Stein Eriksen was an icon in the Aspen skiing community. He was an Olympic and world champion. He was the first male ski racer from outside of the Alps to win an Olympic gold medal. He also started some of the first skiing schools here. Eriksen passed away this weekend at the age of 88.
Born in Norway in 1927, Eriksen was an Olympic gold medalist by his early 20s - winning the top prize in the giant slalom race in his home town of Oslo. But before that, he was a world champion in Aspen, a place that he would later call his home.
He was instrumental in creating ski schools at Aspen Highlands and Snowmass. One of the instructors he worked with, MagneNostdahl, spoke with Aspen Public Radio's Patrick Fort about his relationship with the skier.
