Courtesy Colorado Snowsports Museum
A former director of skiing at Winter Park Resort and ski industry revolutionary Jake Hoeschler will be inducted into the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame at the annual ceremony in October.
Hoeschler is being honored for the contributions he made to the industry by founding the National Ski Insurance Program, which protects retailers from unsubstantiated insurance claims and helps make the sport safer.
“Induction into the Hall of Fame is the highest Colorado snowsports honor that can be bestowed on an individual,” explained Jennifer Mason, Executive Director of the Colorado Snowsports Museum. “This evening is always a very special occasion for all of our inductees, as well as everyone that loves skiing and snowboarding.”
According to the Colorado Snowsports Museum, almost every ski store in the country is insured through this program and many shop owners owe their ability to stay in business to the program.
Hoeschler founded the National Ski Insurance Program in 1988 after experiencing firsthand how many ski shops were struggling to stay in business due to the liability exposure.
Hoeschler served as director of skiing at Winter Park Resort from 1974 to 1977 and prior to that he raced in the World Cup and Pro Race Circuits throughout the 60s and 70s.
Other 2019 Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame inductees are Aspen’s Gretchen Bleiler, Olympic medalist and Colorado’s most successful snowboard athlete, and Jeff Gorsuch, a ski retailer and philanthropist; Martin Hart, who helped transform Steamboat into a world class resort; and Steve Raymond, co-founder of the Adaptive Spirit program and a major fundraiser for the U.S. Paralympic Ski Team.
The induction gala will take place on Oct. 26 at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort. Tickets start at $250 for general admission, reserved seating tickets are $325 and a reservation for a table of 10 is $3,750.
The Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame honors those who have played significant roles in the development and promotion of skiing and snowboarding in the state. Inductees can be nominated and selected as an athlete, a sport builder, an inspirational or a pioneer.