Willy Schaeffler
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Josef "Willy" Schaeffler (13 December 1915 – 9 April 1988) was a German-American skiing
champion, winning coach and ski resort
developer. He is best known to the public for his intensive training programs that led the US ski team to gold and bronze medals in the 1972 Winter Olympics
. In development circles, he is known for his role in the development of Vail and Whistler Blackcomb.
Bavaria
on 13 December 1915. Working in the mountains as a shepherd
, he was a competitive skier by the age of 8. In 1932, at age 17, he was the winner of Bavarian Alpine Championships. Schaeffler was named to the 1936 German Olympic team, but broke both legs before the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Games, and was unable to compete.
When World War II
broke out in 1939, Schaeffler was drafted into the German Army as a "political unsafe," and eventually ended up on the Russian Front. Captured and tortured by the Soviets, he escaped and returned to Austria
, where he joined the anti-Nazi resistance forces working in the Austrian Alps. Following WWII, Schaeffler started training the United States Army Europe
, and in this role taught George Patton and other high-ranking U.S. military personnel how to ski and rock climb. This, and his romance with American Betty Durnford, his future wife of 14 years, was his ticket to U.S. emigration, and he moved with Betty to the U.S. in the spring of 1948.
In June 1948, Schaeffler wrote to Larry Jump, who was setting up the Arapahoe Basin
ski resort in Colorado
, looking for work as a ski instructor. Jump hired Schaeffler, who moved to Colorado that year and introduced the alpine skiing
technique known as "short-swing". Short-swing remained the standard beginner training technique across North America for decades. Nearly a decade later, the national sports magazine, Sports Illustrated, would feature Schaeffler and parts of this new technique in two issues, one a 1957 cover story.
In the early 1950s, Schaeffler was hired for his second job as the coach for the University of Denver Ski Team, part of the Denver Pioneers
. Under his tutelage, in 22 years, his D.U. Pioneers won 13 of 18 National Championships (NCAA). In general competition, the team placed in the top three 122 times out of 123 meets, with 100 of those being first-place. This record of wins and places stands unchallenged to this day. Thirty-three of his racers were named to the NCAA All-American teams, and 15 named to the Olympic Ski Teams and FIS championships. Otto Tshudi, Marv Crawford, Keith Wegeman, and Chuck Ferries are among his premier student skiers.
In 1957, Schaeffler became the Director of Ski Events at the 1960 Winter Olympics
in Squaw Valley
, California
. He was responsible for designing the alpine courses. In the early 1970s, was part of the group that submitted the winning bid for the 1976 Winter Olympics
for Denver, but this bid was later withdrawn by the voters of Colorado, and the games returned to Innsbruck
for a second time. Schaeffler's work on the design of the runs at Squaw Valley had placed him in high demand around the world and across North America as a ski area and ski run designer, and over the next two and a half decades, he consulted with dozens of ski resorts. One of these was the original plan for what is today the Whistler Blackcomb resort, site of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. His design for the downhill course, later named for Dave Murray
, was used 50 years later as the main alpine course for those games.
In 1970, Schaeffler was named as Director of the U.S. Alpine Ski Team; Schaeffler held this position until 1973. During this period, he served as head coach for the U.S. team at the 1972 Winter Olympics
in Sapporo, Japan
, where the team won gold and bronze medals. Not surprisingly, Schaeffler was often referred to as "America's Most Successful Ski Coach". Schaeffler was largely responsible for moving the U.S. National Ski Team to its permanent headquarters in Park City
, Utah
, in 1974 and established the first national ski training center here. He laid out large parts of the area, including several runs on Ski Team Ridge, known as the U.S. Ski Team training runs. Today, a ski run is named in his honor at Park City, called "Willy's Run." Another run in Beaver Creek, Colorado, called "Willy's Face," is also dedicated to the memory of Schaeffler. A third, in the ski area Willy Schaeffler helped found, Arapahoe Basin, in Colorado, also bears his name, titled "Willy's Wide."
During the 1970s, Schaeffler worked with Walt Disney
, in an effort to open new ski resorts. The first project, in Mineral King
, expanded greatly during design and was eventually planned to host more than a million visitors a year. The Sierra Club
objected and a lengthy series of court cases followed, until Disney finally gave up on the idea, following the death of Walt Disney. A second attempt followed at Independence Lake near Mt. Lola in Northern California, not far from Lake Tahoe
. A similar series of environmental lawsuits followed, and these plans were also abandoned, along with Disney's interest in the ski market.
