20.00

            16 September—14 April: Tuesday—Thursday, Sunday 10.00—19.00

Closed: Monday

Note: Groups by appointment outside listed times

Admission: Adult €5 ($6.25), Senior/Student €4 ($5), Child €3 ($3.75)

This is the ELAN factory museum.

Planica, Gorenjska/Upper Carniola

Planiški muzej/Planica Museum in the Nordic Center Planica

Rateče 4283

E-mail: info@nc-planica.si

Tel: +386 316 898 06

Website: www.nc-planica.si

Open: July—August: daily 9.00—20.00.  Rest of year: daily 9.00—18.00

Admission: Adult €6 ($7.50)

Excellent displays of jumping and ski flying.

Pohorje

Smučarski Mozej Pohorje/Pohorje Ski Museum

Hočko Pohorje 36b, 2208 Pohorje

Owner and Curator: Prof. Dr. Duško Uršič

E-mail: dusko.ursic@um.si

Open: By appointment

Admission: Adults €10 ($13), child up to 15: free

Largest private collection in Slovenia.  Opening Summer 2021.

Tržič, Gorenjska/Upper Carniola

Tržiški muzej—Slovenski smučarski muzej, Tržič/Tržič Museum—Slovenian Ski Museum

Muzejska 11, 4290 Tržič

Curator: Boštjan Meglič

E-mail: trziski.muzej@siol.net

Tel: + 386 4592 3810

Website: www.trziski-muzej.si

Open: Tuesday—Sunday 10.00—18.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult €3 ($3.75), Senior/Student, Child €2 ($2.50), Family €5 ($6.25)

Ski materials are only one part of the museum.

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Bloke

Nova vas 4 a, 1385 Nova vas, Bloke

Contact: Matej Pakiž

E-mail: obcina.bloke@bloke.si

Tel: +386 1709 8918 or +386 313 261 58

Open: Call ahead

Exhibition is sponsored by the municipality of Bloke (Občina Bloke)

Emphasis on local skis.  Bloke considers itself the founding place of Slovenian skiing.

Ljubljana

Muzej Športa/[Slovenian] Sports Museum

Kopitarjeva ulica 4, 1000 Ljubljana

Director: Tomaž Pavlin

E-mail: info@muzejsporta.si

Tel: +386 1431 8340

Website: https://museu.ms/museum/details/35/muzej-sporta

Open: Monday—Friday 9.00—14.00

Closed: Saturday, Sunday

Admission: Free

Most of the ski material has been moved to the complex at Planica. Good library, especially on Olympics.

Maribor, Podravska/Drava

Vojaški muzej slovenske vojske/Military Museum of the Slovenian Armed Forces

Kadetnica, Engelsova 15, 2111 Maribor

Contact: Gregor Kastelic

E-mail: gregor.kastelic@mors.si

Tel: +386 2449 5006

Website: www.vojaskimuzej.si

Open: January, February, June—September: 10.00—17.00

           March—May, October, November: 10.00—15.00

           Saturday, Sunday during the holidays: 10.00—15.00

Admission: Free but call before visit

The museum is inside the main building of the officers’ military training college and has minor displays on skiing.

Mojstrana, Gorenjska/Upper Carniola

Slovenski planinski muzej/Slovenian Alpine Museum

Triglavska cesta 49, 4281 Mojstrana

Contact: Miro Eržen

E-mail: info@planinskimuzej.si

Tel: +386 8380 6730

Website: www.planinskimuzej.si

Open: 1 June—14 September: 9.00—19.00

           15 September—31 May: 9.00—17.00

Admission: Adult €6 ($7.50), Senior/Student €3.60 ($4.50), Family €13 ($16)

A  mountain museum with occasional ski-mountaineering material.

