Otto Tschudi Endows Denver Univ' Alpine Head Coach Position

“Don’t give up on the first turn. Be persistent. Keep charging.” This is an insight from Otto Tschudi (BSBA ’75) – for skiing and for DU students in their career pursuits – reflects a determination that runs through his own life. Tschudi has achieved noteworthy success in ski competition and in business for decades, and his recent gift to University of Denver to endow the Otto Tschudi Head Alpine Ski Coach will empower DU student-athletes to attain their own success for decades to come.

Born in Norway and recruited to DU by legendary ski coach Willy Schaeffler, Tschudi is a notable Olympian and a legend of the DU ski team. He skied for the Norway national team from 1964 to 1972, competing in two Winter Olympics and earning four top-10 finishes in World Cup slalom. At the same time, he dominated NCAA competition for the University of Denver, winning 5 NCAA Titles, the NCAA downhill championships in 1970, 1971, and 1972, plus the slalom and combined championships in 1971. Tschudi turned pro in 1972, skiing for Winter Park Pro Racing Team, then he worked as a tv ski commentator and as the director of skiing at Winter Park and Sun Valley Idaho. In the years since, he has led institutional international equity sales at Stifel, based both in London and San Francisco.

The alpine ski run at Kitzbühel in Tyrol, Austria, had almost completely iced over when Otto Tschudi (BSBA ’75) stepped up to the gate for his best professional race ever. He was competing on the 1969 FIS (International Ski Federation) World Cup circuit for Norway and was wearing bib No. 48, putting 47 skiers in front of him in an era without artificial snowmaking.

“In those days, with a late start number, there were a lot of bumps and holes on the way down,” Tschudi says with a laugh. “Everybody else had already gone to the bar, and they thought the race was over. But it wasn’t.”

Tschudi placed 10th, his best result on the World Cup. While he was celebrating in the sparse finishing area, an unfamiliar man approached Tschudi and asked him a simple question in German: “Haben see auf die shuhle gedacht?” Translated: “Have you thought about school?”

That man was legendary University of Denver ski coach Willy Schaeffler, at the time nearing the end of his 22-year run leading the ski program—plus an eight-year stint as the men’s soccer coach—but still at the height of his work with the U.S. National Ski Team.

Tschudi initially brushed him off. “’No, no, next weekend I’m on that podium,” Tschudi recalls telling Schaeffler while motioning to the nearby raised platform, the pinnacle of World Cup racing. “School? No interest.”

But Schaeffler had been sent by Jon Terje Överland, a former DU alpine skier and someone who had also competed for Norway alongside Tschudi at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France. The persistent coach leveraged that connection into a 20-minute conversation, which led the skier to ask: “So, where is Denver?”

“The deal he gave me was that you ski three (collegiate) races a year, and you can keep skiing the World Cup if you keep your grades up,” Tschudi says. “So, I took the deal, and it ended up working out very well for me.”

Tschudi took a ship from Europe to New York, then a Greyhound bus to Denver. He traveled across gently rising plains and arrived in the city on a cloudy day, one that obscured the mountains, and initially thought himself the victim of an elaborate prank. But after confirming there were indeed gorgeous, snow-covered slopes just a few miles west of Denver, he quickly fell in love with the campus, skiing opportunities and camaraderie that came with collegiate competition. He joined a diverse group of competitors, many of whom were Europeans—for once pulling in the same direction.

Tschudi continued to shine on the sport’s largest stages, including another trip to the 1972 Olympics in Sapporo, Japan, where he vied with five other current and former DU skiers for international glory. Prior to graduating in 1975 with a B.S. in hotel and restaurant management and international business, he became the most decorated skier in DU history, winning five individual collegiate national titles, including a program-best three top finishes in the 1971 championships.

Tschudi’s decades-long involvement with DU, including service on the Board of Trustees since 1992, helped reignite the University’s prominence as a ski-racing team. More than a decade ago, he envisioned DU creating a dynamic athletic and outdoor experience for all students, a vision that has since become reality in the James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus. Tschudi’s most recent gift will provide critical funding to support the most pressing needs of the alpine ski program.

“This gift by Otto Tschudi to endow the head alpine ski coach position is both transformational for our student-athletes and a fitting legacy,” says Josh Berlo, vice chancellor for athletics and Ritchie Center operations. “It will elevate the support for our alpine ski program and help ensure sustained excellence. Otto has long been a champion of skiing at DU, first as a student-athlete and most recently as a friend, mentor and advocate. Having his name on this coaching position is an honor for Athletics and an extension of his legacy at DU. We are tremendously grateful for this remarkable gift from one of the greatest and fastest Pioneers to ever race for DU!”

Athletic competition and the 4D Experience give DU student-athletes an edge in preparing for the future, says Tschudi. The focus, determination and endurance that they build in athletic competition translate to any career. And the education that students receive at DU gives them the foundation to create success in their chosen fields.

“DU’s 4D Experience, which helps students grow their character, career aspirations, intellect, and wellbeing, provides an ideal opportunity for students to gain exposure to many career avenues,” he says. “I always encourage students to have internships in multiple fields to broaden their experience.”

“Otto’s visionary gift creates an unmistakable legacy here at DU,” says Val Otten, senior vice chancellor for Advancement. “By investing in our championship programs and opportunities for our student-athletes, he strengthens one of the key priorities of The Denver Difference campaign. Otto’s name has long symbolized excellence in skiing here at DU, and we are thrilled that this gift will provide a sustained level of annual support for the ski team.”