Legacy: Austria’s Influence on American Skiing

A Documentary Film Series by Ian Scully

documents three generations of pioneer Austrian ski instructors and racers, who due to poverty, war, and a chance to make it in “The Land of Opportunity” emmigrated from Austria to teach America how to ski. In the Americas these Austro-American Alpine Ambassadors became a brotherhood that promoted and cherished not only discipline and hard work, but also entrepreneurship and "gemutlichkeit". And together they won numerous prestigious ski races, coached many a successful American ski racer, and played a key leadership role in the creation and development of some of the Americas' premier ski schools and ski resorts, such as: The Sugar Bowl, Stowe, Sun Valley, Aspen, Boyne Mtn., Mt. Cranmore, Portillo, Vail, Jackson Hole & Canadian Helicopter Skiing.

Legacy is brought to life by excerpts from interviews with a number Austro-American ski pioneers, as well as narration interspersed with pictures and movie clips. Although the numbers of Austro-American alpine pioneers have dwindled, this film series shows their legacy is still very much alive.\