October 25, 2011 – The former head coach of the US Cross-country ski team, Rob Kiesel has died. Kiesel, 65, was discovered dead yesterday of an apparent heart aliment at his home in Joesph, OR, where he lived on the family ranch.

Kiesel was hired by then USST Head Coach Marty Hall to serve as an assistant coach in 1975. He became Head Coach of the team in 1979 and served as Head Coach of the US Team at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid. Kiesel, who came from an alpine skiing background and lived for years in Sun Valley, also had a long association with Swix Sport.

It was because of his background in ski waxing that Kiesel was brought aboard the USST Coaching staff in the mid 1970’s. “Rob played a major role with our team. There was just this explosion of technology, during that period and Rob was at the forefront of glide waxing, testing multiple pairs of skis and finding the right glide wax. I liked his knowledge and I think we made a good team.  He was a real part of a very exciting time in our sport then and he played a major role,” said Hall earlier today as he fondly recalled their time together.

Last winter, Kiesel was inducted into the Sun Valley Ski Hall of Fame.

In Sun Valley earlier today the long-time Nordic director of the Sun Valley Ski Educational Foundation, Rick Kapala praised Kiesel for his pioneering work in Nordic skiing in Sun Valley. “It is on the shoulders of Rob Kiesel that cross-country skiing was built here in Sun Valley. Rob was the driving force and he was a mentor to me as a coach. It was never his style to offer unsolicited opinion, but I was always thankful for his insights and encouragements. We were all fortunate to have him in our community,” Kapala said.

SkiTrax joins the Nordic ski community in extending condolences to Rob’s family and friends.