Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame
John R. Fetcher - 1912
Inducted into the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame 1993
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Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame John R. Fetcher - 1912 Inducted into the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame 1993 | Home | Back to Alphabetical List | Year of Induction List | Back to Athlete | Back to Ski Sport Builder | Back to Inspirational |
John was born in Winnetka, Illinois in 1912 and began skiing as a schoolboy in Switzerland in 1925. As an engineering and business student at Harvard in the 1930's he rode the ski trains to the White Mountains of New Hampshire and was one of the first to ski over the Headwall at Tuckerman's Ravine.
After graduation, John's business career provided few opportunities for skiing, but in 1949 he and his brother bought a ranch near Steamboat Springs and John was once again in the world of skiing. Fetcher met Gordy Wren who soon involved him in the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, and in no time John was on the National Ski Hill Engineering Committee. He worked on designs to make jumping hills more safe while allowing record-breaking performances. In 1958 John assisted in building the alpine hill in Steamboat that is now known as Mt. Werner. In 1963, the first chairlift opened and a second lift was built in 1965. After Mt. Werner was sold in 1968, John stayed on for two years as president. In 1969, John was appointed to the Aerial Tramway Safety Standards Committee.
After the famous Howelsen Hill jumping platform mysteriously burned in 1972, John led the Steamboat Ski Jump Commission in raising $1.3 million to replace the facility. In 1978, a six-hill jumping complex was opened at Howelsen Hill. The Committee continues to raise funds under John's leadership for snowmaking facilities and training equipment.