SPAIN

Unha, Lleida

Musèu dera Nhèu/The Snow Museum

Santa Eulàlia 17-19, Unha-Naut Aran

E-mail: vielha@baqueira.es

Tel: +34 973 644 030

Website: www.bazueira.es/aran-aneu/vall-aran/aran-museos

Open: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10.00—13.00

           Thursday, Friday, Saturday 17.00—20.00      

Closed: Sunday                                                                                                     

Admission: Adult €3 ($3.75), Student €2 ($2.50), Child free

Snow seen from a scientific, ethnological, and sporting point of view. 

SWEDEN

Åsarna, Jamtland

Skimuseum Åsarna

Åsarna Ski Center, Olstavägen 45, 840 31 Åsarna

E-mail: info@asarnaskicenter.se

Tel: +46 687 302 30

Website: www.asarnaskicenter.se

Open: June—August: 9.00—20.00

           September—May: 9.00—19.00

Admission: 20 SKR ($2.50)

Mora, Dalarna

Vasaloppsmuseet/The Vasalopp Museum

792-32 Mora

E-mail: info@vasaloppet.se

Tel: +46 250 392 25

Website: www.vasaloppet.se

Open: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 8.00—16.30

           Thursday 9.00—15.00

Closed: Monday—Friday 12.00—13.00 and Saturday and Sunday

Admission: Call for prices

Museum of the Vasalopp.  Special exhibits, one on Mora Nisse.

Umeå, Västerbotten

Ski Museum is part of Västerbotten museum complex

Helena Elisabethsväg 3, Box 3183, 903 42 Umeå

E-mail: info@vbm.se

Tel: +46 9016 3900                                                                                                       

Website: www.vbm.se

Open: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10.00—17.00

           Wednesday 10.00—20.00

           Saturday, Sunday 11.00—17.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Free

Open air cultural museum of Västerbotten. Incorporates the best ski museum in Sweden, with excellent library.

SWITZERLAND

Bad Ragaz, Canton St. Gall/St. Gallen

Jürg Hess Collection

Unterrainstrasse 12, 7310 Bad Ragaz

Owner: Jürg Hess

E-mail: hess_juerg@bluewin.ch

 Tel: +41 79 616 7885

Open: By appointment only

Massive private collection of equipment, especially skis and bindings.

Davos, Canton Graubünden/Grisons

Wintersport-Museum/Winter Sport Museum

Promenade 43, 7270 Davos Platz

E-mail: andresguler@bluewin.ch

Tel: +41 814 132 484

Website: www.wintersportmuseum.ch

Open:  Winter: Tuesday, Thursday 16.30—18.30

             Summer: (Opening 19 June) 16.30—18.30

             Other times by appointment

Closed: April—18 June

Admission: Free

Excellent displays.

Lausanne, Canton Vaud/Waadt

Musée Olympique/Olympic Museum

Quai d’Ouchy 1, 1006 Lausanne

E-mail: info.museum@olympic.org

Tel: +41 216 216 511

Website: www.olympic.org/museum

Open:1 May—15 October: daily 9.00—18.00

           16 October—30 April: Tuesday—Sunday 10.00—18.00

Closed: Monday 16 October—30 April

Admission: Adult CHF 18 ($18), Senior CHF 16 ($16), Student CHF 12 ($12), Child CHF 10 ($10), Family CHF 40 ($40)

Vast museum, excellent displays, includes winter Olympics.  Olympic library and documentation center. Essential to call for research information.

Les Bois, Canton Jura

Laurent Donzé Collection

Sous les rangs 31, 2336 Les Blois

E-mail: l.donze@bluewin.ch

Tel: +41 794 188 252

Open: By appointment only

Private collection of c.a. 2000 cross-country skis.

Oberwald, Canton Valais/Wallis

Toni Hischier’s Ski Museum

Oberwald 3999

Tel: +41 793 299 400

Website: www.obergoms.ch/activities/for-mind-soul/museums

Open: By appointment only

Private collection of over 1000 skis.

Swiss Ski Lifts, a virtual museum

Contact: Jakob Schuler

E-mail: via website

Tel: +41 79 894 51 01

Website: www.skilift-nostalgie.ch

Comprehensive on-line depiction of ski lifts in Switzerland.

