Aspen (2:00)

seg_aspen Explains and shows how the top austrian racer, coach, and ski school director Friedl Pfeifer, with the help of the Americans Walter Paepcke and Dick Durrance, developed Aspen into a world class ski resort. While serving as a trainer in the 10^th Mountain Division, the United States’ first division of mountain troops, which trained at nearby Camp Hale, Pfeifer visited the then run-down mining town and nascent ski area of Aspen. He saw potential in the surrounding mountains, which reminded him of his home-town of St. Anton, Austria, and so promised the townspeople of Aspen that if he survived the war he would return to build Aspen into a world-class ski resort. After suffering near fatal wounds in the mountains of Italy he returned to Aspen and realized his vision. Story includes interview with Friedl Pfeifer.