New Hampshire

Secrets, Legends & Lore

Featured on the NH Center for Public Interest Journalism - InDepthNH.org

Bernie Weischel:

75 Years on the Boards and an Exhibition Guy at Heart

The Birth of Freestyle Skiing at Waterville Valley Series

From Anamaki Chronicles and InDepthNH.org

Bernie Weischel - Courtesy Photo

117 Bernie Weischel: 75 Years on the Boards and an Exhibition Guy at Heart

Last year Bernie logged more than 50 days skiing at 75 years of age. He is still an active and eager part of the skiing community and a key member of the team that made Freestyle possible, even when it was back on its heels.

Running events and shows is never easy but Bernie seemed to make it look so.

Cloud Over Loveland Monochrome
Signed Originals Unsigned Open Edition Prints

Colors Above the Notch
Signed Originals Unsigned Open Edition Prints

Overview

From Anamaki Chronicles and InDepthNH.org

This podcast series was produced in three main parts with ancillary interviews also published. YouTube interviews are included where possible.

Part 1 - The Dreamers and the Doers

The 1960s and 1970s were a time of excitement and innovation, driven by people from all walks of life. The growth and development of Waterville Valley and the explosion of Freestyle skiing was no exception. Consequently, telling the story of the birth of Freestyle skiing requires that we open our minds to what happens when we mix blueblood Northcountry families like Ralph and Grace Bean and their two boys Danny and Dave, Olympic skiers like Tom Corcoran and his friends: Doug Pfieffer editor of “Skiing Magazine”, the Kennedys of Massachusetts, with immigrant-made-good dynasties in the making like the Dunfeys, and college students lured to the “Valley” by a love of the mountains and skiing like John and Donni Hughes, and other accomplished and talented long-timers like Raymond Brox and his family. These were the dreamers and doers.

https://feeds.podetize.com/ep/merRchZ-4/media

https://www.anamaki.com/art-productions/podcasts/new-hampshire-secrets-legends-lore

Show Notes

Sunlight Follows Rain on Lupine

Signed Originals

Unsigned Open Edition Prints

Part 2 - The Mentors and the Protectors

Then there were the Mentors, the Protectors: the men and women who had fallen in love first with skiing and then with Freestyle and its devil-may-care skiers. They brought their wisdom and enthusiasm to the sport, people like JD Nelson, Jack Sanders, and Bernie Weishel who - on more than one occasion - rescued Freestyle from the jaws of extinction in a society increasingly placing bumpers and belts on our lives and bodies to protect us from ourselves.

Nick and Suzy Preston, who provided the pushback by helping the athletes push the envelope safely: building their bodies, confidence and skills to protect them.

https://feeds.podetize.com/ep/h9zwlyIsg/media

https://www.anamaki.com/art-productions/podcasts/new-hampshire-secrets-legends-lore

Show Notes

Birch Tapestry

Signed Originals

Unsigned Open Edition Prints

Part 3 - The Athletes: The Birth of Freestyle Skiing at Waterville Valley: Part 3: Surfers of the Moguls, Pioneers of the Air

Listen here: https://feeds.podetize.com/ofL4BwKTS.mp3

The excitement of Freestyle was, ultimately, the domain of the athletes, the hot doggers : Wayne Wong, George Askevold, Floyd Wilkie and Billy Fallon among others. Their defenders: Tom Corcoran, Frank Deboise, the nations first African-American certified ski instructor and Ski School Director Paul Pfosi had the vision to see beyond the back-biting and competitiveness between Racers and Freestylers. They provided the support and cover for Freestyle to continue to grow.

Accompanying Interviews

Frank Deboise

Frank Deboise: https://feeds.podetize.com/HGW31ThDn.mp3

https://www.anamaki.com/art-productions/podcasts/new-hampshire-secrets-legends-lore

Show notes

Nick & Suzi Preston

Nick & Suzi Preston - A Life in Skiing, a Freestyle Life https://feeds.podetize.com/ep/bRHCU52Td/media

https://www.anamaki.com/art-productions/podcasts/new-hampshire-secrets-legends-lore

YouTube - Coming soon

Show Notes