Snowmass history: Stein Eriksen

Stein Eriksen graced the slopes of Snowmass and Aspen building both the Highlands and Snowmass Ski Schools. He was the Norwegian champion six times between 1949-54 and went to the 1948 Saint Moritz and 1952 Oslo Olympics representing Norway, winning gold in the Giant Slalom event and silver in the Slalom. In 1950 he raced in Aspen during the first International Ski Federation (FIS) race held outside of Europe winning third place in Slalom just below Zeno Colō (Italy) and Georges Schneider (Switzerland). He was soon invited to Aspen to direct the ski school at Aspen Highlands when it first opened in 1958 and stayed through the 1963-64 ski season. He was known for his inverted flip performed regularly as an exhibition to promote the ski school. He also opened a sport shop at the base of Highlands. He left for a few years to open a ski school at Sugerbush Resort, Vermont, but was lured back with the opening of Snowmass-at-Aspen in 1967. They touted Eriksen’s Olympic accomplishments, charm, and good looks to build up a world-class ski school for the budding resort. He stayed for four years as the director before getting involved with Park City Resort where he remained until he retired. He also opened another Stein Eriksen Sport shop in the Snowmass Village Mall that lived on beyond his tenure in Snowmass. Stein passed away in 2015 in Park City shortly after his 88th birthday.