Schaeffler developed a special intensive training program for his skiers; planned and proposed a sports medicine program, and a traveling medical team for the athletes. Schaeffler was also one of the founders of Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA), separating instructor training within the USSA into an independent organization. In 1968, Schaeffler received USSA’s highest award for outstanding service to the sport of skiing, The Julius Blegen Award. In 1969, Schaeffler received the USSA Rocky Mountain Division’s highest award, the Halstead Trophy, for outstanding service. In 1972, was inducted into Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. In 1974, he was inducted into National Ski Hall of Fame
. In 1977, Schaeffler assisted in the formation of the Special Olympics
, along with the Larry and Marnie Jump and Kennedy families.
Schaeffler died on April 9, 1988, in Denver, Colorado, after having had five open heart surgical procedures and a pacemaker implanted during the prior 17 years. Established by Schaeffler's son, Jimmy Schaeffler, a permanent set of scholarships at the University of Denver
today pays further tribute to Schaeffler. One is a foreign exchange scholarship of disabled student-athletes, with a preference for competitive skiers; the other is a foreign exchange scholarship for able-bodied student athletes, also with a preference for competitive skiers.
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....
champion, winning coach and ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
developer. He is best known to the public for his intensive training programs that led the US ski team to gold and bronze medals in the 1972 Winter Olympics
1972 Winter Olympics
The 1972 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from February 3 to February 13, 1972 in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan...
. In development circles, he is known for his role in the development of Vail and Whistler Blackcomb.
Biography
Schaeffler was born in KaufbeurenKaufbeuren
Kaufbeuren is an independent city in the Regierungsbezirk of Schwaben, southern Bavaria. The city is completely enclaved within the district of Ostallgäu.- Culture and Objects of Interest :* Townhall * Crescentiakloster...
Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
on 13 December 1915. Working in the mountains as a shepherd
Shepherd
A shepherd is a person who tends, feeds or guards flocks of sheep.- Origins :Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations, beginning some 6,000 years ago in Asia Minor. Sheep were kept for their milk, meat and especially their wool...
, he was a competitive skier by the age of 8. In 1932, at age 17, he was the winner of Bavarian Alpine Championships. Schaeffler was named to the 1936 German Olympic team, but broke both legs before the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Games, and was unable to compete.
When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out in 1939, Schaeffler was drafted into the German Army as a "political unsafe," and eventually ended up on the Russian Front. Captured and tortured by the Soviets, he escaped and returned to 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...
, where he joined the anti-Nazi resistance forces working in the Austrian Alps. Following WWII, Schaeffler started training the United States Army Europe
United States Army Europe
United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, is an Army Service Component Command of the United States Army and the land component of United States European Command. It is the largest American formation in Europe.-Invasion of Sicily:...
, and in this role taught George Patton and other high-ranking U.S. military personnel how to ski and rock climb. This, and his romance with American Betty Durnford, his future wife of 14 years, was his ticket to U.S. emigration, and he moved with Betty to the U.S. in the spring of 1948.
In June 1948, Schaeffler wrote to Larry Jump, who was setting up the Arapahoe Basin
Arapahoe Basin
Arapahoe Basin is a ski area for alpine skiing high in White River National Forest of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Arapahoe Basin is also known for its especially long season—often staying open until early July, whereas most other northern ski areas close in early May...
ski resort in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, looking for work as a ski instructor. Jump hired Schaeffler, who moved to Colorado that year and introduced the alpine skiing
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
technique known as "short-swing". Short-swing remained the standard beginner training technique across North America for decades. Nearly a decade later, the national sports magazine, Sports Illustrated, would feature Schaeffler and parts of this new technique in two issues, one a 1957 cover story.
In the early 1950s, Schaeffler was hired for his second job as the coach for the University of Denver Ski Team, part of the Denver Pioneers
Denver Pioneers
The Denver Pioneers are the sports teams of the University of Denver. They play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, with most teams participating in the Sun Belt Conference. The Western Athletic Conference will become Denver's primary sports conference on July 1, 2012.The...
. Under his tutelage, in 22 years, his D.U. Pioneers won 13 of 18 National Championships (NCAA). In general competition, the team placed in the top three 122 times out of 123 meets, with 100 of those being first-place. This record of wins and places stands unchallenged to this day. Thirty-three of his racers were named to the NCAA All-American teams, and 15 named to the Olympic Ski Teams and FIS championships. Otto Tshudi, Marv Crawford, Keith Wegeman, and Chuck Ferries are among his premier student skiers.
