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Winter 2008 The Alf Engen Ski Museum Foundation Intermountain Pat Miller Dr. Alvin F. Cobabe Albert "Sunny" Korfanta The Alf Engen Ski Museum Foundation www.engenmuseum.org Alvin Cobabe (1917—) Pat Albert F. Miller ‘Sunny’ (1948—) Korfanta (1915—) n the annals of ski coaching, Pat owder Mountain Ski Area near lbert F. “Sunny” Korfanta personi- IMiller’s accomplishments would fill PEden, Utah, owes its existence to a Afies a ski-area pioneer. His fore- volumes. The primary chapters would one-time sheep rancher-turned radio sight, hands-on hard work, tenacity, tell of his remarkable accomplish- and television engineer-turned earth and gentle, unselfish manner are the ments while coaching the University moving contractor-turned medical building blocks of White Pine Ski Area of Utah Ski Team from 1974 to 2000. doctor-turned ski area founder. That near Pinedale, Wyoming. Those attri- During his tenure, Utah teams skied is the incredibly diverse career path butes were paramount in June, 1930, to eight combined National Collegiate of Alvin Cobabe, who as a youngster when the U.S. Forest Service partnered Athletic Association (NCAA) Champi- ski jumped off the sloping roofline of with the Pinedale Commercial Club to onships, one men’s NCAA National the family barn. That daring-do spirit start planning Surveyor Park Ski Area. Championship and one Women’s As- forged Cobabe’s multifaceted career On Jan. 5, 1940, the ski area opened sociation for Intercollegiate Athletics that eventually led to his establishing for weekend skiing, offering a cable tow for Women (AIAW) National Champi- the popular ski area east of Ogden. 200 meters long and capable of pull- onship. Under his tutelage, 251 Utah Inductees ing three skiers at a time. Korfanta, a skiers achieved All-American status, While his numerous business, edu- Pinedale pharmacist, and his wife Fanny 46 were individual national colle- cational and medical exploits are were asked to serve as area managers, giate champions and 10 were named noteworthy, skiing was always in his volunteer posts they held for decades. members of United States Olympic veins…and in his heart. Cobabe an- Serving skiers from numerous near-by teams. swered the siren call of the snowy slopes once again in the early 1960’s towns, Surveyor Park sold a day pass A native of Mexico, Maine, the one- when he installed a small rope tow for $1 and kids skied free. World War II time four-sport athlete was a Nation- on his family’s ranch at the bottom activities forced the closure of the site al Junior Cross-Country champion of Wolf Creek Canyon. In February, from 1943 until 1946. in 1965. As a student at Fort Lewis 1972 Powder Mountain was born Subsequent years saw numerous en- College Durango, Colorado, Pat was and, quite naturally, Cobabe operat- hancements to the enclave with Ko- named “All-American in Nordic Com- ed the ski site’s medical clinic as well rfanta at the helm. All the while, he bined” in 1970 and in 2001 was in- as being the general manager while continued to encourage, coach and ducted into the school’s Athletic Hall family members managed the area’s drive young skiers to competitions in of Fame. He was a member of the other details. Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and the Ju- US National Nordic Combined Team nior Nationals and serve as an officer Alvin was instrumental in adding from 1968 to 1974. of the Intermountain Division of the night skiing, new chairlifts and tows, U.S. Ski Association. Although a local Pat’s coaching prowess earned him mountain restaurants, overnight ac- winter sports company assumed man- Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate and commodations, back country shuttles 2008 agement of the area in the late 1990s University of Utah “Coach of the and a private helicopter skiing ser- and renamed it White Pine Ski Area, Year” honors. In addition to these vice. No doubt, his legacy as a ski “Sunny” Korfanta’s contributions and awards, he was inducted in the State pioneer who made Powder Mountain pioneering spirit continue to be recog- of Maine’s Ski Hall of Fame in Octo- a skier’s paradise will be rekindled nized as the driving force behind the ber, 2008. every time it snows in Eden. area’s early development. 