Thor and Gerald Groswold
When Thor Groswold immigrated from Norway, he brought his life’s passion to Colorado and transformed the ski industry. He and his son, Gerald (Jerry) both seized every opportunity to get everyone – from tourists to disabled children – on skis.
Born in 1895 on a farm in Norway, Thor Groswold grew up on skis. He competed in skiing and ski jumping, and attended both military school and business college in Oslo. He immigrated through Ellis Island in 1923 and soon moved to Denver to study business and accounting at the University of Denver. Five years later he married Bernice Brandt, also a good skier and ski jumper with Norwegian heritage. During the Depression both Thor and Bernice competed in various ski-jump competitions and raised two sons, Thor Jr. and Jerry. In 1932 his frustration with inadequate ski equipment led Thor to open his own business, the Thor Groswold Ski Company. His method of trial and error led to the innovation of many ski manufacturing techniques and the improvement of ski equipment. The company name was later changed to The Groswold Ski Co., and it became one of the first “official” suppliers to the U.S. Alpine Ski Team in 1948. In fact, the first U.S. Olympic gold medal in skiing was won on a pair of Groswold skis.
Thor did more than just sell skis; he was a ski enthusiast who worked diligently to introduce the industry to Colorado. He was involved with the establishment of Ajax Mountain in Aspen, Monarch Ski area near Salida, Arapahoe Basin, Camp Hale, and the 10th Mountain Division. He served on the Board of Directors and later became President of the Denver Ski Club. He was Vice President of the National Ski Association, and persuaded national conventions and competitions to take place in Denver, which had great positive economic impact on Colorado. As an early member of the Denver Winter Sports Council, Thor was active in the establishment of Berthoud Pass Ski Area and the beginning of Cooper Creek, near what is now Winter Park. Thor was active in the launch of Winter Park Ski Area and involved himself and his sons in helping clear some of the original trails.
His commitment to the sport was honored by the Southern Rocky Mountain Ski Association, as they presented him the Halstead Award for outstanding contributions to the world of skiing. His philosophy of giving back has been passed down to his son Jerry, who is also a pioneer in the industry.
Born in Denver and raised in Littleton, Jerry attended the University of Denver for his Bachelors Degree, Juris Doctorate and MBA. In 1975, Jerry continued the family legacy and took the helm as President and CEO of the Winter Park Recreational Association. During his tenure, he implemented major ski area expansions like the development of Mary Jane, which was the first major ski area expansion under the National Environmental Policy Act. Under his leadership, the resort grew from an annual average of 360,000 skiers to over 1 million. Without using any City or public funds, the resort grew to be valued at $65 million and became a major economic force in Colorado.
Many major contributions to the community can also be credited to Jerry. He was a leader in the creation of the Colorado Tourism Board. He was an initiator of the National Sports Center for the Disabled, which began in 1970 for a small group of Children’s Hospital patients with amputations and has evolved into the largest and most successful outdoor therapeutic recreation agency in the world. In addition, Jerry was a primary visionary of the summer season at Winter Park that resulted in an economic boost for the surrounding community. He serves on the Board of Directors for the International Skiing History Association, the Grand Foundation for Fraser Valley and Club 20. Like his father, he was inducted into both the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame and the National Ski Hall of Fame. He is also honored in the Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau Tourism Hall of Fame.
Born in 1895 on a farm in Norway, Thor Groswold grew up on skis. He competed in skiing and ski jumping, and attended both military school and business college in Oslo. He immigrated through Ellis Island in 1923 and soon moved to Denver to study business and accounting at the University of Denver. Five years later he married Bernice Brandt, also a good skier and ski jumper with Norwegian heritage. During the Depression both Thor and Bernice competed in various ski-jump competitions and raised two sons, Thor Jr. and Jerry. In 1932 his frustration with inadequate ski equipment led Thor to open his own business, the Thor Groswold Ski Company. His method of trial and error led to the innovation of many ski manufacturing techniques and the improvement of ski equipment. The company name was later changed to The Groswold Ski Co., and it became one of the first “official” suppliers to the U.S. Alpine Ski Team in 1948. In fact, the first U.S. Olympic gold medal in skiing was won on a pair of Groswold skis.
Thor did more than just sell skis; he was a ski enthusiast who worked diligently to introduce the industry to Colorado. He was involved with the establishment of Ajax Mountain in Aspen, Monarch Ski area near Salida, Arapahoe Basin, Camp Hale, and the 10th Mountain Division. He served on the Board of Directors and later became President of the Denver Ski Club. He was Vice President of the National Ski Association, and persuaded national conventions and competitions to take place in Denver, which had great positive economic impact on Colorado. As an early member of the Denver Winter Sports Council, Thor was active in the establishment of Berthoud Pass Ski Area and the beginning of Cooper Creek, near what is now Winter Park. Thor was active in the launch of Winter Park Ski Area and involved himself and his sons in helping clear some of the original trails.
His commitment to the sport was honored by the Southern Rocky Mountain Ski Association, as they presented him the Halstead Award for outstanding contributions to the world of skiing. His philosophy of giving back has been passed down to his son Jerry, who is also a pioneer in the industry.
Born in Denver and raised in Littleton, Jerry attended the University of Denver for his Bachelors Degree, Juris Doctorate and MBA. In 1975, Jerry continued the family legacy and took the helm as President and CEO of the Winter Park Recreational Association. During his tenure, he implemented major ski area expansions like the development of Mary Jane, which was the first major ski area expansion under the National Environmental Policy Act. Under his leadership, the resort grew from an annual average of 360,000 skiers to over 1 million. Without using any City or public funds, the resort grew to be valued at $65 million and became a major economic force in Colorado.
Many major contributions to the community can also be credited to Jerry. He was a leader in the creation of the Colorado Tourism Board. He was an initiator of the National Sports Center for the Disabled, which began in 1970 for a small group of Children’s Hospital patients with amputations and has evolved into the largest and most successful outdoor therapeutic recreation agency in the world. In addition, Jerry was a primary visionary of the summer season at Winter Park that resulted in an economic boost for the surrounding community. He serves on the Board of Directors for the International Skiing History Association, the Grand Foundation for Fraser Valley and Club 20. Like his father, he was inducted into both the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame and the National Ski Hall of Fame. He is also honored in the Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau Tourism Hall of Fame.
