U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame - Class of 2009

A group of eight athletes and sport builders have been named for induction to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. This is the largest class of inductees since 1984 for the Hall of Fame, which is located in Ishpeming, Michigan on the Upper Peninsula - the birthplace of organized ski competition in 1905.

The members of the Class of 2009 are Paralympic champions Chris Waddell and Sarah Will, adaptive skiing pioneer Jack Benedick, legendary big mountain skier Doug Coombs, noted industry writer and instructor Stu Campbell, veteran ski jumping champion Ansten Samuelstuen, the father of southern skiing Sepp Kober and longtime U.S. Ski Team press officer and journalist Paul Robbins.

Nominations for Honored Membership in the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame are received throughout the year from across the country. A Selection Committee under the chairmanship of Paul Bousquet of Woodstock, Vermont,  reviews all nominations. Successful nominations are placed on a ballot that in 2009 was voted on by a panel of 100 electors.  This year's class brings the number of Honored Members to 368.

Since 1956, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame has provided highly respected, national and perpetual recognition of athletes competing in skiing and snowboarding and of the builders of those sports who have made the highest level of national and/or international achievement and contribution to those sports.

The induction ceremony will take place in Colorado on April 9, 2010.  They will also be further honored in September by ceremonies in Ishpeming, the home of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. Read more about the members of the Class of 2009.

_{Photo Paul Robbins Copyright U.S. Ski Team}