Lives

Dick Needham, longest serving Editor of SKI Magazine.

Dick Needham
Passing Date: December 20, 2012

Richard Needham, who served as Editor of SKI longer than anyone in the 75-year history of America’s largest and oldest ski magazine, died in Sarasota, Florida on December 12, 2012at the age of 73. Cause of death was complications from open heart surgery. Needham served as SKI’s Editor over 20...

Jim Spring, ski market research pioneer

Jim Spring
Passing Date: October 22, 2012

Jim Spring, who served as chairman of the International Skiing History Association during the challenging period of its growth, 2004 — 2007, died on Monday, October 22, 2012 at his home in Boulder. After stepping down as ISHA chair, Jim continued to serve on ISHA’s board of directors, donating...

Emile Allais, world champion, coach, resort builder, English et francais.

Emile Allais
Passing Date: October 17, 2012

Émile Allais died Oct. 17, 2012 aged 100. He set up the Ecole de Ski Francais, helped create modern ski resorts and is considered the first great French ski racer as he dominated the sport in the 1930s. Born in February 1912 in Megève (Haute-Savoie), Émile Allais was considered the father of...

Tom Sims, Snowboard Innovator

Tom Sims
Passing Date: September 13, 2012

Both skiers and riders — pretty much anyone who likes to play in the snow — mourned the passing of snowboarding pioneer Tom Sims Sept. 13, 2012. Sims reportedly died of a heart attack at his home in Santa Barbara, Calif. Sims is credited with the development and invention of the first snowboard in...

Ivan Petkov, Shaped-ski innovator

Ivan Petkov
Passing Date: September 8, 2012

Aspen — Long time Roaring Fork resident Ivan Petkov passed away September 8, 2012 after a long and valiant battle with cancer. He set an inspiring example with his constant optimism, sense of humor and love for family, friends and sport. Always with a smile and infectious enthusiasm, Ivan could be...

Herbert Schneider, North Conway NH

Herbert Schneider
Passing Date: June 10, 2012

SON OF HANNES SCHNEIDER Former Cranmore Mountain owner/general manager Herbert Schneider, 92, of North Conway, died in Portland, Maine, June 10, 2012. Born May 20,1920, Schneider was the son of Ludwina (Seeberger) Schneider and legendary Austrian ski instructor Hannes Schneider (1890-1955) of St....

Jerry Berg, instructor and Coach

Jerry Berg
Passing Date: June 4, 2012

Donald Jerome “Jerry” Berg, aka Bergie, died in a bicycle accident near his home in Minturn, Colo., on June 4, 2012. He was 61. A natural athlete, Bergie grew up skiing in the Midwest and joined the Vail Ski School in the early 1970s. He was a PSIA trainer, examiner and alpine committee chair,...

Winter Park pioneer, Eskimo Ski Club founder

Frank Bulkley
Passing Date: April 18, 2012

By Jason Blevins, Denver Post Frank Bulkley II helped more kids go skiing than just about anyone out there. Bulkley, the founder of Denver’s venerable Eskimo Ski Club and the famed Ski Train, ferried tens of thousands of kids — and then their kids — between Denver and Winter Park every Saturday for...

Bob Smith, ski goggle inventor

Bob Smith
Passing Date: April 18, 2012

Bob Smith, the California orthodontist who invented the double-lens powder goggle, died in Palm Desert on April 18, 2012, from complications following surgery to implant a heart pacemaker. He was 78. Robert Earl Smith grew up in San Carlos, Calif. and attended Stanford and the San Francisco College...

Chris Gribbin, Quebec ski instruction pioneer

Chris Gribbin
Passing Date: March 10, 2012

Chris Gribbin, 90, died in March, 2012. In 1943, he was a founding member of the Ski Instructors Alliance of Canada and its first paid employee, running the office and training programs from 1949 to 1962. An English instructor at the Universityof Montreal, Chris also coached its ski team through...