Swiss Ski Museum, a virtual museum

Case Postale 67, 1937 Orsières

Contact: Pierre Schneider

E-mail: info@swissskimuseum.com

Tel: +41 79 736 6947

Website: www.swissskimuseum.com

The most comprehensive on-line depiction and explanation of skiing development in Switzerland founded by Luzi Hitz (d.) and Pierre Schneider.

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Arosa, Canton Graubünden/Grisons

Heimatmuseum und Kulturarchiv Arosa—Schanfigg

Egga-Hus, 7050 Arosa

E-mail: info@arosa-museum.ch

Tel: +41 796 765 658 and +41 813 771 731

Website: www.arosa-museum.ch

Open: 22 December—13 April: Tuesday, Friday 14.30—16.30

           18 June—19 October: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 14.30—16.30

Closed: 14 April—17 June and 20 October—21 December

Admission: CHF 3 ($3)

Local museum with local archive.  Essential to call ahead.

Bern/Berne

Alpines Museum der Schweiz/Swiss Alpine Museum

Helvetiaplatz 4, 3005 Bern

E-mail: info@alpinesmuseum.ch

Tel: +41 3135 004 40

Website: www.alpinesmuseum.ch

Open: Tuesday—Sunday: 10.00—17.00

Closed: Monday

Admission: Adult CHF 16 ($16), Student CHF 12 ($12), Child CHF 6 ($6), Family CHF 35 ($35)

Includes winter sports material, also skis of Hermann Hesse. Good library. 

Grindelwald, Canton Bern/Berne

Heimatmuseum Grindelwald

Almisgässli, 3, 3818 Grindelwald

Director: Marco Bomio

E-mail: grindelwald-museum@bluewin.ch

Tel: +41 338 5343 02

Website: www.grindelwald-museum.ch

Open: 1 June—8 October: Tuesday—Friday, Sunday 15.00—18.00

Closed: 1 April—31 May

Admission: Adult CHF 7 ($7), Child CHF 2 ($2)

The winter sport section is on the second floor.

Lauterbrunnen, Canton Bern/Berne

Talmuseum Lauterbrunnen

Ey, 3822 Lauterbrunnen

Contact: Esther Graf

E-mail: info@talmuseumlauterbrunnen.ch

Tel: +41 338 553 586

Website: www.talmuseumlauterbrunnen.ch

Open: 3 June—14 October: Tuesday, Thursday—Sunday: 14.00—17.30

Closed: Monday, Wednesday

Closed: 15 October—2 June, but possible entry by arrangement

Admission: Adult 5 CHF ($5)

One of 12 sections is a small display of skis and equipment.

Luzern/Lucerne, Canton Luzern/Lucerne

Verkehrshaus der Schweiz/Swiss Transport Museum

Lidostrasse 5, 6006 Luzern

E-mail: mail@verkehrshaus.ch

Tel: +41 413 704 444

Website: www.verkehrshaus.ch

Open: Summer: daily 10.00—18.00

           Winter: daily 10.00—17.00

Admission: Adult CHF 32 ($32), Student CHF 22 ($22), Child CHF 12 ($12).  Note these are for museum only.  Other prices apply for various aspects of this large museum

Includes a replica of the Davos-Bolgen ski lift, and much on aerial tramways and their inspection.  Good library.

Magglingen/Macolin, Canton Bern/Berne

Eidgenössische Hochschule für Sport/Swiss Sports University

Federal Office of Sport, Swiss Federal Institute of Sports, 2532 Magglingen

E-mail: via internet at ‘media library’

Tel: +41 323 276 226

Website: www.ehsm.ch

Open: Library: Monday—Friday 9.00—12.00 and 13.30—17.00

Closed: Saturday and Sunday

Admission: Free

No ski exhibits but very good library.  Essential to call ahead.

