By Scott Andrews
Staff Columnist
NEW HAMPSHIRE—Staff Columnist
One of the Granite State’s most beloved men was recently honored with the New England Ski Museum’s “Spirit of Skiing” award, recognizing a lifetime of dedication to the sport, our community and our nation.
The honoree was 89-year-old Herbert Schneider, who began schussing in his native Austria in 1923 (at age three) and has been a pivotal figure in the sport and the New Hampshire ski industry since his 1939 arrival in North Conway. Schneider was owner/general manager of Mount Cranmore for many years.
Bo Adams, president of the Franconia-based Museum, made the award before a sold-out crowd of 125 at the organization’s annual banquet. I’m a Museum member and I’ve known and admired Schneider for nearly a quarter-century. Naturally I was thrilled to be part of this joyous affair.
In his presentation remarks, Adams noted that Schneider and family arrived in North Conway as refugees from their Nazi-dominated homeland. His father, the famed Skimeister Hannes Schneider, had been arrested and deported by the Nazis for disobeying their orders.
The young Schneider joined the U.S. Army’s famed 10th Mountain Division ski troops and served with distinction in defeating the Germans in Italy.
After the war, he co-founded the Professional Ski Instructors of America and owned and operated Mount Cranmore, supervising its transition into a modern resort. Under Schneider Cranmore installed snowmaking and built a network of chairlifts to supplement the mountain’s famous and iconic Skimobile.
“Herbert did a masterful job of continuing the prominence of Mount Cranmore, and he did it with style and he did it with grace,” said Adams.
In the late 1980s, Schneider retired from day-to-day management and sold the mountain. Under three subsequent owners, Cranmore continued its leadership among Granite State resorts, while Schneider served on the sidelines as “Director of Skiing,” a largely symbolic job.
Today’s owner is Booth Creek, a California-based chain of top-tier destination ski resorts.
Other speakers delivering tributes included Ben Wilcox, the current general manager, who cited Schneider as the source of “Cranmore Pride,” a defining quality that still pervades the resort.
In his humble acceptance speech, Schneider recalled his family’s first days in the U.S. ─ spent in New York City shortly after disembarking from the Queen Mary. He joked that he had never believed that so many cars could exist in the whole world; his home town possessed only two.
Among all his possessions, Schneider said that he most treasures the Bronze Star he earned while fighting in the 10th Mountain Division’s Italian battles in 1945. He added that serving in the Army was his way of saying thanks to this country for providing a new home and a welcoming embrace for his family.
“How happy my family was to be able to come to America!” he said.
A standing ovation followed. We all felt the same way about him.
Photo caption: Herb Schneider (left) and Bo Adams with the Spirit of Skiing award. (Scott Andrews photo)
