Hannes Schneider
Encyclopedia
Johann "Hannes" Schneider (* June 24, 1890; † April 26, 1955) was an Austria
n Ski
instructor of the first half of the twentieth century.
He was born in the town of Stuben am Arlberg in Austria
as a son of a cheese maker. In 1907 he became a ski guide at the Hotel Post in St. Anton
, Austria where he began work on what became known as the Arlberg technique. After serving as a ski instructor for the Austrian army during the First World War, he returned to the Hotel Post. In 1921 a film came out based on the Arlberg technique, he formed a semi-independent ski school whereby 1924 he had formalized his method of instruction.
In the inter war period he also appeared in several of Dr. Arnold Fanck
's ski films. Der weiße Rausch, which helped make skiing
popular, was filmed at the Arlberg
in the winter of 1930/1931. He also co-published a book (with Fanck), named Die Wunder des Schneeschuhs which became translated to English as The Wonders of Skiing in 1931. Former students of Hannes Schneider include Otto Lang and Friedl Pfiefer.
In 1939 he moved his operations to Cranmore Mountain Ski Resort
in North Conway, New Hampshire
. He had run into trouble with Nazi policies and even spent time in jail after the Anschluss
. During the Second World War he helped train the 10th Mountain Division of the U. S. Army in which his son Herbert served.
The New England Ski Museum hosts the Hannes Schneider Meister Skiing Cup in his memory every march at Cranmore Mountain resort. During 2005 the New England Ski Museum features an exhibit on the life of Hannes Schneider and his impact on the sport of skiing.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n Ski
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
instructor of the first half of the twentieth century.
He was born in the town of Stuben am Arlberg in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
as a son of a cheese maker. In 1907 he became a ski guide at the Hotel Post in St. Anton
St. Anton
Sankt Anton am Arlberg is a village and ski resort in Tyrol, western Austria, with a permanent population of approximately . It is situated at above sea level in the Tyrolean Alps, with Aerial tramways and chairlifts up to . It is also a popular summer resort among trekkers and...
, Austria where he began work on what became known as the Arlberg technique. After serving as a ski instructor for the Austrian army during the First World War, he returned to the Hotel Post. In 1921 a film came out based on the Arlberg technique, he formed a semi-independent ski school whereby 1924 he had formalized his method of instruction.
In the inter war period he also appeared in several of Dr. Arnold Fanck
Arnold Fanck
Arnold Fanck was a pioneer of the German mountain film....
's ski films. Der weiße Rausch, which helped make skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
popular, was filmed at the Arlberg
Arlberg
Arlberg is a mountain range or massif between Vorarlberg and Tyrol in Austria.The highest peak is the "Valluga" at . The name Arlberg derives from the tradition of the "Arlenburg," who are said to have once established themselves on the Tyrolean side of the Arlberg passes . Another story derives...
in the winter of 1930/1931. He also co-published a book (with Fanck), named Die Wunder des Schneeschuhs which became translated to English as The Wonders of Skiing in 1931. Former students of Hannes Schneider include Otto Lang and Friedl Pfiefer.
In 1939 he moved his operations to Cranmore Mountain Ski Resort
Cranmore Mountain Resort
Cranmore Mountain Resort is located in North Conway, New Hampshire. Currently, it is one of New Hampshire's most successful ski resorts.It was founded in 1937 by a group of businessmen, led by Harvey Dow Gibson a native son of North Conway and president of the Manufacturers Trust Company, who...
in North Conway, New Hampshire
North Conway, New Hampshire
North Conway is a census-designated place in eastern Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,349 at the 2010 census. A year-round resort area, North Conway is the largest village within the town of Conway, which is bounded on the east by the Maine state line. The White...
. He had run into trouble with Nazi policies and even spent time in jail after the Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
. During the Second World War he helped train the 10th Mountain Division of the U. S. Army in which his son Herbert served.
The New England Ski Museum hosts the Hannes Schneider Meister Skiing Cup in his memory every march at Cranmore Mountain resort. During 2005 the New England Ski Museum features an exhibit on the life of Hannes Schneider and his impact on the sport of skiing.
External links
- A biography of Hannes Schneider
- The films of Hannes Schneider, in Skiing Heritage magazine
- Mount Cranmore where the Meister Skiing race is held.
- Skischule Arlberg, originally founded by Hannes Schneider
- Hannes Schneider, father of modern skiing
- Timeline entries for years 1910, 1918, 1920, 1921, 1925, 1928, 1939 in Skiing Heritage
- Multiple articles on aspects of Schneider's life in Skiing Heritage magazine
- IMDB list of his film appearances