Lives

Racer, coach, Rossignol exec, baker

Gérard Rubaud
Passing Date: October 8, 2018

Gérard Rubaud, the artisanal baker who helped steer Rossignol to a dominant position in ski racing and in the North American ski market, died October 8 following a long illness. He was 77 years old. Born in Aix-les-Bains in Savoie, Rubaud dropped out of school at age 16 to ski full time. He took an...

Swiss journalist, Olympic official

Karl Erb
Passing Date: September 5, 2018

Karl Erb, the leading sports commentator on Swiss television for two decades, died September 5 at age 92. Erb grew up in Zurich and began writing about sports for a variety of newspapers beginning in 1946. He covered Formula 1 racing, soccer and equestrian events, but became best known for...

Wolf Creek Pass pioneer

Charles Elliott
Passing Date: August 19, 2018

Charles Elliott, who helped to launch skiing at Wolf Creek Pass, died August 19 at age 104. Elliott grew up in the San Luis Valley and taught himself to ski, on homemade boards, at age 21, hiking up Wolf Creek Pass in 1934. With the help of four separate ski clubs on both sides of the pass – in San...

Nordic official, Vail pioneer, retailer

Dick Bohr
Passing Date: August 5, 2018

Richard H. Bohr, who set up Vail’s original financial systems and, as a successful ski shop entrepreneur, helped to found one of the first buying groups, died August 5 following a brief illness. He was 97 years old. Dick grew up in Boston, skiing cross country on the neighboring golf course. He...

Craftsbury Outdoor Center founder

Russell Spring
Passing Date: July 30, 2018

Russell Mason Spring Jr. passed away July 30 at age 92. With his wife Janet, Spring founded the Craftsbury (Vermont) Outdoor Center, one of the most successful Nordic training facilities in North America. Sparky Spring grew up skiing in Wellesley, Massachusetts and graduated from Lenox High School...

Nordic Center Founder

Russell Spring
Passing Date: July 30, 2018

Russell Mason Spring Jr. passed away July 30 at age 92. With his wife Janet, Spring founded the Craftsbury (Vermont) Outdoor Center, one of the most successful nordic training facilities in North America. “Sparky” Spring grew up skiing in Wellesley, Massachusetts and graduated from Lenox High...

President and CEO of the Canada West Ski Areas Association

James (Jimmie) Spencer
Passing Date: July 16, 2018

James (Jimmie) Spencer, president and CEO of the Canada West Ski Areas Association for 32 years, died on July 16 in Vernon, British Columbia at the age of 92. Born in 1926 in Scotland, Spencer lied about his age in 1943 to enlist in the British Army. He was thrown directly into the fray as part of...

President and CEO of the Canada West Ski Areas Association

James (Jimmie) Spencer
Passing Date: July 16, 2018

James (Jimmie) Spencer, president and CEO of the Canada West Ski Areas Association for 32 years, died on July 16 in Vernon, British Columbia at the age of 92. Born in 1926 in Scotland, Spencer lied about his age in 1943 to enlist in the British Army. He was thrown directly into the fray as part of...

Head Ski Company VP/Engineering

John Howe
Passing Date: June 15, 2018

John G. Howe, the chief engineer at Head skis during its transition from Timonium, Maryland to Boulder and Kennelbach, died June 15, 2018, at age 83. A native of the Berkshire Mountains, John learned to ski as soon as he could walk and spent his early years skiing in the western shadow of Mount...

New Jersey ski resort pioneer

Peg Kurlander
Passing Date: June 6, 2018

Margaret Mary Kurlander, 84, passed away on June 6 in Salt Lake City, with her children John, Jamie and Judy at her side.  Peg grew up in North Arlington, New Jersey, earned a bachelor’s degree from New Jersey State Teachers College and became an elementary school teacher.  After joining the Twin...