October 2, 2005 (Ishpeming Mich.) – Three-time Olympian and former world champion Hilary Lindh heads a distinguished group of four soon to enter the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame. The Class of 2005 also includes David D. R. (Darcy) Brown, long-serving President of Aspen Resorts Corporation in Colorado; Walter Foeger, credited with developing Vermont’s Jay Peak Ski Resort; and Erich Sailer, one of American’s top coaches training Olympians from Buck Hill, Minn.

Hilary Lindh of Juneau, Alaska, was just 14 when she was named to the U.S. Development Team. By 16, she had become the first American to win a Junior World Championships downhill title. She represented America in three Olympics and won the downhill silver medal at the 1992 Games in Albertville, France. In 1994, she won the 100th World Cup race by an American skier, one of three World Cup victories during her career. She was the only American to win a medal at the 1997 World Championships, capturing the women’s downhill title in Sestriere, Italy. Lindh, who retired after the 1997 season, resides in Squamish, British Columbia, Canada.

David “Darcy” Brown had a 22-year reign as president of Aspen Ski Resort. As the patriarch for Colorado skiing he developed Aspen into one of the world’s largest ski complexes under a single management. When he retired in 1979, his ski empire included not only Aspen Mountain (Ajax), Buttermilk and Snowmass, but also the facilities of Breckenridge, Colo. Brown also played a significant role in the founding of the National Ski Areas Association and served as NSAA’s second president in 1965. He lives in Aspen.

Walter Foeger started as the ski pro at the newly opened Jay Peak Resort in late 1956. Within 10 years he grew the Vermont resort from one run and no lifts to 45 runs and several lifts including the fastest cable car in the nation. He promoted his “naturteknik” approach to ski instruction reaching more than 250,000 beginner skiers through a network of 14 ski schools in North America. Foeger now lives in Vienna, Austria.

Erich Sailer, director of Minnesota’s Buck Hill race program, ranks among America’s most successful ski coaches. Nicknamed the “Yoda” of ski coaching, he trains racers year round with summer sessions at Mt. Hood, Ore. In fact, at one time every skier on the 2002 U.S. Olympic Women’s Slalom Team had been under Sailer’s guidance. His most successful protégés include U.S. Ski Team members Kristina Koznick (Eagan, MN), Sarah Schleper (Vail, CO), Lindsey Kildow (Vail, CO) and Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY). Sailer lives in Apple Valley, Minn.

The class of 2005 brings the total to 346 skiing legends recognized in the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame. Election follows a lengthy nomination, selection and finally a voting process involving 75 ski experts from coast to coast. Morten Lund of Accord, N.Y., serves as chairman of the Selection Committee.

Induction Ceremonies will be Friday, April 28, 2006, in Ishpeming, Mich., recognized as the birthplace of organized skiing in America and home to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame and Museum. For details on the weekend events visit the web at <http://fanmail.ussa.org/ct/ct.php?t=1045777&c=642596644&m=m&type=1>www.skihall.com.