Buddy Werner

National Alpine Ski Champion in Giant Slalom. Born Wallace Jerold Werner, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, he had a breakneck style which caused spectacular spills, but also enabled him to win virtually every championship available during his mercurial career. He is considered by most to be America's first truly world class ski racer. His accomplishments included: Member of the Olympic Alpine Team, 1956, 1960, and 1964; Member, Federation International du Ski Alpine Team, 1954 (alternate), 1958 when he was the first American selected, and in 1962. He was posthumously inducted into the National Ski Hall of Fame, 1964. He was a three-time Holmenkollen Champion in Norway, with the best showing to date by an American Alpine skier in international competition in 1954 (at age 17), 1956 and 1962. Also was a three-time National Alpine Champion in Giant Slalom in 1957, 1959 and 1963 and a two-time winner of the Roche Cup in 1961 and 1959. Inducted into the Colorado Ski and Snowbaord Hall fo Fame in 1977. He died trying to outrace an avalanche with German Olympian Barbi Henneberger while filming a commercial in Val Selin in the Swiss Alps.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 17 2016, 14:36:39 UTC