Münchenstein, Canton Basel

Schweizer Sportmuseum/Sport Museum of Switzerland

Reinacherstrasse 1, 442 Münchenstein

E-mail: info@sportmuseum.ch

Tel: +41 612 611 221

Website: www.sportmuseum.ch

Open: Wednesday, Friday: 14.00—17.00

Admission: CHF 8 ($8)

Much ski material among vast collection of sport artifacts.  Good library.  Essential to call ahead for research.

Näfels, Canton Glarus/Glaris

Museum des Landes Glarus

Freulerpalast, 8752 Näfels

Director: Bettina Giersberg

E-mail: info@freulerpalast.ch

Tel: +41 556 121 378

Website: www.freulerpalast.ch

Open: 1 April—30 November: Tuesday—Friday 10.00—12.00 and 14.00—17.00

                                                   Saturday—Sunday 10.00—17.00

Closed: 1 December—31 March but will open for groups by appointment

Admission: Adult CHF 10 ($10), Student CHF 5 ($5)

Local museum, skiing being one of seven major exhibits with emphasis on Glarus.

Obervaz, Canton Graubünden/Grisons

Obervaz Museum

Voa da Solis 2, 7082 Vaz/Obervaz

Director: Anna Maria Elmer-Cantieni

E-mail: museum.vaz@bluewin.ch

Tel: +41 813 842 159

Website: www.vazobervaz.ch/sportmuseum

Open:  Call for hours

Admission: Adult CHF 7 ($7), Child CHF 3 ($3)

Local museum displaying importance of tourism and holding late 19th century skis and a display of local Olympic (1976) star, Heine Hemmi.

Pontresina, Canton Graubünden/Grisons

Museum Alpin Pontresina

Chesa Delnon Haus, via Maistra 199, 7504 Pontresina

Contact: Annemarie Brülisauer

E-mail: museum@pontresina.ch

Tel: +41 818 427 273

Website: www.pontresina.ch/museumalpin

Open: 11 June—20 October: Monday—Saturday 15.30—18.00

Closed: Sunday

Admission: Adult CHF 8 ($8), Youth and Child CHF 2 ($2)

Local museum with some ski material. Exhibit on 50th anniversary of Engadin marathon.

Saas-Fee, Canton Valais/Wallis

Saaser Museum

Dorfstrasse 6, 3906 Saas-Fee

Contact: Damian Bumann

E-mail: museum@3906.ch

Tel: +41 792 202 853 or +41 279 571 475

Website: www.3906.ch/de/leben/kultur/saasermuseum

Open: 18 June—14 October: Tuesday and Thursday 14.30—17.00 and on request

Admission: Adult CHF 5 ($5), Child CHF 2.50 ($2.50)

Local museum with some ski related material.

Schönenwerd, Canton Solothurn

Bally Schuhmuseum/Bally Shoe Museum

Oltnerstrasse 6, 5012 Schönenwerd

E-mail: receptioncaslano@bally.ch

Tel: +41 916 129 111

Website: www.bally.com

Open: For individuals only on the last Friday and Saturday of every month.  For groups by arrangement.

Admission: Call ahead

One of the largest collections of boots and shoes with occasional early ski boots.

Tramelin, Canton Bern/Berne

Musée du Ski Geiser

In shop Geiser-Sports, Grand-Rue 39, 2720 Tramelin

E-mail: info@geiser-sports.ch

Tel: +41 324 874 160

Website: www.geiser-sports.ch

Open: October—April: Monday 13.30—18.30

                                       Tuesday—Friday 9.00—12.00 and 13.30—18.30

                                        Saturday 9.00—12.00

           May: Monday—Friday 14.00—18.00

           September: Wednesday 14.00—18.00

Closed: June—August

Admission: Free

The ski museum is in the shop, various exhibits are available for ski clubs etc.

