| OCR Text |
Show Free m VoL I, No. 5 PARK CITY AND THE WORLD February 23, 1973 I Its THE SEASON OF THE HOTDOG' SKIER By GEOFF TOWNS You're skiing down a run (designed for no beginner) at 30 miles per hour. Suddenly you do something completely ridiculous like leaping into the air and executing a 360 degree turn. But as you come down, your skis touch, and one lights on the other, and you ski the next 50 yards on your chin. It was absurd. Somehow you didnt break every bone in yojur body, and youre silently giving proper thanks. 0 About now, the average skier begin to think the clubhouse would be a pretty fine place to be. But the hotdogger is thinking only that he hasnt blown it yet; hes still got one more chance. And he heads back to the lift to try it again. would From time to time, this type of masochism even pays off, if the hospital bills arent too high. And one of those times will be Sunday, Feb. 25 when Olympia will present Hotdogging at Park City Resort. The price of viewing this tacle is free, but itll cost a day pass (or a $2.50 gondola ride for to get to the top. non-skier- s) The contest is the fourth of six sponsored by Olympia beer and will get under way at 11 a.m. The "hotdoggers descend on Park City once again on Double Jack run. It follows contests held at Heavenly Valley, Steamboat and Vale, and precedes those planned for Copper and Incline. The competition will consist of two runs on Double Jack in the freestyle event with an optional bump at the end of the run (aerial competition). The best jump and best run will be counted. The field will be limited to 50 hotdoggers, each contributing a $10 entry fee which will produce $500 in cash prizes. In addition, over $700 worth of merchandise prizes will be awarded. First place in the freestyle competition will net $200 and a trophy, plus an Olympia jacket and cooler and Head KRP skis. Second place will be worth $100 and a trophy, jacket, cooler and Hansen boots. The third place winner will go home with $50 and a trophy, jacket, cooler and Head poles. The best of the aerial hotdoggers will wind up with $100, trophy, jacket, cooler and skis. For those whose attention tends to wander, Olympia plans to provide; somewhere for it to wander to. Added attractions will include the Olympia Ski Demonstration Team of Chris Curtis, Mike King and Sdott Magrino, who will help judge the competition. Kite flier Ralph Butler will also be on hand, s. along with two And for those with analogous minds, a beer and hotdog concession stand will be waiting patiently. film-maker- The Legend of Bob Theobald By DAVE MUELLER Any winter resort area is blessed with a collection of personalities trying, in one way or another, to make a "name for themselves in the glamour of the ski world. Theyre here and gone, the ones who stay carving a niche for themselves in that particular community, the ones who leave shrinking back to their former lives or setting out for greener pastures in this case, more comforting patches of snow. The pattern is familiar: ski until youre good enough to work in somebodys ski school, or join a patrol, or impress a ski manufacturer enough with your ability to wear his boots or clothes or skis. And maybe if you are lucky you can land a small weight of the bag of money the winner hauls away with him. In a few short years the money has gotten very good, and is getting salary on the side. The apex of notoriety has been to achieve a reputation great enough to warrant skiing in front of the lens of a movie camera to take your place alongside the Erik-son- better. Ask Bob Theobald. Yes, ask Bob Theobald. The same fellow I remember only a few short years ago who had a line of guys waiting for him at the bottom of town, hoping only to see him first A very young Bob Theobald, hobbled by a gimpy leg (knee operation), just trying to forget a disastrous business adventure, (looking back, and helicopter his tours were probably just a couple of years .before their time). A man, harried but still brash, defeated but still hopeful, wondering if his leg would ever get better, down but not out. Definitely not out. Today Park City recog- s, Kidds, Staubs, Killys or Fowlers. But new opportunity has come recently to the ski folk. A relatively unknown, but proficient, skier can come from obscurity and out-d- o the best at their best: freestyle and aerial acrobatic skiing. The "hotdog contests are here. Pageants of daring, .scenarios of innovation, snake-pit- s of intense competition, the hotdog events are making those folks involved in ski racing take a good long look over their shoulders. A good measure of the ' popularity of any contest in these United States is the ski-touri- ng nizes Bob Theobald as its newest bit of glitter, a stan- - THE PERFECT RUM By DENNIS READ I Remember the children's tale of the little boy who lived in a land where it snowed in his favorite ice cream flavors? I wonder what it would be like if Utah snow were really ice cream. Well, obviously we would have to change our winter-tim- e motto from "The Greatest Snow on Earth, to maybe The Greatest Flavors on Earth, or "If We Dont Have It You Wouldnt Want It Anyway. dard bearer who journeyed y and hostile to the Steamboat of Sprterritory ings; Cola, to pluck the biggest plum in the pudding: first place in the Steamboat Super Hot Dog Classic. Along with the title went a check for $5,000, the largest winners share in any hotdog event to date. far-awa- That wouldnt be so tough. But what would us skiers do , about something like waxing? Would Toko Red work well on Rocky Road or Lemon Custard? And what would we wear? Protection from the elements would be only one consideration. Can you imagine trying to color coordinate your ski outfit with Speculation around Park City the colors found in Strawberry among those who know Bob is Ripple and French Vanilla, is the hardest Tutti Frutti and Brunt Almond ' that his $5,000has ever gone to earned anyone Fudge? Wow! with. And how about the difficulty , the bank The whole Theobald comeinvolved in deciding which run back has been centered around Continued on page j . . his pursuit of an idea, his belief that free skiing and the conis more appealtests thereof to both ing participants and ski racing. The than spectators growth of both the number of hotdog events and their purses bears him out. So does the success of Bob's own pet enterprise, the Get Hot Freestyle Ski School. Where the prize money for his own skiing rewards Bobs competitive zeal, the growth of his Get Hot program is the fuldream. fillment of a four-yeFiercely independent, Bob continued his drive for individuality even after his doldrums of a few years ago. It might have been easy to just get a construction job and work off the debts. Not only easy, but expected. But Bob kept wheeling and dealing, jumping off cliffs and haybales, talking to anyone who would listen about his new idea (a lot of people who listened did so only to laugh), nurturing what he knew was going to be Get Hot The school became a reality With the in the winter of 70-7Ski Solitude of cooperation cura Hot Get School, presented exercises of ski riculum designed to open up new planes of excitement for average and above-averag- e skiers ("So youre a pretty good skier, whats ar 1. next?). Bob recalls the positive reception he got from Dean Roberts, Solitude Ski School Director, at a time when the idea was new and Theobald was struggling: "Dean was open-mind- ed enough to realize the potential of our his Without concept foresight and cooperation it might have taken a while longer to get the program off the ground. That first year the Get Hot program drew ten students to its five Saturday session. But the hustling Theobald made the most of the program's humble beginnings. Bob convinced Nick Continued on past 3 |
