First Tracks: A Century of Skiing in Utah - Hardcover

Engen, Alan K.; Thompson, Gregory Coyne

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1586850784 ISBN 13: 9781586850784

Publisher: Gibbs Smith, 2001

Synopsis

From old-time flipflop skis to modern-day snowboards, from miners to Olympians, from Park City to Snowbasin-Alan Engen and Gregory Thompson capture the rich legacy of skiing in Utah's indomitable Wasatch Mountain Range through upbeat informative text and fascinating vintage and recent photographs. < BR>"Winter sport had reached the masses, and tiny mom-and-pop ski areas sprouted alongside the major resorts of the Wasatch Front. The fervor of the early pioneers-the miners, Alf Engen, the Rasmussen brothers-spread to thousands of Utahns, who began promoting their home as the 'King of Winter Sports.' The craze for skiing had matured into a deep-rooted respect for the canyons, ridgelines, and fields that harbor alpine and cross-country skiers alike, bringing people together in recreation and competition. Why shouldn't the world share such a magnificent place?" Mitt Romney President and CEO Salt Lake Organizing Committee Olympic Winter Games of 2002 < BR>Alan K. Engen is the author of the award-winning book For the Love of Skiing: A Visual History. He is also the chairman and president of the Alf Engen Ski Museum Foundation, chairman and president of the Alta Historical Society, board member of the International Skiing History Association. Currently, he is the Director of Skiing at Alta, Utah, and has been affiliated with the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) for more than forty years. He lives in Salt Lake City. < BR>Gregory C. Thompson, Ph.D., is the Assistant Director for the University of Utah's J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections and an adjunct assistant professor of history. In the 1980s, he cofounded the Marriott Library's Utah Ski Archives Program. He lives in Salt Lake City. < BR>A search is underway for the names of ski jumpers who competed on Ecker Hill, in Park City, from the time the jumps were constructed in 1929 until the last competition on the hill in 1964. The names will be included in a new bronze monument commemorating the role of Ecker Hill in American skiing history. Please visit the Ecker Hill Jumpers Memorial Page if know of a jumper that should be included. < BR>

About this title

About the Authors

Alan K. Engen is the author of the award-winning book For the Love of Skiing: A Visual History. He is also the chairman and president of the Alf Engen Ski Museum Foundation, chairman and president of the Alta Historical Society, and board member of the International Skiing History Association. Currently he is the Director of Skiing at Atla, UTah and has been affiliated with the Professional Ski Instructors of America for more than forty years. He lives in Salt Lake City.

Gregory C. Thompson, Ph.D., is the Assistant Director for the University of Utah's J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections and an adjunct assistant professor of history. In the 1980's, he cofounded the Marriott Library's Utah Ski Archives Program. He lives in Salt Lake City.

Mitt Romney, President and CEo, Salt Lake Organizing Committee, Olympic Winter Games of 2002

Foreward

Epilogue.

From the Back Cover

From old-time flipflop skis to modern-day snowboards, from miners to Olympians, from Park City to Snowbasin--Alan Engen and Gregory Thompson captur the rich legacy of skiing in Utah's indomitable Wasatch Mountain Range.
"Winter sport had reach the masses, and tiny mom-and-pop ski areas sprouted alongside the major resorts of the Wasatch Front. The fervor of the early pioneers--the miners, Alf Engen, the Rasmussen brothers--spread to thousands of Utahns, who began promoting their home as the King of Winter Sports. The craze for skiing had matured into a deep-rooted respect for the canyons, ridgelines, and fields that harbor alpine and cross-country skiers alike, bringing people together in recreation and competition. Why shouldn't the world share sucha magnificent place?
--Mitt Romney
President and CEO
Salt Lake Organizing Committee,
Olympic Winter Games of 2002

From the Inside Flap

In 1995, when the International Olympic Committee selected Utah's Salt Lake City to host the Olympic Winter Games of 2002, "elation" was the word of the day. It was a magical moment that culminated years of hope, innovation, and preparation.It all began in the late 1800s, when miners at Alta and Park City devised skis to get them around in snowy conditions. They fashioned barrel staves into gliders for their feet and strapped on the earliest styles of wooden skis to take them to their mining operations. Then skiing turned recreational as mine- and house-bound men did a little racing and jumping to while away long frosty winters. Now the competition was on: who could jump the farthest? who could stay in the air the longest? who could break the last record and set a new one?Word spread of Utah's fantastic snow and, before long, pioneers such as Becker, Strand, Ecker, and Rasmussen buit and promoted areas for jumping as well as skiing. Emigrant Norwegian ski jumpers--Bjorngarrd, Fredbo, Trogstad, Hvalstad, Haugen, and Engen--made their way to the Wasatch Front. And fun-loving youngsters like Jack Walker and Vern Nichol emulated their heroes, dreaming of one day flying witht he best of them. Then ski clubs and schools sprang up to satisfy the public's desire to master this exciting new sport. And Utah's 1948 Olympic ski team--Movitz, Engen, Winn, Jennings, Reddish, and Rytting--which had more Utahns than any team since, contributed to the stature of Utah as a ski center.Finally we acknowledge the Engen brothers--Alf, Sverre, and Corey--whose unflagging efforts in the formative years were instrumental in transforming the Wasatch Front into a modern winter recreation area.In First Tracks, Alan Engen and Gregory Thompson celebrate the legacy of skiing in Utah--through pictures and storis of its pioneers, legends, and enthusiasts. Ski Heil!

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

Skiing--a sport enjoyed by scores of people worldwide and a major contributor to Utah's economy. Estimates indicate that over the last decade of the twentieth centruy, skiing contributed approximately $500 million annually in direct revenue to Utah's economy through purchases for lodging, lifts, ski lessons, transportation, foo, clothing, ski equipment, and other ski-related items. According to the "1999-2000 Utah Skier Survey" prepared by Wikstrom Economic & Planning Consultants, "The estimated direct spending during the 1999-2000 ski season reached $740 million, with additional indirect impacs of roughly $436 million in increased earnings." But it has not always been that way.

Edition details

• Publisher: Gibbs Smith
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1586850784
• ISBN 13: 9781586850784
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 192