​CAMPFIRE presents: an evening with Pepi Stiegler, and friends

Sunday, February 18, 2024, 6:00 PM

CAMPFIRE presents: an evening with Pepi Stiegler, and friends: Celebrating 60 years since Pepi’s Olympic Gold! | Feb 18, 6-7:30p, Virginian Saloon

This month, CAMPFIRE welcomes legendary ski racer and renowned JH Ski School Director Pepi Stiegler, together with friends and colleagues Ernie Anderson, Renny Burke, Nato Emerson and Richard Lee, for a special celebration of Pepi’s life and legacy on the 60th anniversary of his Olympic Gold (Slalom – Innsbruck, Austria, Feb 1964)!

Pepi Stiegler was born in Lienz, Austria in 1937. Beginning at age 6, Pepi skied to school for his first year as a student, and quickly developed a passion for the sport. At age 15, he became the Austrian National Junior Champion in slalom, then joined the Austrian National Team. In the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics, Pepi won a silver medal in slalom. He won every competitive race that he entered in the 1961 season, including the coveted Austrian National Champion title, and in the 1964 Olympics at Innsbruck, won the Gold Medal for slalom and the Bronze Medal for giant slalom.

Having spent three summers training and instructing in Portillo, Chile, in 1965 took on the job of Ski School Director for the new mountain resort in the Tetons owned by the Jackson Hole Ski corporation — a job he held until 2002. Pepi was inducted into the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 2001, into the Professional Ski Instructors of America-Intermountain Hall of Fame in 2004, and into the Alf Engen Ski History Museum 2004 in the categories of Competitive Skier and Ski Sport Innovator.

Having a lifelong passion for education and learning, after retiring at age 59, Pepi moved to Cardwell, MT to enroll in the public High School, and achieved a high school diploma. In 2002, at the age of 65, he then received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Montana State University. Today, Pepi trains daily with Teton Outpatient Physical Therapy and the Senior Center of Jackson Hole, is an avid daily reader and linguaphile, and loves spending time with his dear friends and family.

Skier and instructor Renny Burke joined Pepi’s Ski School in December of 1971 after two years teaching in Aspen. Renny served as a ski club coach for nine years, and along with Rich Lee served as a supervisor for Pepi's Race Camp. Rich and Renny were also ski school supervisors during Pepi's tenure and following years.

A Minnesota native, racer and ski instructor Richard Lee was Ski School Director at Powder Ridge Ski Area. In 1976, he moved to Jackson to teach for Pepi’s Ski School, and supervised and taught for Pepi until he retired. Lee helped run Pepi's Race Camp and Steep Skiing Camps, and participated in the Hiring and Training of new ski instructors. He is currently still teaching in Jackson Mountain Sports; his 47 seasons is the longest ski school instructor tenure out of 600 current instructors.

Originally from northern Minnesota, skier and instructor Ernie Anderson moved to Colorado in 1971, spending six ski seasons in Aspen, before moving to Jackson Hole to work for Pepi. Over a forty plus year career at JHMR, he has worked closely alongside Pepi, serving as training manager for instructors. He has also spent several decades working for the Professional Ski Instructors of America as an Examiner / Clinician.

Skier and Instructor Nato Emerson currently has 36 seasons teaching at JHMR. He was appointed by Pepi to start what is now Teton Village Ski Team, when Pepi’s daughter Resi was 6 years old. Having coached for World Cup Snowboard Racing from 2008 to 2011, he has served 30 years as an Examiner for PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America), is a USSA certified race Coach, and Real Estate Broker with Jackson Hole Sotheby’s,

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Alongside his dear friends and colleagues, Pepi will join us for a conversation exploring his ski career, his early experiences in Jackson — and his passion for education: as an Instructor, Ski School Director, and lifelong student. Reflecting on the qualities of heart and spirit involved in training as an olympic athlete, navigating the challenges of a career and life on another continent, and building the legacy of a world-class ski instruction institution and amazing family, we hope to celebrate the ways in which dedication to one’s deep love and passions can translate to living a more courageous and loving life.

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CAMPFIRE reimagines how we gather as community. Each month, we bring in guest speakers for a unique, participatory storytelling experience, hosted in a subtly ritualized framework, to explore what most drives, moves and inspires us.

Free and open to the public.

***Billy's Burgers and fare from the Virginian Saloon available onsite / free to first-time attendees!***

CAMPFIRE Gatherings are interactive, dynamic storytelling experiences that thrive on guest participation. Guests are encouraged to arrive early and stay late as we enjoy a festal 'communion' of food, libations, and conversation together. Above all, CAMPFIRE aims to create a space for anyone craving meaningful connection.

CAMPFIRE also supports regular small-group meet-ups for individuals keen on deepening conversation and connection over meals, film and article discussion, and skiing / hiking forays into the backcountry.