Column: Skiing history comes to life in Aspen
The Aspen Times
The history of skiing and snowboarding in the United States is forever tied to Aspen.
Witness the 1950 FIS World Championships staged at Aspen Mountain, a landmark event that would shape the early development of a fledgling resort at the end of a dead-end road in the majestic Colorado Rockies.
Fast forward to 2014, when longtime Aspen big-mountain skier Chris Davenport is inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame — the first skier of his mountaineering genre so honored.
Just a year earlier, Aspen’s John Clendenin, a pioneer in the instructional arena, was selected to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.
The two Aspen Hall of Fame skiers will introduce another chapter in skiing history Friday at the Limelight Hotel in Aspen when they announce the Class of 2015 for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.
A national voting panel selects the incoming class each year with the announcements in the fall and the formal inductions in April.
Davenport received his induction notice one year ago. He will share stories from his diverse and varied career at the Friday program, which will run from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
The special ski fest at the Limelight is a fundraiser for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall.
A $20 donation is suggested, although admission is free.
In addition, Clendenin will talk about his life and career in the ski world.
There will be treats as well as a silent auction. Items featured include a pair of Kastle skis, signed by the skier known as “Dav.”
A Clendenin Method Ski Camp also will be offered in the auction.
So, who will be in the Hall of Fame Class of 2015?
Find out Friday at the Limelight.
Womens’ World Cup
Speaking of skiing history, the women’s World Cup will return to Aspen on Nov. 28 and 29 with the annual Aspen Winternational. That’s giant slalom and slalom racing scheduled for Aspen Mountain.
The races will be the last in Aspen until the 2017 World Cup Finals.
Aspen will not host women’s races in 2016, with the 2017 World Cup Finals set for Aspen Mountain at the end of the 2016-17 ski season.
The women of the World Cup will race a slalom in Levi, Finland, on Nov. 14 and 15 before heading to Aspen.
