U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall Of Fame Announces Incoming Class Of 2018
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018 was announced on Friday, September 14, 2018 in Ishpeming, MI. A formal induction will be held for the star-studded group of 8 noted skiing and snowboarding pioneers, athletes and sport builders on April 6, 2019 in Salt Lake City, UT. The celebration returns to Utah for the third time. The National Induction was held in Park City in 2014 and previously in 2009.
The Honored Members of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame represent the highest level of national achievement in America, featuring prominent athletes and snow sport builders whose accomplishements showcase American skiing and snowboarding.
Park City, UT will host “Snowsport History Celebration” April 4-6, 2019, with several events to welcome the class of 2018 to Utah. This three-day celebration will culminate with the induction ceremony in Salt Lake City at Little America. The annual induction honors not only athletes, but industry icons, innovators and inventors with lifelong national and international achievements in all facets of snowsport. With the legacy of the 2002 Winter Games and the long lineage of celebrated athletes, Park City Mountain provides a spectacular backdrop for Snowsport History Celebration events culminating with the induction ceremony.
Among the eight inductees are the late Tom Sims, inventor of the “skiboard”, William Jensen nationally renowned resort operator, the late Don Henderson, a pioneer of ski racing, Tom Kelly, the leading spokesperson for U.S. Ski & Snowboard, alongside Bode Miller and Andrew Weibrecht 5-time and 2-time Alpine Skiing Olympians respectively. Two women round out the class with Kristen Ulmer, known as the first female extreme skier and Hilary Engisch-Klein a world dominating freestyle skier..
HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2018
- Bode Miller - New York, NY was the most successful U.S. male skier of our time. He participated in 5 Olympics, winning 1 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze medals. He said “I was honored when I heard the news about my HOF nomination. I always tried to ski in a way that inspired myself and ski racing fans and I appreciate this support from the industry.”
- Andrew Weibrecht - Lake Placid, NY spent 16 years on the U. S. Ski Team. At the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver he won a bronze and in 2014 Sochi Games won a silver medal in Super-G.
- Hilary Engisch-Klein - Stowe, VT is four-time Women’s World Cup Moguls champion and has 35 World Cup victories. Skiing magazine named her the “greatest female mogul skier alive.” She is founder of Kids On Top.
- Kristen Ulmer - Salt Lake City, UT is known as the first female extreme skier. In 1997 she became the first female to ski the Grand Teton. In 2017 she published a bestseller, “The Art of Fear.”. Ulmer said "Wow! Here I am, just plugging away, doing whatever makes my heart sing, and it turns out they give awards for such behavior? Fantastic! Yet another reason to devote one’s life to skiing. We're a giant family, aren't we? I feel completely appreciated and honored, and can't wait to see what happens next."
- Tom Kelly - Park City, UT served U.S. Ski & Snowboard for 32 years as VP, communications. He has been active within the USOC and International Ski Federation, including 14 years as chairman of the FIS PR and Mass Media Committee. He commented "I've been fortunate in my career to work with some remarkable athletes and to engage others by telling their story. Skiing has been a passion of mine since I was seven years old and it is an honor to be included in the Hall of Fame."
- Tom Sims* - Solvang, CA (1950-2012) in 1963 built a “skiboard”, combining sports of skiing, skateboarding, and surfing. He founded SIMS Snowboards & Skateboards in 1976 and was World Champion in both sports. Tom was instrumental in snowboarding becoming an Olympic sport in 1998.
- Bill Jensen – Vail, CO, during his 45 year nationwide career he was involved in every aspect of a resort’s operation including Mammoth Mountain, Sun Valley, Sunday River, Northstar, Breckenridge, Vail, Intrawest, and Telluride.
- Don Henderson* - Fairlee, VT (1924-2018) was a true pioneer of ski racing. He was a Veteran of WW II and the Tenth Mountain Division, a collegiate star at Middlebury in the late forties and also served as the head coach for the US Ski Team.
*Deceased
Bill Rock, Senior VP and COO, Park City Mountain and Urban Resorts: “We are thrilled to host the legends of the Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame to welcome and honor the Induction Class of 2018 to Park City Mountain. As home of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Park City has a proud tradition of recognizing and honoring individuals who represent the highest level of achievement in snow sport and we are thrilled to continue this tradition.”
Justin Koski, Executive Director, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame: "We are excited to induct a star-studded incoming class this year! Park City's iconic skiing and snowboarding culture provides the perfect backdrop for our annual event."
