CU Ski Club and Ski Team records

In January of 1938, George F. Dobbins was the University of Colorado’s representative to the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Union’s first meeting, at which the groundwork for intercollegiate skiing competitions was established. The University of Colorado Ski Club was organized that same year with George Dobbins as its faculty sponsor and Edwin McCrillis as its president. The Ski Club signed its constitution on January 26th, 1939. Ski Club members participated that winter in Skiing competitions with Colorado School of Mines, the Colorado Agricultural School, Colorado College, and Denver University, winning their first intercollegiate championship that March, 1939.

It was not until 1947 that the University of Colorado formally recognized skiing as an intercollegiate sport and began paying travel expenses for the team. Skiing enjoyed a rise in popularity throughout the late 40s and into the 50s. In 1957 ski coach Bob Beattie came to the University of Colorado from Middlebury College in Vermont, and began a phenomenal career coaching the CU Ski Team until 1969.

In 1964 the University of Colorado sent seven skiers to the Olympics, and Bob Beattie went as the coach for the United States Team. That year CU skiers Billy Kidd and Jimmy Huega both won medals in the alpine skiing event, Kidd winning silver and Huega winning bronze. Throughout its existence the CU Ski Team and CU skiers individually have been major contenders in Colorado skiing competitions as well as national and international events.

Since its creation the CU Ski Club has been providing training, discounts on ski equipment, ski swaps, transportation to ski areas, showings of ski films and photos, as well as many other services to University of Colorado students.