[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 40 (Monday, March 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E293-E294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN TRIBUTE OF HANNES SCHNEIDER, AND THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HANNES 
                       SCHNEIDER MEISTER CUP RACE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANN M. KUSTER

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 14, 2016

  Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 20th 
anniversary of the Hannes Schneider Meister Cup Race which honors the 
Austrian skimeister Hannes Schneider. Schneider was a vital figure in 
creating the modern skiing technique, ski instruction and mountain 
resort industry that we know today. Additionally, he was featured in 
several ski films and published a book, The Wonders of Skiing, in 1931.
  In 1938 Schneider was imprisoned by Austrian Nazis due to his 
rejection of their dogma, despite protests from the international 
skiing community. Thankfully, nine months later Schneider's freedom was 
obtained by international financier, North Conway native and Mount 
Cranmore founder Harvey Dow Gibson. On February 11th, 1939, Schneider 
and his family arrived in North Conway to begin their new lives in New 
Hampshire.
  Schneider immediately gave back to the country that welcomed him. 
During World War II, he served as a trainer for the 10th Mountain 
Division. He taught the soldiers skiing, a skill that served them well 
during mountain warfare. His son joined this unit, and served honorably 
during the war. The soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division would go on 
to be some of the essential figures in the development of US skiing 
after the war.
  Once victory was won, Schneider used the instruction skills he honed 
during the war at his soon to be world famous Hannes Schneider Ski 
School on Mount Cranmore. Schneider created the Arlberg skiing 
instruction technique. This widely used method teaches students to 
start out skiing in a wedge or pizza

[[Page E294]]

shape, while making a series of turns to control their speed. As 
students improve, they ski downhill with their skis parallel. Countless 
skiers, including my sons, have experienced the joy of alpine skiing 
because of Hannes' innovative method of instruction.
  Hannes dedicated his life to skiing. He continued to instruct 
thousands of pupils until his death in 1955. The Hannes Schneider 
Meister Cup Race, which on March 12, 2016 is celebrating its 20th 
anniversary, is staged by the New England Ski Museum to honor the 
legacy of Hannes Schneider and the veterans of the 10th Mountain 
Division. I am proud to participate in this year's event, and to honor 
the great achievements of Hannes Schneider.

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