Zermatt, Canton Valais/Wallis

Matterhorn Museum

Kirchplatz, Zermatt 3920

E-mail: matterhornmuseum@zermatt.ch

Tel: +41 279 674 100

Website: www.zermatt.ch/en/museum

Open: 9 April—30 June: daily 14.00—18.00

            1 July—30 September: daily 11.00—18.00

            1 October—31 October: daily 15.00—18.00

            23 November—20 December: Friday, Saturday, Sunday 15.00—18.00

Closed: 1 November—22 November

               23 November—20 December Monday--Thursday

Admission: Adult CHF 10 ($10), Senior/Student CHF 8 ($8), Child CHF 5 ($5)

Mostly on growth of Zermatt from mountain farm community to summer and winter alpine resort with much on Matterhorn climbing.

UNITED KINGDOM

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Leicester, Leicestershire

The Ski Club of Great Britain Archives in Special Collections of De Montfort University

Special Collections Kimberlin Library, Leicester LE1 9BH

Archivist: Katharine Short

E-mail: kshort@dmu.ac.uk and archives@dmu.ac.uk

Tel: +44 116 250 6392

Website: www.dmu.ac.uk

Open: Monday—Friday 9.00—17.00.  Essential to call ahead for research

Entire archives of Ski Club of Great Britain is now (April 2018) housed at De Montfort University.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Boise, Idaho

Glory Days Ski Museum

4432 N. Burnside Place, Boise, ID 83702

Owner: Kirk Luba

E-mail: glorydaysskimuseum@gmail.com

Tel: 208 629 8329

Open: By appointment.

Private collection of 1960s-1980s skis.

Davis, West Virginia

Snow Sports Museum of West Virginia

466 William Avenue, Davis, WV 26260 (postal P.O. Box 421)

Executive Director: Andy Snyder

E-mail: ssmwv@icloud.com

Tel: 334-663-1172

Website: www.snowsportsmuseumwv.org

Open: 15 April—31 October: Thursday-Monday 11.00-18.00

            2021 until 11 April: Friday-Sunday 11.00-18.00

Admission: Free

Monthly Newsletter on website. Collections 1950—1990

Fort Drum, New York

10th Mountain Deivision & Fort Drum Museum

Building 2509 Col. Reade Road, Fort Drum, NY 13602

Director: to be names Fall 2022

Curator: Kent Bolke

E-mail: 10thmountainmuseum@gmail.com

Tel: 315 774 0391

Website: https://history/army/mil/fieldmuseum/fortDrum/index.html

Open: All year, Tuesdays-Saturdays 9 am-5 pm

Closed: Sundays, Mondays, and federal holidays

Admission: Free

History of Fort Drum and 10t Mountain Division from beginning to modern deployments.  Military mountaineering and skiing in US army.

Franconia, New Hampshire

New England Ski Museum

135 Tramway Drive, P.O. Box 267, Franconia, NH 03580

Executive Director: Jeffrey R. Leich

E-mail: staff@skimuseum.org

Tel: 603 823 7177

Website: www.skimuseum.org

Open: 1 December—ca.15 April: 9.00—17.00

           31 May—ca.15 October: 9.00—17.00

Closed: 15 April—30 May and 15 October—1 December

Admission: Free.  Admission during closed periods by appointment

Exhibits highlight New England skiing.  One of the finest libraries in the USA with manuscript archives and films. Journal is published four times a year.

Ishpeming, Michigan

U.S Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame

610 Palms Avenue, P.O. Box 191, Ishpeming, MI 49849

E-mail: Administrator@skihall.com

Tel: 906 485 6323

Website: www.skihall.com

Open: Monday—Saturday 10.00—17.00

Closed: Sunday and national holidays

Admission: Free

Many exhibits, Roland Palmedo library.

Kingfield, Maine

Ski Museum of Maine

256 Maine St., P.O. Box 359, Kingfield, ME 04947

Director: Theresa Shanahan

E-mail: info@skimuseumofmaine.org

Tel: 207 265 2023

Website: www.skimuseumofmaine.org

Open: Year round Monday--Friday 10.00—16.00

Admission: Free

Emphasis on Maine skiing, with special reference to Sugarloaf and manufacturers.

