Ski School Paperback – February 11, 2026

In 1931, a group of wealthy businesspeople, all Easterners and passionate skiers and ski racers, had moved to Colorado and bought a plot of land from Mary Jane, a businesswoman by day and an after-hours “Lady of the Night.” The plan was to build a Ski Lodge and a private ski area. They named the lodge the Arlberg Club after a famous ski area in Austria. It would be their own mountain, with steep trails and perfect snow conditions. By the time the Arlberg Lodge was finished, skiing in the East was booming. Unlike at the Arlberg Club, the terrain was gentler, suitable for all ages. The ski instructors were all Austrians. “Bend your knees, five dollars please.” Was a popular slogan. In the West, skiing had not yet reached the popularity it enjoyed in the East. In 1940, the city of Denver opened the ski trails to the public and named it Winter Park. However, since it was so steep, it was mostly used by the expert skiers. Nevertheless, in the 1950s, George Engel, the ski school director, hired two more ski instructors to the handful he had, under one condition: they must be Americans. As to skiing abilities, the American instructors were every bit as good as the Austrians. Read more