New England Ski Museum to Honor Georg Capaul

Georg Capaul, the well-regarded Swiss ski coach who has influenced American ski athletes for more than three decades, will be honored with the Spirit of Skiing Award at the New England Ski Museum’s 34th Annual Meeting and dinner on November 5, 2011 at the Waterville Valley Conference Center in Waterville Valley, NH.

Born to a farming family in Chur, Switzerland, Georg Capaul emigrated to the United States in 1974 following his graduation from the Chur Mechanical School. A certified Swiss ski instructor, he became head coach and program director for the Waterville Valley BBTS race program in 1975, and served there until 1985, when he was hired by the US Ski Team. There he served in multiple roles, including head regional and Europa Cup coach, men’s and women’s World Cup technical coach, and coach of US Olympic, World, Junior World and Pan-American Championship Teams.

In 1988 and 1997, Capaul was named USSA Alpine International Coach of the Year for his outstanding contribution, resulting from high-level performance of his athletes in international competition. Since 2002, Capaul has been Snowsports Director, Holderness School.

“Georg has been a major influence on ski coaching in New Hampshire,” remarked longtime alpine ski coach Ted Sutton. “His enthusiasm, drive, and hard work have been an inspiration to me and to all coaches in the world of ski racing.”

Previous winners of the Museum’s Spirit of Skiing Award have included Stein Eriksen, Penny Pitou, Tom Corcoran, Herbert Schneider, and SE Group. The award celebrates a person or institution whose work exemplifies the memorable axiom by Otto Schneibs that ‘skiing is not just a sport, it is a way of life’, and who has influenced skiing in a positive manner and enabled others to benefit from the sport.

Meghan McCarthy McPhaul, author of the recent book A History of Cannon Mountain: Trails, Tales and Skiing Legends published by History Press, will be attending the event and signing copies of her work.

A special rate on lodging for attendees is available at the Silver Fox Inn in Waterville Valley for $69 per room per night. Silver Fox Inn reservations may be made at 603-236-3699.

The Museum welcomes the public at the event. The cost of the dinner is $55 per person until October 1, and $65 thereafter. Dinner reservations can be made through the New England Ski Museum by calling 800-639-4181.