12 Dec 4 Big Stars in the Ski Industry
If you possess an affinity for that cold, white powdery stuff on the mountains in the wintertime, you most likely get an itch to go to the slopes once it flies. And, if you’re “in the know” in the industry, you’ll likely determine some of the individuals highlighted in this post. While they are each known for different things, the main thing unites them: their obsession for snow sports!
Alf Engen
Born in Norway, Alf was known as a ski jumper when he came to the United States at the age of 19. He became involved at Alta Ski Resort, and was engaged with the ski school there. Alf won many ski awards, coached the 1948 United States Olympic team in Switzerland, and worked with the Deseret News Free Ski School.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3LWvbg57uJM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ4VZiWTlmI
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GJDktpAFxxk
Doug Coombs
A “steep” in skiing refers to any slope with a pitch greater than 45 degrees, and Doug Coombs loved them. He is among the greats in skiing steeps and is quoted as saying, “There is no such thing as too much snow.” He married Emily Coombs and together they opened the Doug Coombs Steep Skiing Camps Worldwide in the United States. They afterwards moved their business to Europe because there were fewer “red tape” safety regulations that they had to comply with on the slopes. He worked to lead others down steeps, mentoring and widening their ski experiences. In April of 2006, while skiing with friends in France, one of them fell off a cliff. Doug also fell to his death while attempting to locate and help him. Even though he’s been gone for more than 10 years now, his legacy lives on. Created in 2013, the Doug Coombs Foundation prioritizes blending social classes by offering children who can’t provide it the possibility to enjoy expedition in the outdoors. Coombs was a man of determination, discipline and grit. To know more about his story and his legacy that goes on today, check out dougcoombsfoundation.com or look into the biography of his life, Tracking the Wild Coomba by Robert Cocuzzo.
Kim Reichhelm
A woman who has made a name for herself in adventure skiing, Kim founded Women’s Ski Adventures in 1989 to assist women having fun on skis and improve their technique, and later started Steep Skiing Camps geared toward offering amazing chances for professional skiers who want to take it to the next level. She was a winner of the World Extreme Skiing Championship twice, and is also known for dominating the North American, South American, and World Extreme Skiing titles all within the same year. She has worked in the industry for all of her professional life, and she sets up heliskiing adventures for groups in Chile, Japan, Iceland, and Alaska. She’s strong, independent, and devoted, and you can know more about her (or ski with her!) at skiwithkim.com.
Jake Burton Carpenter
This man is sort of the father of modern snowboarding. He established Burton snowboards in 1977, and named the company after his middle name. The design of his snowboard started as a spoof on what was referred to as the “Snurfer,” a single board with a rope attached. Initially he established each board by hand, with the first board sporting aluminum fins at the back (which were later replaced by refining the board edges). He continues to value the input of people that use his tools, making modifications and adjustments to offer the greatest product. On a final note, he also established Chill in 1995, a nonprofit organization in the United States and Canada. This is a way he’s repaying, and Chill provides chances for children to learn how to snowboard (and other sports that use a board, too) who might otherwise not have the chance to do so. To learn more about Jake, take a look at any (or all!) of these links.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/29/sports/jake-burton-carpenter-paralyzed-snowboard-executive-trail-of-anguish-and-hope.html?_r=0burton.comchill.org
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-tciLFry5Ww
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K4JoU8W3c2w
Most of us don’t ski with the same level of intensity, life dedication, and passion as these four folks, but it’s still something we love and take pleasure in doing solo or with friends and family. Let us come along for the ride and provide transportation if you’ve organized a group ski trip. Employing a coach for this sort of outing is best because we have adequate storage for all the gear you’ve got, there’s power and WiFi on board for when you’re in transit, and it’s good to have someone on hand to do the driving when you’re exhausted at the end of a great day on the slopes. We love becoming part of the adventure and fun that’s on your calendar, so contact us today!