Carl Peterson - Annual Award - Top of the Hill 2020

One of the most important annual celebrations of the state’s snow sports industry, the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame induction, is on tap for August 22 at the Ford Amphitheater. For the next several weeks leading up to the 2021 Celebration, the CSM will be highlighting inductees and annual award recipients.

After World War II, Carl Peterson, a native of Colorado, became the leading voice and face of the National Ski Patrol System (NSPS) in Colorado.

For fifty-five years, as a Professional Ski Instructors of America ski instructor, in the pursuit of excellence, Carl did everything possible to keep his knowledge of skiing and teaching on the cutting edge. Carl never wanted to win medals, he just wanted to ski, help skiers be safe, and know how to ski, to enjoy the sport of skiing in Colorado.

Carl began skiing in 1947 at Cooper Hill, the home of the 10th Mountain Division in Leadville, Colorado, where he was given free lessons by veterans. In 1949, he started his work as a volunteer Ski Patrolman at Arapahoe Basin, and for the next thirteen years, he worked and helped develop Ski Patrol Systems to make Colorado a safe and enjoyable state to ski in.

Carl continued to patrol while attending the University of Colorado, School of Business. During his time there, he was elected President of the business fraternity, Delta Sigma Phi. The Navy Reserve Officer Training Corp chose Carl to be 2nd Company Commander, and at graduation, he was Commissioned an Officer in the US Navy. Carl requested the 13th Naval District, Oregon. He knew there would be snow there in the winter. He drove every other week, on two way roads to Mount Hood, to be a member of the Mount Hood Ski Patrol #258. He stayed over night in Government Housing with a Coleman camp stove and a sleeping bag. For the next two years, he served on the Mount Hood Ski Patrol.

Returning to Colorado in 1956, he was the elected Patrol Leader of the Pikes Peak Ski Patrol. He became the Regional Chairman, responsible not only on the hill, but also to represent the NSPS. Carl’s reputation as an outstanding organizer and manager of the ski patrol systems quickly led to him being seen as the source of ski patrol knowledge and systems in Colorado.

During the “Golden Years” of skiing (1950-1963), Carl, now Divisional Chairman, was responsible for conceptualizing, planning, and organizing the many existing and newly developing ski areas like Vail, Ski Cooper, Ski Broadmoor, and more. In addition, he also had plans to assess and formulate patrols. At the same time, Carl managed and expanded the family business, started in 1904. He also raised a family and found time to be an inspiring community leader. He was a Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop #1 for nine years and guided 16 boys to the rank of Eagle Scout, as he also taught his scouts to ski.

In 1961, his other major push was ski instruction. Carl became one of the first members of the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) in 1962. That same year, Carl also patrolled at Vail and Ski Broadmoor. By 1970, Carl became a fully certified ski instructor, with an extensive background in ski patrolling. In 1975, Carl joined the Vail Ski School and was acknowledged as one of the top 100 instructors.

In 1985, Carl was asked to come to Ski Cooper to be the Ski School Staff Trainer. For the next 28 years, he helped skiers learn to ski or improve their skiing. He worked with both the ski school and patrol. Carl and his wife Franci are credited with making Ski Cooper the “Best Small Ski School in the State of Colorado.”

Carl stopped teaching at the end of the 2013 ski season. Late in life, he recognized and sponsored skiers, five of which were inducted into the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame.

If you cannot attend the Hall of Fame Celebration in person, please consider making a tribute gift: HERE.