Dick Buek
Encyclopedia
Dick Buek (November 5, 1929 – November 3, 1957), born Richard Buek, was an American downhill ski racer and later a daredevil stunt pilot
. A fiance of champion snow skier Jill Kinmont
, whose tragic life story was made into the inspirational hit Hollywood motion picture The Other Side of the Mountain
(1975), Dick died in a plane crash at the age of 27.
, Tahoe, California. As a youth, Buek was coached by ski champion Hannes Schroll
and trained at the Sugar Bowl Ski Resort
.
Known as "The Madman of Donner Summit," Dick Buek exhibited a "go for broke" attitude that brought him success and pain in many downhill competitions. A serious racer by the age of 18, he was the National Downhill Champion in 1952 and a member of the 1952 Olympic Team. He won a second national downhill title in 1954. His record included two runner-up efforts, a third and a fourth at the national championships.
In 1948, he did a straight schuss at the Inferno Race on Mount Lassen.
In 1949, he won the Silver Dollar Derby and the Far West Ski Association's downhill title. In 1952, Buek won the United States National Downhill and competed in the 1952 Winter Olympics
in Oslo
, finishing 12th.
Buek seemed to be fearless and paid a heavy price for it. He suffered two broken backs, one from a motorcycle accident.
In 1953, Buek crashed his motorcycle. The accident crushed his leg, pelvis, and shoulder. When the National Championship at Aspen occurred the following year, he could still only bend his right knee 60 degrees. Pins in his left shoulder hampered his stance. Though he won the race, he was passed over to compete at that season's FIS World Championships.
In 1974, Dick Buek was inducted into the National Ski Hall Of Fame. The Honored Members of the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame represent the highest level of national achievement in America, featuring prominent athletes and snow sport builders whose accomplishments showcase American skiing and snowboarding.http://www.skihall.com/HonoredMember.asp?MemberID=58
. According to close friend Mary Ann Haswell, who survived an earlier crash into Donner lake with Buek, "Dick used to say he'd never make it to 28 years old." Reportedly, Buek and Haswell were towing water skiers at the time of the first crash. At the time of the second crash, Haswell remembered, "Dick died a few days short of his birthday."
Ironically, Buek wasn't at the stick of the airplane in which he was killed. It was a friend's plane and Buek was giving the friend a piloting lesson. The wings iced up and the plane dived straight into the icy waters.
"Dick was a dynamic person and ahead of his time in pushing the limits of extremism," recalled Haswell. "It was great being around him, if only for such a short period of time."
Dick is buried in the Oakland, California, area in an unknown cemetery.
He was characterized by Oakley Hall
in Hall's 1963 novel, The Downhill Racers.
Stunt performer
A stuntman, or daredevil is someone who performs dangerous stunts, often as a career.These stunts are sometimes rigged so that they look dangerous while still having safety mechanisms, but often they are as dangerous as they appear to be...
. A fiance of champion snow skier Jill Kinmont
Jill Kinmont
Jill Kinmont Boothe is a former alpine ski racer, who competed in the mid-1950s.Jill Kinmont grew up in Bishop, California, skiing and racing at Mammoth Mountain. In early 1955, she was the reigning national champion in the slalom, and a top prospect for a medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics, a year...
, whose tragic life story was made into the inspirational hit Hollywood motion picture The Other Side of the Mountain
The Other Side of the Mountain
The Other Side of the Mountain is a 1975 American film based on a true story of ski racing champion Jill Kinmont.In early 1955, Kinmont was the national champion in slalom and was a top U.S. prospect for a medal in the 1956 Winter Olympics, a year away...
(1975), Dick died in a plane crash at the age of 27.
Life
Dick Buek was born in Soda SpringsSoda Springs
Soda Springs is the name of over 80 places in the United States, including at least 27 water springs.There are 8 populated places named Soda Springs in the United States:*Soda Springs, California**Soda Springs, Mendocino County, California...