North Conway,  New Hampshire

New England Ski Museum: Eastern Slopes Branch

P.O. Box 1673, North Conway, NH 03860-1673

Manager: Brian Fowler

E-mail: brian@skimuseum.org

Tel: 603 730 5044

Website: www.skimuseum.org

Open: daily 9.00—16.00 until further notice

Admission: Free

Irwin Exhibit Hall displays Eastern skiing with special reference to Harvey Dow Gibson and Hannes Schneider. Library.

Park City, Utah

Alf Engen Ski Museum located in Olympic complex

Joe Quinney Winter Sports Park, Utah Olympic Park, P.O. Box 980187, Park City, UT 84098

Executive Director: Connie Nelson

E-mail: via website

Tel: 435 658 4240

Website: www.engenmuseum.org

Open: daily 10.00—18.00

Admission: Free

Emphasis on Alf Engen and Utah skiing.  The Eccles 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum is also a part of this museum.

Red Wing, Minnesota

The American Ski Jumping Hall of Fame and Museum

Inside the St. James Hotel, 406 Main St., Red Wing, MN 55066

Contact: St. James Hotel

E-mail: info@americanskijumping.com

Tel: 651 388 2846 (Hotel telephone)

Website: www.americanskijumping.com

Open: On request only, essential to call hotel ahead

Admission: Free

History of jumping, especially Scandinavian immigrants.  Hall of Fame.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Utah Ski and Snowboard Archives

University of Utah Marriot Library Special Collections, 295 South 1500 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Manager: Judy Jarrow

E-mail: via website

Tel: 801 581 3421

Website: www.lib.utah.edu

Open: Essential to call ahead

Admission: Free

Documentation on Utah skiing, resort growth and the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

Sandia Peak, New Mexico

New Mexico Ski Hall of Fame and Ski Museum

Base of Sandia Peak Aerial Tram, 10 Tramway Rd. NE, P.O. Box 09937, Albuquerque, NM 87122

Contact: Jay Blackwood

E-mail: jblackw796@aol.com

Tel: 505 857 8916

Website: www.nmskihall.org

Open: daily 9.00—20.00

Admission: Free

Small museum, local emphasis.

Snoqualmie Pass, Washington

Washington State Ski and Snowboard Museum

At the top of the pass between the Commonwealth Café and Dru Bru Tap Room

P.O. Box 1301, Mercer Island, WA 98040

Contact: Dave Moffett

Email: info@wsssm.org

Tel: 424 434 0827

Website: www.wsssm.org

Open: daily Thursday—Sunday 12.00—17.00 but call to confirm hours

Admission: Free

Washington State ski development and recognized skiers.  Hall of Fame.

Soda Springs, California

Western SkiSport Museum

On Donner Pass.  P.O. Box 829, Soda Springs, CA 95728

Director: Bill Clark

E-mail: bclark@inc.auburnskiclub.org

Tel: 530 426 3313 x 101

Website: www.auburnskiclub.com/asctc/about-us/ski-museum

Open: Ski season: daily 10.00—16.00

            Off season: by appointment

Admission: Free

Displays of Western states skiing and of Squaw Olympics. Strong on Sierra “longboard” skiing of the Gold Rush era. Library and documents.

Note: The Museum of Sierra Ski History and the Olympic Museum are presently (April 2018) fundraising and obtaining land permits.  If all goes as planned, the Olympic artifacts from the Western SkiSport Museum will go to the Olympic Museum, and the other artifacts will go to the Museum of Sierra Ski History.  Eventually, the hope is to combine all three in the Olympic Museum (www.olympicskimuseum.org) planned for Squaw Valley opening in 2023.

Stowe, Vermont

Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum

1 South Main St., P.O. Box 1511, The Perkins Building, Stowe, VT 05672

Director: Abby Blackburn

E-mail: info@vermontskimuseum.org

Tel: 802 253 9911

Website: www.vtssm.com

Open: 26 May—15 October: Wednesday—Sunday 12.00—17.00

Closed: Monday and Tuesday and 16 April—25 May

Admission: Free

Vermont exhibits, also 10th Mountain.

