HomeMy WebLinkAboutVAIL VILLAGE FILING 1 BLOCK 5 PART OF TRACT B AND C RODGER STAUB PARK VORLAUFER LEGAL1 lttl,,,1
ROGER STAUB PARK
IN MEMORY OF ROGER STAUB, 1936-1974
THE i96O OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL IN THE GIANT SLALOM
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SCHOOL DIRECTOR & DIRECTOR OF SKIING i965-1973
I.IINNER OF
VAIL SKI
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Roger Staub was bo rn
ROGER STAUI]
i n Arosa, Svri tzerl arr ci,i n the mountai n
provin." of Graubunden, in 1936. His fanrily lras pOor' but encOur-
aged its sons from early childhooci to try to excell in the sports
available to them; soccer, bicycl jng, fishing, hunting and moun-
tain climbing in. summer; ice hockey and skiin.q jn winter.
By his early teens, Roger shovJed unusual a.bil ity in tt'ro sports
ice hockey and skiing, playing on Arosa's iunior hockey teanr and
winning junior skj races r'riih a regularity that attracted the
attention of Stvitzerland's sports leaders.
As a senior in h'i gh school, Roger had a hard choice to tnake.
He was a star on Arosa.'S hockey teanl , who vrere leading the national
hockey league at the time. And, stj ll a iunior, he v.'as na;ned to
the Srrriss national ski team.
Fortunately for the skj worl d, Staub chose to c0ncentrate
on skiing. Two years later, at. the age of 20, he was fourth in
downhill at the Cortina 0lympics, thus beginning his assault on
Austria's strang'l ehol d on 0lympi c ski honors.
. His skiing career frotn that nloment vias uphill all the way'
In .|958, he won two bronze, and one silver medal at the Badgastein
llorld Championships, a perfornlallce that r^ras only overshadorved by
Toni sailer's two gold meda'l s, 0n his way to uorld ski honors'
Staub took time to rvin nine separate Srviss national skiing cham-
pionshipS, dnd in su mer, was Several times Swiss water ski chatn-
Pion.
The Squaw Va1ley 0lympics in .|960 proved to be the high
point of Roger Staub's competitivc sk'iing life. After ilonopolizincl
-2-
both the Cortina 0lympics and the Badgastein t^lorlci Chanrpionships'
the Austri ans vl|ere expected to sweep the Squaw V.t1l ey events.
But French ace Jean Vuarnet humiliated thc Austrians in the down-
hill. An.d svritzerland's staub, sweeping dorvn tlre steep KTZ2
course in the fjnest run of his career, earned the 0lympic go)d
;, A,br''<'&h/4''medal/thJt was to shape his future.
professional, and with
Arosa vrhich is still
sports shop in Arosa
Soon after Squaw Valiey, Roger turned
his brother Hans, founded a ski school at
in operation. Shortly after, he opened
beari ng hi s name and managed by hj s father.
In the early .|960's , Roger stood at a crossroads ' He coul d
settle dovrn in Arosa rvith his ski school and sports shop, and
bask in tire reflectcd glory of his 0lynrpic gold nedal for the
rest of his life. 0r he could venture out into the vrorld, and
risl< being just another ex-01ympjc star, little known beyond the
borders of Srvitzerland.
Typical'l y, Roger chose the latter course' Sulnmers he set
up a ski school at smiggins Hole, in the Australian A1ps. l,linters
jn additjon to directing his ski school, he began his career in
ski films, co-producing and starring in a film for swjss televi-
sjon. This fi'l m, incidentallY, with its emphasis on trick
routines and hair-raising aet.ial stunts, foreshadoured by 10 years
the current hot-dog s ki i ng craze.
Theninthespringoflg64,staubwascontactedbyPeter
seibert. Did he want to become ski school director in a brand
new ski. resort in the Rockies? Again, Roger chose the unknown
chal I enge rather than the
I n llovembe r of 196P, Roger
- 3-
familiar safety of his life.jn Arosa
arrived in Vail to take over Vail's
fI edgf i ng s ki school .
in his nine year association with thjs resort' Staub left
anindeliblemarkonVajl.Hebegantheintportani'taskofbujld-
ing the Vail sk'i . school to its present eminence' He became "l'1r'
Vail,"inavrholeseries'offilmsnadebyRogerBrown'andthou-
sands of b'l ack and rvhite and co'l or photos' lie represented Vail
at ski shows and ski club rneetings all over the country' His
personal sincerity, coupled with his skiing fame' aclded greatly
toVail,scredibj.lity.intheskjworldandthefjlmimagesof
RogerflashingthroughVa.ilpotvderconvincedthousandsofskiers
that Vai I was the pl ace to go ski i ng '
Roger's l'lexico City narriage to Srviss televjsion star Lilo
Hausener surpri sed everyone, and was headl i ne news i n every news-
paper in Europe. Lilo, the Barbara l,lalters of Swjtzerland' had
interviewed Roger on her show, beginning an on-again, off-again
romance that culminated in their marriage in Mexico'
Being a married man seemed to be a settling influence on the
mercurial ski star. He became more concerned about his business
career, and about limiting his active sports involvement' The
birthofhissonYuri,namedfortheRussiancosnlonautYuri
Gagarin,turnedhimintoadotingfatherwhovrouldhurryoffthe
slopes to spend some tinte with hjs son' But not even marriage
and parenthooct could still Roger's eternal love for adventure--
he was fascinated by the new hot dog skiing crazet and took an
active role as a iudge of national hot dog skiing events'
-4-
In 1973, Roger and Lilo cJecjcl ed'it was time for thent to begin
to put down roots, either here'or in 5witzerland. They began
negotiating to buy a lodge i n Vai 1 ' Unfortunately, the lodge
deal fell throughr -6rd the Staubs returined to Switzerland.