, Tahoe, California. As a youth, Buek was coached by ski champion Hannes Schroll
Hannes Schroll
Hannes Schroll was an Austrian Alpine ski racer and founder of the Sugar Bowl ski resort in Norden, California.-Early years:...
and trained at the Sugar Bowl Ski Resort
Sugar Bowl Ski Resort
Sugar Bowl is a ski and snowboard area in northern Placer County near Norden, California along the Donner Pass of the Sierra Nevada, approximately west of Reno, Nevada on Interstate 80, that opened on December 15, 1939...
.
Known as "The Madman of Donner Summit," Dick Buek exhibited a "go for broke" attitude that brought him success and pain in many downhill competitions. A serious racer by the age of 18, he was the National Downhill Champion in 1952 and a member of the 1952 Olympic Team. He won a second national downhill title in 1954. His record included two runner-up efforts, a third and a fourth at the national championships.
In 1948, he did a straight schuss at the Inferno Race on Mount Lassen.
In 1949, he won the Silver Dollar Derby and the Far West Ski Association's downhill title. In 1952, Buek won the United States National Downhill and competed in the 1952 Winter Olympics
1952 Winter Olympics
The 1952 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VI Olympic Winter Games, took place in Oslo, Norway, from 14 to 25 February 1952. Discussions about Oslo hosting the Winter Olympic Games began as early as 1935; the city wanted to host the 1948 Games, but World War II made that impossible...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, finishing 12th.
Buek seemed to be fearless and paid a heavy price for it. He suffered two broken backs, one from a motorcycle accident.
In 1953, Buek crashed his motorcycle. The accident crushed his leg, pelvis, and shoulder. When the National Championship at Aspen occurred the following year, he could still only bend his right knee 60 degrees. Pins in his left shoulder hampered his stance. Though he won the race, he was passed over to compete at that season's FIS World Championships.
In 1974, Dick Buek was inducted into the National Ski Hall Of Fame. The Honored Members of the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame represent the highest level of national achievement in America, featuring prominent athletes and snow sport builders whose accomplishments showcase American skiing and snowboarding.http://www.skihall.com/HonoredMember.asp?MemberID=58
Death
Dick died at the age of 27 while flying over Donner LakeDonner Lake
Donner Lake is a freshwater lake in northeast California on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada and about northwest of the much larger Lake Tahoe. A moraine serves as a natural dam for the lake. The lake is located in the town of Truckee, sandwiched between Interstate 80 to the north and...
. According to close friend Mary Ann Haswell, who survived an earlier crash into Donner lake with Buek, "Dick used to say he'd never make it to 28 years old." Reportedly, Buek and Haswell were towing water skiers at the time of the first crash. At the time of the second crash, Haswell remembered, "Dick died a few days short of his birthday."
Ironically, Buek wasn't at the stick of the airplane in which he was killed. It was a friend's plane and Buek was giving the friend a piloting lesson. The wings iced up and the plane dived straight into the icy waters.
"Dick was a dynamic person and ahead of his time in pushing the limits of extremism," recalled Haswell. "It was great being around him, if only for such a short period of time."
Dick is buried in the Oakland, California, area in an unknown cemetery.
He was characterized by Oakley Hall
Oakley Hall
Oakley Maxwell Hall was an American novelist. He was born in San Diego, California, graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and served in the Marines during World War II. Some of his mysteries were published under the pen names "O.M...
in Hall's 1963 novel, The Downhill Racers.
External links
- Tahoe news article- Skiing article about Dick Buek
- National Ski Hall of Fame - list of inducted members - Richard "Dick Buek" - 1974
- Photo and short bio - U.S. National Ski Hall Of Fame article on Dick Buek
- Amazon Books-The downhill Racers on Amazon.co.uk
- Articles with Hannes Scroll-Article on Hannes Schroll
- Dick Buek Image and short bio at Find-A-Grave