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Colorado
Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame  JERRY PESMAN, 1925 - 2003 Inducted into the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame 1999 | Home | Back to Alphabetical List | Year of Induction List | Back to Athlete | Back to Ski Sport Builder | Back to Inspirational | |
Perhaps no one in the ski industry has had more specific association with ski lift engineering in Colorado and throughout the West, and few people have been more directly involved in so many aspects of the sport. His experience ranges from ski patrolman to ski area engineer, and from national level alpine racing to ski association direction. So extensive is his experience in lift line survey and layout that area operators throughout the West inevitably seek his talent and counsel in new lift construction. He has surveyed lift lines for virtually all of the major ski areas and has been acknowledged as the top engineer in this field.
He was the first planner on the board of directors for the Telluride Ski Area. He also served as a ski instructor at Telluride, Grand Mesa and Dallas Divide. Through his demeanor he gained the respect and admiration of his students through his keen insight, good humor and gentle manner.
Jerry was assistant ski coach for the University of Colorado ski team in 1953 and 1954. From 1957 through 1961 he coached the Grand Mesa Junior racing team in Grand Junction.
Jerry was one of the administrators and director of Rocky Mountain Masters skiing from 1980 to 1990, and has been racing competitively since 1947. During his tenure as director, Jerry became concerned about the decline of senior ski racing and developed a new format for the program. He found sponsors for the race series, solicited ski areas to host the events, and developed enthusiasm among senior skiers. Since this improvement the masters program has grown to be the most effective in the nation, both in number of competitors and quantity and quality of races.
"Jerry is an inspiration to all with whom he comes in contact. His enthusiasm and spirit through the years has shown many what fun on skis is all about."