Two extra Parkites are becoming a member of the roster of locals within the U.S. Nationwide Ski & Snowboard Corridor of Fame this yr. Ted Ligety and Stephani Victor have been introduced this week as members of the Class of 2026 inductees.
“I by no means would have thought as a child, rising up, racing right here on the Park Metropolis Ski Group, that I’d be up for this type of honor,” stated Ligety.
Ligety and Victor are each alpine skiers with careers spanning over 20 years. Ligety is greatest often known as a four-time Olympian and gold medalist.
Victor, who has lived in Park Metropolis for the reason that late ’90s, is a five-time Paralympian and gold medalist.
Each athletes competed within the FIS World Cup circuit, have received quite a few competitions the world over, set information and impressed numerous others all through their careers.
“It’s not completely actual but that I’ve been accepted into this (group) of extraordinary athletes — the individuals who have motivated me all through my total profession, each on the nondisabled and disabled facet,” stated Victor.
The 2 have skilled just a few different parallel landmarks earlier than being inducted into the Corridor of Fame collectively.
In 2006, Ligety and Victor returned from the Olympic and Paralympic Video games in Turin, Italy, every with their first gold medal. The pair have been co-grand marshals for the Park Metropolis Fourth of July Parade that yr.
To be inducted into the Corridor of Fame, an athlete has to have been retired for not less than 5 years. Ligety and Victor each retired in 2019.
Justin Koski, govt director of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Corridor of Fame, defined that inductees are chosen by a nomination and voting course of that takes place over three months.
Nominees have to fulfill sure standards, along with the retirement timeline, together with sure aggressive landmarks and a consideration of a nationwide impression on their sport.
“You need these folks to obtain their lifetime achievement award or their contribution award once they’re in a extremely great place to take action,” Koski stated. “When individuals are nonetheless competing, nonetheless lively, it’s extra significant as soon as they’re retired and into a special position.”
Ligety, whose three kids are actually on Park Metropolis ski groups themselves, stated he’s discovered a “built-in goal” along with his transition into retirement by his household.
“I at all times assume that this stuff are reserved for folks once they get somewhat older, so the truth that I’m not to date eliminated and nonetheless sort of in it’s cool,” he stated.
When reflecting on their careers, Ligety and Victor highlighted the relationships they made.
When Victor was 26 years previous, she was hit by a drunk driver, which led to the lack of each of her legs. Victor, who studied filmmaking in school, was in Park Metropolis for the Sundance Movie Pageant in 1999 when a pal prompt she attempt snowboarding on the Nationwide Skill Middle.
At her lesson, she was coached by Swiss skier Marcel Kuonen. As Victor described, it was love at first sight. Two weeks later she moved to Park Metropolis with a aim to compete on the 2002 Video games, with Kuonen by her facet as a companion and a coach. The 2 later married and Kuonen continued to teach Victor all through her profession.
Ligety, who raced on the Park Metropolis membership crew in highschool, stated the chums he skied with when he was youthful pushed him to change into a aggressive athlete.
“I used to be on the World Cup Circuit for 17 years, and a whole lot of these are with a whole lot of the identical folks, so it positively constructed a cool brotherhood,” Ligety stated. “I feel snowboarding is exclusive within the sense that, after all, we’re aggressive, but it surely’s by no means one-on-one. It’s you versus the course. So I feel that builds a cool camaraderie.”
Victor stated that when she sees folks occupied with sports activities, what they’re actually occupied with is the tales of the athletes.
“That’s what’s so nice about (the Corridor of Fame) is that there’s a bunch of people that tirelessly decide to the preservation of historical past and the distinctive tales. As a result of that’s actually the explanation we love sport,” Victor stated.
Throughout his time on the Corridor of Fame, Koski stated he’s seen simply how a lot the award can impression folks.
“I’ve seen it deliver folks again to snowboarding which have been in hiatus for many years. I’ve seen it make folks snort, smile, cry, all of the above, all on the identical time,” Koski stated. “I’ve seen it change into a milestone and in some instances, a closing of a chapter, a celebration of a complete lifetime of dedication.”
Ligety, who turned a family identify virtually a decade in the past, stated he hopes those that have gotten extra aware of him now keep in mind that the trail to success can begin at any level in life.
“I wasn’t some baby prodigy,” Ligety stated. “You don’t must peak (as a baby). In case you keep it up and experiment and belief your self, you possibly can go a great distance.”
Victor, who began snowboarding in her late-20s, stated one thing related.
“Give your self permission to fail,” she stated. “Now we have to be taught to not outline ourselves by the success or the loss, however to only embrace it on a moment-to-moment actuality.”
Ligety and Victor will be part of the Corridor of Fame in April at a ceremony in Ogden. Tickets for the ceremony and occasions main as much as it, together with actions with the Class of 2026 inductees and Corridor of Fame alumni, can be found on skisnowboardhall.org.
