Aspen Historical Society Presents:Chris Anthony’s Friedl

Aspen Historical Society welcomes professional skier and documentary filmmaker Chris Anthony back to the Wheeler Opera House for the Aspen premiere of Friedl, Anthony’s latest film exploring the legendary life of one of Aspen’s most influential ski pioneers, Friedl Pfeifer. While researching a sequel to his award-winning documentary, Mission Mt. Mangart, Chris uncovered the remarkable story of a daring ski race on Austria’s highest peak, the Grossglockner, which required athletes to climb to the summit starting in the middle of the night. Austrians held the race beginning in 1935, initially on wooden skis with leather boots and bindings, descending the glacier below to avoid crevasses, rocks, and cliffs rather than using gates. In 1935, the fastest skier from the summit was Friedl Pfefier, who also won a shorter version of the race in 1936. Chris quickly realized this was the same Friedl Pfeifer whose statue stands at the base of Ajax: Pfeifer escaped the Nazi regime, immigrated to the United States, led the Sun Valley Ski School, served in the 10th Mountain Division, and later helped create Aspen Skiing Corporation. The film explores this sweeping story, followed by a conversation with Colorado Snow Sports Hall of Fame inductee Chris Anthony. Photo: Friedl Pfeifer circa 1950. AHS, Ringquist Collection