April 22, 2018 (Squaw Valley, CA) – On April 14 legendary Marty Hall was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in the Class of 2017 at Squaw Valley, site of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games. The mood was wonderful and electric with many tributes at the induction dinner attended by about 500 people, including many skiing notables.

In addition to Hall the other honoured inductees included Hermann Gollner, Mike and Steve Marolt. Thomas Weisel, Eddie Ferguson, Shaun Palmer and the late speed-skier Steve McKinney. For Hall and his wife Kathy it was a remarkable and memorable journey, and a special walk down memory lane as Squaw Valley is where Hall’s career began.

A large contingent of “Marty fans” joined the festivities that began with a superb, informal breakfast on the morning of the induction hosted by Kathy and Marty. It was a chance for many fans to speak from the heart about Marty’s contribution to the sport – it was honest, and many laughs and tears were shared.

Among the contributors were Marty and Kathy’s family, but also luminaries of the Nordic sport who traveled to share this special experience.

His long-time friend Peter Davis spoke as did 1976 and 1980 U.S. Olympian Doug Peterson, Canadian colleagues Dave Wood and Toni Scheier, outgoing U.S. Ski and Snowboarding VP-Communications Director Tom Kelly, former athlete Alison Owen Bradley, and broadcast announcer and commentator, Peter Graves. A number of Bowdin College athletes also made the gathering as did many fans from UNH.

Marty intersected many peoples lives and was greatly respected for his drive, vision, dogged determination and as someone who always called ’em as he saw them. He continues to inspire many to this day.

Not only was he a respected coach for both the U.S. and Canadian ski teams, which he led to great success, but Hall was an author of the award winning book, “One Stride Ahead”. His crowning achievement was Bill Koch’s 1976 Olympic silver medal, marking the historic first Games medal won by an American cross-country skier. Into his eighties he still continues to be a relevant pundit of the sport he loves dearly.

It was a special few hours to pay tribute to a man that has given his life to the sport. Marty was never the relaxing sort, and his life was about skiing innovation, and truth seeking. Yes, he was a task master, but for him it was all about standards, and helping athletes and colleagues achieve their very best.

People were Hall’s touchstone and he really connected making them think, prodding them to be better. We all feel lucky to be counted among those who experienced Hall’s magic and thank him for his passion for life and the sport.

SkiTrax joins the ski community at large in wishing Marty and Kathy Hall the very best and thank them for their years of contribution and inspiration to the sport.