A legend on skis, “Stein” as folks call him around his Park City hometown, won the gold medal in the Giant Slalom event at the Oslo 1952 Winter Olympics and three gold medals at the 1954 World Championships in Åre, Sweden. He was successfully able to parley his skiing achievements into a lifelong career of ski ambassador for a variety of American ski resorts, and to this date, continues to be director of skiing at nearby Deer Valley. I occasionally see him on the slopes, and more often when I go to the post office to pick up my mail. In fact, he is so much attached to that resort’s image (he has a bronze statue there, a luxury hotel is named after him, and he regularly takes admirers on mountain tours) that there is no way Deer Valley can afford to have him quit. They would in fact allow snowboarding, long before they'd think of replacing Stein Eriksen. So, today he is celebrating his 80th birthday with no hint of retirement in sight. In fact, it is rumored that the owners of Deer Valley are feverishly working with a large team of Nobel Prize winners in an attempt to clone him. Their objective is that by 2025 (just before Stein turns 100,) they’ll have a handsome blond teenager, identical to Stein in every possible twist of DNA, appearance and athletic skills, ready to step into his skis and his Bogner suit. Only at that point, will Stein be able to retire and live happily for many more years in his Montana summer home, which by that time will enjoy a climate as warm as that of Arizona today. Happy birthday, Stein!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Stein Eriksen turns 80!
A legend on skis, “Stein” as folks call him around his Park City hometown, won the gold medal in the Giant Slalom event at the Oslo 1952 Winter Olympics and three gold medals at the 1954 World Championships in Åre, Sweden. He was successfully able to parley his skiing achievements into a lifelong career of ski ambassador for a variety of American ski resorts, and to this date, continues to be director of skiing at nearby Deer Valley. I occasionally see him on the slopes, and more often when I go to the post office to pick up my mail. In fact, he is so much attached to that resort’s image (he has a bronze statue there, a luxury hotel is named after him, and he regularly takes admirers on mountain tours) that there is no way Deer Valley can afford to have him quit. They would in fact allow snowboarding, long before they'd think of replacing Stein Eriksen. So, today he is celebrating his 80th birthday with no hint of retirement in sight. In fact, it is rumored that the owners of Deer Valley are feverishly working with a large team of Nobel Prize winners in an attempt to clone him. Their objective is that by 2025 (just before Stein turns 100,) they’ll have a handsome blond teenager, identical to Stein in every possible twist of DNA, appearance and athletic skills, ready to step into his skis and his Bogner suit. Only at that point, will Stein be able to retire and live happily for many more years in his Montana summer home, which by that time will enjoy a climate as warm as that of Arizona today. Happy birthday, Stein!
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1 comment:
A fitting tribute to Stein. Good thinking leaving out the part that he is spending his 80th at an undisclosed tropical location. Examining his DNA could unlock the secret of retaining a full head of hair. See you on Sultan!!!
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