Ski Patroller Memorial to be at Ski Cooper

Ski Cooper and the Ski Cooper Ski Patrol announced plans today for the construction of a Ski Patroller Memorial to be located at the historic Ski Cooper Ski Area near Leadville Colorado.

Memorial sketch

According to Ski Cooper Volunteer Ski Patrol Representative Dan Lynch, "The memorial will honor ski patrollers from all over the United States who have given so much back to the sports of skiing and snowboarding. In one way or another, patrollers touch every person who looks to America's slopes for freedom and recreation."

"Patrollers are "911" in the nation's ski areas," Lynch added. "They provide medical attention, emergency transportation and rescue services every day during the snow-sliding season. In many cases they risk their own safety and even their lives to help the public."

"Locating the Memorial here just seems natural. Our area is already home to the 10th Mountain Division Memorial," stated Ski Cooper Ski Area President and General Manager Clint Yant.

"The National Ski Patrol and the 10th Mountain Division are closely tied," Lynch continued. "Minot 'Minnie' Dole, founder of the National Ski Patrol, is also the father of the 10th Mountain Division. He approached President Roosevelt at the beginning of WWII with the idea of the need for American military ski troopers trained in mountaineering and other skills necessary to fight the axis powers in the European mountains. Ski patrollers served the 10th as trainers and fighting members. The rest, as they say, is history."

Inspiration for the memorial design is attributed to the colorful Tibetan Prayer Flags seen in photo and video accounts of Mt. Everest expeditions. The memorial design consists of an 18 foot white concrete base in the shape of a ski patrol cross. At the center of the cross is a raised circular seat and back with a 30 foot flagpole rising from the center. Cables rise from the comers of the cross to the flagpole just below the American Flag and Ski Patrol Flag. Attached to those eight cables will be individual pennants representing patrollers who have "skied on." Individual Ski Patrols across the country will be asked to design their own pennants with their patrol logo and the name of the honored patroller. The Ski Cooper Patrol will oversee the manufacture of the actual pennants.

Bob Mobeck, who conceived the memorial, is eager to see the variety of colors and designs he expects to be submitted. Mobeck believes, "The design of the memorial is more alive and free spirited than those of solid stone. It is a better representation and tribute to the type of men and women who patrol."

New memorial pennants will be added to the Memorial each year on the first Saturday in March as part of the annual "National Day" celebration. It is hoped members of the individual's patrol and or the family will be on hand for the flag raising ceremony. "National Day" is hosted annually by Ski Cooper and the Ski Cooper Volunteer Patrol. Patrollers from all over the nation meet to share ideas, companionship, and compete in skills contests.

Mobeck added, "Flags wear out, so plans are for a plaque to be attached to the memorial with each patroller's name permanently engraved after the pennant is tattered." Clint Yant added, "Ski Cooper is located in the National Forest. As such, we will be working closely with the Forest Service to make the memorial a reality as soon as possible. That means completing all the necessary reports and meeting administrative requirements. We are confident we'll have a united effort in completing this worthwhile project."

The Ski Cooper Ski Patrol will spearhead the fund raising campaign. Contact Bob Mobeck for information on contributions.

Resources:

Updated 27-Feb-2007


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