This tribute to 'Buddy' Werner, Steamboat's powerhouse Olympic alpine skier is found in the Bud Werner Memorial Library, upper floor, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA. The memorial includes a multi-wall exhibit documenting his accomplishments and tragic death as well as artifacts from his skiing career and quotes from notable athletes and community members. The exhibit is free. (
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"Wallace "Buddy" Jerold Werner ~ 1936-1964
Bud Werner was an internationally renowned alpine ski racer who died trying to outrace an avalanche in the Swiss Alps on April 12, 1964. Contributions from all over the world were given in Buddy's memory and used to build a new public library for the community of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The Bud Werner Memorial Library opened its doors with a dedication ceremony on February 4, 1967.
A native of Steamboat Springs, Buddy had a breakneck style which caused spectacular spills, but also enabled him to win virtually every championship available during his mercurial career. He was America's first truly world class ski racer.
Among his accomplishments were:
Member, Olympic Alpine Team, 1956; 1960; 1964.
Member, Federation International du Ski Alpine Team, 1954 (alternate); 1958, when he was the first American selected; 1962.
Posthumously inducted into the National Ski Hall of Fame, 1964.
Three time Holmenkollen Champion in Norway, with the best showing to date by an American Alpine skier in international competition, 1954; 1956; 1962.
Three time National Alpine Champion in Giant Slalom, 1957; 1959; 1963.
Two time winner of the Roche Cup, 1961; 1959." (from (
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" "Buddy" Werner, a native of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, began his skiing activities as a ski jumper on famed Howelsen Hill, winning his first Regional Championship in jumping at the age of 10. However, somewhere during his formative years, he decided to concentrate on alpine events. As a competitive skier he completed a skiing record which is unequaled by any other American. Buddy was a three-time member of the United States Olympic Team and twice a member of the United States FIS Team. His international competition began in 1954 as a FIS team member, and in 1956 as an Olympian at the winter games in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy. He competed in the FIS games in Bad Gastein, Austria in 1958. Buddy became the first American male to win a major European downhill, winning at the Hahnenkamm in Kitzbuehl, Austria. Although a team member for the 1960 Olympic Winter Games at Squaw Valley, California, a broken leg kept him from competing. In 1964, Buddy was again an Olympic competitor for the United States at Innsbruck, Austria. The same year, he was killed in an avalanche in Switzerland. (Deceased)" (from (
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