2 www.engenmuseum.org Press Release Two Ski Area Pioneers, Former U. Coach Named to Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame Cobabe, Korfanta, Miller Form Class of 2008 By Mike Korologos UTAH OLYMPIC PARK—Two storied ski According to Scott C. Ulbrich, president area pioneers and a former ski coach whose of the non-profit Alf Engen Ski Museum Inductees into the Intermountain Hallwork left indelible marks on the region’s ski ofFoundation that oversees theFame Hall of Fame, Ski Hall of Fame to date are: scene added to their lore here Thursday, some 160 guests attended the Induc- Sept. 18 when they were inducted into the tion Ceremonies that include a reception, Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame. dinner and video presentations that high- 2002 lighted the careers of the inductees. Junior Bounous, Zane A. Doyle, Alvin F. Cobabe, 91, founder of Powder Alf M. Engen, Sverre Engen, Mountain Ski Area east of Ogden; Albert Hall of Fame selections are made annually Karre “Corey” Engen, Gretchen “Sunny” Korfanta, 93, founder of White by knowledgeable ski historians from Utah, K. Fraser, W. Averell Harriman Pine Ski Area near Pinedale, WY; and Pat Idaho and Wyoming. Selection is based on and S. Joseph “Joe” Quinney. Miller, 52, who coached University of Utah outstanding achievements in the areas of ski teams to nine National Collegiate Athlet- skiing competition, skiing innovation, ski ic Association (NCAA) championships and sport development and significant contri- 2003 had 251 of his U. skiers gain All-American butions to the overall promotion of skiing in Stein Eriksen, Bill Briggs and status, comprise the hall’s class of 2008. the Intermountain Area. Priority is given to Axel Andreason individuals who have made contributions to The Hall was established in 2002 and this the sport that have resulted in significant trio will increase the number of honorees benefits to the region over a long period. 2004 to 38. Pepi Steigler, “Mayor” George Nominees for the honor originate with the Watson, Suzy Harris Rytting, Bill Awardees received a glass plaque bear- public and with volunteer members of the Lash, Bill Spencer and Edward ing a likeness of the recipient. A duplicate Ski Archives Advisory Board. Housed at the L. Scott plaque is enshrined in the Will and Jean J. Willard Marriott Library at the University Picket Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame. Lo- of Utah in Salt Lake City, the Ski Archives cated in the main foyer of the Alf Engen was founded in 1989 to locate, preserve, 2005 Ski Museum on the first floor of the Joe catalog and make available to the public Edgar B. Stern, Jr., Neil Rafferty, Quinney Winter Sports Center, the Hall of the history of skiing in the region. M. Earl Miller, Lou Lorenz, Keith Fame is named in recognition of the late Lange and James R. Gaddis. ski enthusiasts from Salt Lake City. 2006 Marv Melville, Cal McPhie, Dick Movitz, Dev Jennings, Jack Reddish and Marthenius (Mark, M.A.) Strand. 2007 Ted Johnson, Paul McCollister, Woody Anderson, K Smith, Pete Karns and Margo Walters- McDonald. 2008 Inductees from left to right: Pat Miller, Dr. Alvin F. Cobabe and Albert "Sunny" Korfanta. The Alf Engen Ski Museum Foundation 3 Photos Pat Miller, Dr. Alvin F. and Katrina Jensen June Cobabe and Gordon Perry Albert ‘Sunny’ Korfanta and Larry Warren and daughter Deanne Larkin Clark Parkinson Barbro Hatlevik, Kevin Sweeney and Peggy and Karen Korfanta Mel Fletcher 4 www.engenmuseum.org Press Release By Tom West ISHPEMING, MI (10/15/08)— Nelson Carmichael, a Steamboat Bill Briggs is a pioneer first de- The U.S. Ski Team's Liz McIntyre, Springs native, jumped into a scent skier and a foreleader of Nelson Carmichael, and Cary Ad- spot on the U.S. Ski Team straight American ski mountaineering. gate, along with a man who set out of high school in 1984. He He started his professional ski the precedent in American ski struggled during his first couple career as a fully certified instruc- mountaineering, Bill Briggs, will of seasons, but by 1988 found tor in 1955 and founded the Bill be inducted to the U.S. National his mojo and won the World Cup Brigg’s Ski School at Suicide Six Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame mogul championship. In 1989 he Ski Area near Woodstock, Ver- in April according to Tom West, repeated his World Cup champi- mont in 1958. president. onship. With three companions, he made Both Olympic medalists, McIntyre At the 1992 Olympics in Albert- the first 100-mile traverse from and Carmichael will be recognized ville, France, he won the bronze the Bugaboos to Rogers Pass, Liz McIntyre alongside Adgate, an Olympian when freestyle debuted as a BC in 1958. He skied a series of who was named 2005 Masters sport in the Olympics. During his first descents from Mount Rainer Racer of the Year, and Briggs, career with the U.S. Ski Team, he in 1961, Middle and South Teton who has a collection of famous won six U.S. Championships and in 1967, Mount Moran in 1968 first descents to his name. 12 additional World Cup events. and most famously the Grand Teton in 1971. He did these ac- Liz McIntyre's career spanned After the Olympics, Carmichael complishments in spite of being 20 years with the U.S. Ski Team, continued his successful ski ca- born with a defective hip.