One of the best known and most widely photographed members of the “gimmick skiers,” Ruedi found in 1971 a perfect headquarters for his unique brand of skimanship at Mount Snow, Vt., where he is director of special skiing activities and conceiver, president and promoter of Ruedi Wyrsch’s Pied Piper Ski Club.
Ruedi was hired two years ago at the vast Southern Vermont resort when founder Walt Schoenknecht felt that the Mt. Snow image as a swinger’s haven should be countered with more family activities. (This, it’s believed, was prompted after the Easter Sunday Parade of 1971 when an unmistakably nude and quite definitely pregnant “bunny” hopped into the line of march, capping a spring season which included a non-T-shirt contest staged by the eminent shirt making company from Vashon Island, Wash.)
One of Ruedi’s most popular events for the small-fry, which he introduced several years earlier while ski school director at Jiminy Peak, Mass., and which has since proven a family-grabber at scores of other areas, was a kiddies’ challenge race, with the tots attempting to beat Ruedi’s time down a simple giant slalom course. Ruedi, however, skis the course on stilts. Never one to be satisfied with the slopes within his own vision. Ruedi decided to put his show on the road.
Last winter saw the doughty president of the Pied Pipers launch himself down a score of slopes from Jay Peak, Vt. to West Virginia, followed by hordes of crash-helmeted hellions, zooming in and out around his stilts.
Winners at each race were eligible to compete in the finals of the Children’s Challenge Race at Mount Snow April 2, Easter Sunday, where, alas, it was so cold, snowy and downright wintry that not one bare-bossomed bunny felt compelled to venture into the line of march. Instead, rosy-cheeked 3-year-olds—watched adoringly if not shiveringly by older brothers and sisters, parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents—dominated the scene, following Ruedi through the gates. The Pied Pipers Club spawned a succession of other events—a Father-Son race, Mother-Daughter competition, a Show-Off Day for young hot-doggers—all well-attended and definite drum-beaters for Mt. Snow. Schoenknecht’s image change had been effected.
As for Ruedi, the perpetual clown and quintescent entertainer, he simply is unable to remain stationary, in mind or body. The Childrens’ Challenge Race? Well, it keeps Ruedi on the go, spreads the name of Mt. Snow and provides reams of publicity for the various host areas.
From 50 to 400 kids sign up for each race (all accompanied by at
