A Photo History of the U.S. Ski Team

With the help of Alison Napolitano (who curates the wonderful @alpinestyle56 feed on Instagram), we combed her archives, pouring over newspaper clippings, old postcards, vintage posters and dozens of photographs, creating this visual history of the U.S. Ski Team through the decades - from St. Moritz to Lake Placid and everywhere in between.

Photo taken in 1935 and postmarked at Lake Placid Club, NY of Rolf Monson, who was born in Norway, but became a US citizen and competed in ski jumping, cross country skiing and Nordic combined at the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics. He would go on to be an instructor at Camp Hale to train 10th Mountain Division soldiers during WWII and was instrumental in promoting skiing at Sugarbush in Vermont.

Caption: “The Olympic Games open in St. Moritz. The United State’s Women’s ski team, wearing for the first time their light grey Olympic suits.” Included in the team are Gretchen Fraser and Andrea Mead Lawrence.

1948 - Gretchen Fraser pictured in St. Moritz, where she won Gold in Slalom and Silver in Combined making her the first American to win an Olympic medal for skiing. Gretchen always looked the picture of sartorial perfection – all while screaming down the mountain.

1960 - An elated Betsy Snite of Norwich, Vermont completes a training run at Squaw Valley, CA as she preps for the Winter Olympics. She would take the Silver in the slalom and place fourth in giant slalom.

1964 – Buddy Werner on the cover of Sports Illustrated heralding the 1964 Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria.  The graphic simplicity and punch of this cover makes it one of my favorite images.

Photo credit – Del Mulkey, Richard Jeffery 

1971 – Tyler Palmer of New Hampshire - dynamic on Dynamic - en route to second place at Mürren slalom. A photographer often associated with images of his native Vermont, Peter Miller followed the US Ski Team on the 1970-71 World Cup tour capturing thrilling action and intimate lifestyle images. 

Photo credit – Peter Miller

1976 – US Ski Team promoting equipment sponsor, Yamaha poles.  The equipment brand “has a total commitment to the team effort”.  The commitment to color in that season’s uniforms made for delightfully retro kit.

Third from right is Lindy Cochran Kelley of the “Skiing Cochrans” dynasty.

1978 – Christin Cooper racing at Stratton – the last time Vermont would host a World Cup race until 2016 when Killington picked up the women’s Thanksgiving technical races. With record spectator turnout, the Killington Cup is a testament to the deep reverence of ski racing in the Northeast.

Small format poster from Sports Illustrated. Photo credit – Russell Kelly

1982 – Alison found this photo at an antique shop in Munich, Germany. Photo was taken in Garmisch-Partenkirchen so I believe this to be from the 1982 Slalom. Steve and Phil Mahre finished 1st and 2nd respectively.

Nice detail is the de rigueur Marker Bindings ski strap just below the knee- if you can see past the knee angulation!

1989 – US Ski Team fans at 1989 World Championships in Vail, CO.