In 1957, Schaeffler became the Director of Ski Events at the 1960 Winter Olympics
1960 Winter Olympics
The 1960 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VIII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event held between February 18 and 28, 1960 in Squaw Valley, California, United States. In 1955 at the 50th IOC meeting, the organizing committee made the surprise choice to award Squaw Valley as...
in Squaw Valley
Squaw Valley Ski Resort
Squaw Valley Ski Resort in Olympic Valley, California, is one of the largest ski areas in the United States, and was the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. It is the second-largest ski area at Lake Tahoe , with 33 chairlifts, and has the only funitel lift in the U.S...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He was responsible for designing the alpine courses. In the early 1970s, was part of the group that submitted the winning bid for the 1976 Winter Olympics
1976 Winter Olympics
The 1976 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated February 4–15, 1976 in Innsbruck, Austria...
for Denver, but this bid was later withdrawn by the voters of Colorado, and the games returned to Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
for a second time. Schaeffler's work on the design of the runs at Squaw Valley had placed him in high demand around the world and across North America as a ski area and ski run designer, and over the next two and a half decades, he consulted with dozens of ski resorts. One of these was the original plan for what is today the Whistler Blackcomb resort, site of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. His design for the downhill course, later named for Dave Murray
Dave Murray (skier)
Dave Murray was an alpine ski racer. He was noted for being a member of the Crazy Canucks, the Canadian downhill racers of the late 1970s and early 1980s known for their fearless racing style...
, was used 50 years later as the main alpine course for those games.
In 1970, Schaeffler was named as Director of the U.S. Alpine Ski Team; Schaeffler held this position until 1973. During this period, he served as head coach for the U.S. team at the 1972 Winter Olympics
1972 Winter Olympics
The 1972 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from February 3 to February 13, 1972 in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan...
in Sapporo, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where the team won gold and bronze medals. Not surprisingly, Schaeffler was often referred to as "America's Most Successful Ski Coach". Schaeffler was largely responsible for moving the U.S. National Ski Team to its permanent headquarters in Park City
Park City Mountain Resort
Park City Mountain Resort is a ski resort in Park City, Utah, located east of Salt Lake City. The resort has been a major tourist attraction for skiers from all over the United States, as well as a main employer for many of Park City's citizens. Park City, as the resort is often called by locals,...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, in 1974 and established the first national ski training center here. He laid out large parts of the area, including several runs on Ski Team Ridge, known as the U.S. Ski Team training runs. Today, a ski run is named in his honor at Park City, called "Willy's Run." Another run in Beaver Creek, Colorado, called "Willy's Face," is also dedicated to the memory of Schaeffler. A third, in the ski area Willy Schaeffler helped found, Arapahoe Basin, in Colorado, also bears his name, titled "Willy's Wide."
During the 1970s, Schaeffler worked with Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
, in an effort to open new ski resorts. The first project, in Mineral King
Mineral King
Mineral King is a subalpine glacial valley located in the southern part of Sequoia National Park, in the U.S. state of California. The valley lies at the headwaters of the East Fork of the Kaweah River, which rises at the eastern part of the valley and flows northwest...
, expanded greatly during design and was eventually planned to host more than a million visitors a year. The Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
objected and a lengthy series of court cases followed, until Disney finally gave up on the idea, following the death of Walt Disney. A second attempt followed at Independence Lake near Mt. Lola in Northern California, not far from Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
. A similar series of environmental lawsuits followed, and these plans were also abandoned, along with Disney's interest in the ski market.
Schaeffler developed a special intensive training program for his skiers; planned and proposed a sports medicine program, and a traveling medical team for the athletes. Schaeffler was also one of the founders of Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA), separating instructor training within the USSA into an independent organization. In 1968, Schaeffler received USSA’s highest award for outstanding service to the sport of skiing, The Julius Blegen Award. In 1969, Schaeffler received the USSA Rocky Mountain Division’s highest award, the Halstead Trophy, for outstanding service. In 1972, was inducted into Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. In 1974, he was inducted into National Ski Hall of Fame
National Ski Hall of Fame
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum is located in the City of Ishpeming in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the birthplace of organized skiing in the United States...
. In 1977, Schaeffler assisted in the formation of the Special Olympics
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
, along with the Larry and Marnie Jump and Kennedy families.
Schaeffler died on April 9, 1988, in Denver, Colorado, after having had five open heart surgical procedures and a pacemaker implanted during the prior 17 years. Established by Schaeffler's son, Jimmy Schaeffler, a permanent set of scholarships at the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
today pays further tribute to Schaeffler. One is a foreign exchange scholarship of disabled student-athletes, with a preference for competitive skiers; the other is a foreign exchange scholarship for able-bodied student athletes, also with a preference for competitive skiers.