Colorado
Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame

Katy Rodolph Wyatt 1930-1994
 
Inducted into the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame 1985
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Katy, a Colorado native, was born on November 1, 1930. Her skiing career started at the age of 14 in Steamboat Springs, under the tutelage of instructor and ski coach, Al Wegeman. He encouraged her to work hard with the possible reward of a berth on the United States Olympic Team.

With this goal in mind, she became extremely motivated, and was named to the United States FIS Team that competed in the World Championships in Aspen in 1950. Prior to her making the team, she had won many local and regional races. She had sprained both ankles while in training, but went on to place in the top ten in all three disciplines. While on the United States Olympic Team in 1952, she placed fifth in the Giant Slalom in Oslo, Norway. In 1954, she was again named to the United States FIS team, and placed fifth in the Championships in Are, Sweden.

Katy continued her racing career, and in 1956, while a member of her second United States Olympic Team, she fractured three vertebrae in Kitzbuehl, Austria, and was unable to compete.

From 1949 to 1956, Katy won nine national titles, and was inducted in the National Ski Hall of Fame in Ishpeming in 1966. In those days of racing, it was much more difficult to train and race than it is now, as competitors often had to climb courses and trained with any equipment they could find, often ill-fitting. She and her team mates of that era were pioneers and made racing what it is today.

Katy continued to be active in the ski world. She was FIS Technical Delegate, as a representative of the United States Subcommittee for Ladies Alpine Skiing, a member of the Rocky Mountain Ski Race Officials, and one of their FIS Technical Delegates.


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