Lilo began a new career jn business, but Roger !ras at loose
ends. As always, he was seeki ng a chal l enge, sonethi ng to fi I I
hi s need to be doi ng somethi ng hi gher, faster ' fartirer, than the
rest of us vrorkaday humans.
He found this challenge in the sport of hang-9.|iding' a
brand new sport, full of risk, but also full of the thrills of
speed and movement and 0lympi an di stance above the worl d that
Roger 'l oved. He was demonstrating a new competi tion gl ider design
at Verbier, Switzer'l and when he fell to his death, one day before
h i s 38th bi rthday.
To: R'ich Caplan
From: Patrick Dodson
Date: June 25, 1984
Subject: Roget Staub Park
to
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In reference to your request concerning informatjon on a plaque
be placed in Roger Staub Park I have submitted the following information:
Roger Staub was born in Arosa Switzerland in the mountain provence
Graubunden. He earned a gold medal at the 1960 Squaw Va1 ley Olyrnpics
e..$nrtilI race. He was a Vail Ski School director from 196J to 1973.
came known as'rMr. Vail". He married Lilo Hausener and had a son
named Yuri. He was born in 1936, and died in 1974, one day before his
38th birthday.It is my intention to place a large stone with the plaque firmly
I have alreadycemented in the stone somewhere close to the entrance.
contacted Gerald Gallegos of Gallegos ltlasonry, and he
and tools to make this happen.
has the capabilities
f; 1",t""
To: Rich Caplan
From: Patrick Dodson
Date: June 25, 1984
Subject: Roget Staub Park
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In reference to your request concerning information on a plaque
to be placed in Roget Staub Park I have submitted the following information:
Roget Staub was born in Arosa Switzerland in the mountain provence
of Graubunden. He earned a gold medal at the 1960 Squaw Valley 0lympics
in the Mid---ruc.e. He was a Vail Ski School director from 1964 to 1973,
He became known as "Mr. Vail". He married Lilo Hausener and had a son
named Yuri. He was born in 1936, and died in 1974, one day before his
38th birthday.
It'is my intention to place a large stone with the plaque firmly
cemented'in the stone somewhere close to the entrance. I have already
contacted Gerald Gallegos of Gallegos Masonry, and he has the capabilit'ies .)i..
and tools to make this happen
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(303) 476-7000
TO: Pat Dodsotr n.FROM: Rich Caplan ilt '
DATE: May 25, 1984
SUBJECT: Staub Park
office ol the lown managel
Rod Sl1fer urged before his going off the council that we prepare
a pl-aque for insertion somewhere in Roger Staub (Vorlaufer) Park.In particular, this summer his widow will be visiting Vail and
he would like to have it installed by then. I asked Rod toprepare a 1ittle biographical information for us so tha.t rve
may then use that as background for preparation of wording
on the plaque. I will forward that to you once I have it.
IVould you please work with Public Works on an appropriate
mounting (stone and/or wood) for the plaque. Thanks.
CC: Stan Berryman
John Gallegos
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Mr. Dodson
Town of Vail
Recreation Dept.
75 So. Frontage Rd.Vail, C0. 81658
Rev. Steve Hoekstra
Vail Baptist Church
P0 Box 2296
Vail, C0. 81658
476-1759
Dear Mr. Dodson,Sept.28, 1984
I want to thankyou for the opportunity to serve Vail in any capacity. It
was a privilege for me to participate in the Staub Park dedication. I also
wanted to thank the recreation district for the golf and tennis pass. There
are not many towns that are so gracious to the clergy. I know from my
standpoint it introduces a very real air of co-operation and acceptance.
Please convey my gratitude to the other M.R.D. members.
To continue with my thank yorfg we held children's day camps again this year
every week from June 18 through August 10 at Ford Park. This is a Bible
centered recreation time for children grades 1 - 6. We have been using
Ford Park in this capacity for 6 years now and have many parents that bringtheir children back year after year. The camps are officially called
"God in Nature Day Camps". If there might be a way to include these in
next years summer activities calendar, please let me know so I can pursueit. These day camps are used by locals and visitors alike. This past summer
we had an average of 15 children per day. It is free and staffed by well
trained college students.
So at least by us, Ford Park was used alot. Thank you. We also used the
East Vail park next to the Racquet Club two weeks this past summer for the
same type of program. Please let me know if I can be of service in any
lvay.
Thank you again,
rh, //"Al^-
Steve Hoekstra
Pastor, VaiI Baptist Church
SAH/J I h