Squaw Valley, California

Olympic Museum—See Soda Springs: Western SkiSport Museum note

Tahoe City, California

Museum of Sierra Ski History—See Soda Springs: Western SkiSport Museum note

Currently artifacts are displayed at the Gatekeepers Cabin Museum, 130 W. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA 96145

Tel: 530 583 1762

Website: www.tahoecity.org

Open: daily in Summer.  Rest of the year: Wednesday—Sunday.  Call for hours

Local ski history.

Tannersville, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Ski and Snow Sports Museum

Exhibit at base lodge of Camelback Ski Area, Tannersville, PA 18372

Contact: Paul Prutzman, Goggleworks Suite 506 A, 201 Wahington St., Reading, PA 19601

E-mail: Pasmoffice@gmail.com

Tel: 610 334 4378

Website: www.pasnowsportsmuseum.com

Open: When ski area is open

Admission: Free

Local ski development.  Hall of Fame.

Vail, Colorado

Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame

231 South Frontage Road East, P.O. Box 1976, Vail, CO 81657

Director: John McMurtry

E-mail: skimuseum@gmail.com

Tel: 970 476 1876

Website: www.skimuseum.net

Open: 5 March 2018 on limited basis due to renovations: daily 10.00—18.00

Admission: Free

Exhibits Colorado material, extensive 10th Mountain collection

OTHER MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen Historical Society

620 West Bleeker St., Aspen, CO 81611

Curator: Lisa Hancock

E-mail: info@aspenhistory.com

Tel: 970 925 3721

Website: www.aspenhistory.com

Open: Call for opening hours

Admission: Free

Documents relating to Aspen’s skiing history.

Decorah, Iowa

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum

520 West Water St., P.O. Box 379, Decorah, IA 52101

Curator:  Laurann Gilbertson

E-mail: info@vesterheim.org

Tel: 563 382 9681

Website: www.vesterheim.org

Open: 1 May—31 October: 9.00—17.00

           1 November—30 April: 10.00—16.00

Admission: Adult $10, Senior $8, Youth $5

Museum of Norwegian immigration in the Midwest with small collection on immigrant skiing.

Denver, Colorado

10th Mountain Division Resource Center in the Denver Public Library

Denver Public Library, 10 W 14the Ave Parkway, Denver, CO 80204-2731

Archivist: Keli Schmid

E-mail: kschmid@denverplibrary.org

Tel: 720 865 1812

Website: www.denverlibrary.org

 Open: Monday and Tuesday 10.00—20.00

           Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10.00—18.00

           Saturday: 9.00—17.00 and Sunday 13.00—17.00

Admission: Free

Archives of letters, diaries, photos, films with emphasis on World War II.

Government Camp, Oregon

Mount Hood Cultural Center and Museum

88900 East Hwy 26, Business Loop, P.O. Box 55, Government Camp, OR 97028

Contact: Lloyd Musser or Cheryl Maki

E-mail: info@mthoodmuseum.org

Tel: 503 272 3301

Website: www.mthoodmuseum.org

Open: daily 9.00—17.00

Admission: Free

Local museum with ski documents and artifacts from local clubs on second floor.

Ketchum, Idaho 

Sun Valley Museum of History

180 East 1st St., P.O. Box 2168, Ketchum, ID 83340

Director of Regional History: Mary Tyson

E-mail: mtyson@comlib.org

Tel: 208 726 8118 and 208 726 3493 x 103

Website: www.ksvhs.com

Open: Monday—Saturday 10.00—18.00

Admission: Free

Local material including much on skiing.

Lake Placid, New York

Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum

Olympic Center, 2634 Main St., Lake Placid, NY 12946

Director: Alison Haas

E-mail: via website

Tel: 518 302 5326

Website: www.lpom.org

Open: daily 10.00—17.00

Admission: Adult/Youth $7, Senior/Junior $5

Much on skiing but also on the other winter sports.  Exhibitions highlight the Games of 1932 and 1980.

