Utah, Colorado announce new Hall of Fame members

 Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame

Three Utahns will be inducted into the Will and Jean Pickett Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame on August 28, 2024. They are:

Steve Bounous was junior national slalom and giant slalom champion, NCAA All-American for the University of Utah ski team and a Pro Tour slalom winner. He appeared in five Warren Miller movies, staged ski adventure tours in New Zealand and coached the Guatemalan ski team in the 1988 Winter Olympic/Paralympic Games. From 1989 to 2019 he coached the Snowbird Sports Education Foundation.

Raelene Davis served more than 35 years as vice president of marketing and operations for Ski Utah. Through her efforts Utah ski areas have realized a three-fold increase in skier days during the first quarter of this century. Her programs evolved into the National Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month and Bring a Friend Skiing Initiative, while her Fifth-Grade Passport and Fourth-Grade Learn to Ski Programs have introduced 15,000 students to the sport annually.

Bob Wheaton joined Deer Valley Resort in 1979 as its maintenance manager and rose to become president in 1997. His leadership acumen was founded in his deep respect for resort employees. They conveyed the sentiments to resort guests who in SKI Magazine reader surveys rated Deer Valley among the top-three ski resorts in North America for 20 consecutive years and No. 1 an unprecedented eight times.

Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame

The Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the Class of 2024, to be inducted in Vail on September 7, 2024.

Ross Anderson, born to Native American parents, grew up in Durango, Colorado, and began skiing at age three at Purgatory Resort, where his father was on the ski patrol. He won bronze at the 2005 World Speed Skiing Championships. An eight-time national champion, he is the fastest American ever on skis: 154.06 miles per hour, achieved in 2006. He promotes skiing to Native American youth of the Southern Ute, Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes.

Bjorn Erik Borgen worked to bring the FIS World Championships to the Vail Valley in 1989, 1999 and 2015. Through board service and leadership for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail and the Vail Valley Foundation, he has driven projects in the U.S. and abroad, from the Ski and Snowboard Club Vail Clubhouse to the USSA Center of Excellence in Park City to the expansion of Kvitfjell ski resort in Norway.

John McBride was raised in Aspen, raced for the University of Vermont, thencoached Aspen Vallley Ski Club (AVSC)from 1989-1995. He then joined the U.S. Ski Team, coaching Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves to international stardom. He next coached Canada’s downhillers to 20 podiums, including Eric Guay’s gold medal at the 2011 World Championships and a bronze medal by Jan Hudec at Sochi.

Sigurd Rockne won three Norwegian Alpine championships and was named to the Norwegian ski team for the 1956 Olympics. In 1958 he joined Stein Eriksen as an instructor at Aspen Highlands. In 1961 he went to Breckenridge, first helping to lay out lifts and trails, then as an early ambassador and promoter.

Lindsey Vonn achieved 82 World Cup victories over a 15-year career, with 20 crystal globes, 43 downhill victories and three Olympic and World Championship gold medals. The Lindsey Vonn Foundation now provides education, sports and enrichment programs to help young girls grow as athletes, leaders and individuals.