New England Lost Ski Areas Project (NELSAP)

Digitalized list of closed ski areas

Director: Jeremy Davis

E-mail: nelsap@yahoo.com

Tel: 518 581 8755

Website: www.nelsap.org

Admission: Free

Detailed list on line of closed past ski areas of New England with brochures, photos, tales.

Norco, California

California Ski Library

3321 Aryana Ave., P.O. Box 283, Norco, CA 92860

Owner: Ingrid P. Wicken

E-mail: ingrid@skilibrary.com

Tel: 951 207 9218

Website: www.skilibrary.com

Open: By appointment only

Admission: Free

One of the finest ski libraries in the USA.  Documentation on western US skiing.

Park City, Utah

Park City Historical Society and Museum

528 Main St., P.O.Box 555, Park City, UT84060

Director: Morgan Pierce

E-mail: via website

Tel: 435 649 7457

Website: http://parkcityhistory.org

Open: Monday—Saturday 10.00—19.00

            Sunday 12.00—18.00

Admission: Adult $12, Senior/Student $10, Child $5

Much on mining and ski history.

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Tread of Pioneers Museum

800 Oak St., P.O. Box 772372, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487

Executive Director: Candice Bannister

E-mail: cbannister@treadofpioneers.org

Tel: 970 879 2214

Website: www.treadofpioneers.org

Open: Tuesday—Saturday 11.00—17.00

Closed: Sunday and Monday

Admission: Adult $6, Senior $5, Child $2

Local museum with display of skiing personalities and material.

Stratton Mountain, Vermont

Stratton Mountain Foundation

Stratton Foundation, 2D Village Square, P.O. Box 523, Stratton Mountain, VT 05155

E-mail: info@strattonfoundation.org

Tel: 802 277 2096

Open:  Only by appointment

Stratton Mountain archives of local area and papers of personalities.

Washington, DC

Sir Arnold Lunn Papers, Lauinger Library, Georgetown University

Special Collections, Lauinger Library, 37th & O Streets, Washington DC 20057

Contact: Essential for appointments to see special collections: www.library.georgetown.edu/special-collections/contact

E-mail: https://findingaids.library.georgetown.edu

Tel: 202 6878 0100

Website: www.library.georgetown.edu

Open: Essential to call for hours special collections are open

21 linear feet of Arnold Lunn’s correspondence, manuscripts, notebooks, ephemera from 1896-1978.

COLLECTIONS and LIBRARIES now in STORAGE or in CLOSED museums:

AUSTRIA/LIECHTENSTEIN

Noldi Beck’s collection, once on display in Liechtenstein, is believed to be in Austria.  Once it has been inventoried, there is a hope that it will be exhibited.  The ‘drama’ is best followed in an article by Bernhard Odehnal, “Ein Museum verschwindet” (“A Museum Vanishes”) in the Swiss Tagesanzeiger 28 October 2017.

The Austrian Alpine Association in Innsbruck is closed (April 2018) while they look for new premises.  However, the digitalized lists can be searched, so I have left it as an entry.

CANADA

Canadian Ski Hall of Fame and Museum, as of April 2018, is planned for Mont Tremblant, Quebec.  The Executive Director: Joanne Heward can be reached at 514-715-0245 or at joanne@hewardgroup.com.  No opening date yet.

USA

Beekley International Collection of Art and Library in storage in Westminster, Colorado while searching for a new venue.  Open to research by appointment only.  For information: Natale Messina, P.O. Box 426, Plantsville, CT 06479 and/or tel: 860 240 6027 and email:  nmessina@legacyfws.com.  Or from Kim Carrera email: Kcarrera1@cox.net.

Neptune Mountaineering and Ski Museum (Boulder, Colorado) is in storage until further notice.

Olympic Museum (Squaw Valley, California) and Sierra Ski History Museum (Tahoe City, California)—see note at Soda Springs.