Suzy Harris started skiing at age 13 and racing at 15. She had an outstanding alpine skiing career from 1945 through 1969, beginning as a member of the Salt Lake City East Ski Team.

Born on January 21, 1930 in Cleveland, Ohio, Suzy Harris moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1942 where her skiing career began.

Suzy Harris Rytting was a member of the 1948 and the 1952 USA Olympic Alpine Teams. From 1947 through 1952, she was National Slalom, Downhill and Giant Slalom Champion and was a national medalist eight times. Suzy also won the prestigious Harriman Cup at Sun Valley in 1948. She was a member of the 1950 U.S. Women’s F.I.S. World Cup Team, recognized as the first USA Team.

As an athlete, Suzy had an outstanding career. Some of her highlights follow:

• Snow Cup Qualifying – Giant Slalom – 1st, Alta, Utah; Placed 3rd in Snow Cup Giant Slalom (1946-47)
• Named 2nd Alternate for U.S. Olympic Team of 1948 (1947)
• Winner Mary Cornelia Intercollegiate Trophy: Downhill – 1st, Slalom – 3rd, combined – 1st, Sun Valley, Idaho (1947)
• Course Record, Gold Sun Race, Downhill, Sun Valley (1947)
• Won the prestigious Harriman Cup at Sun Valley (1948)
• Named to 1950 Women’s F.I.S. Team (1949)
• World F.I.S. Races, Giant Slalom – 14th, Slalom – 19th, Downhill – 20th, Aspen, Colorado (1950)
• National Giant Slalom Championship (1951)
• Olympic Tryouts: Downhill – 5th, Slalom – 2nd, Combined – 4th, Sun Valley, Idaho (1951)
• Named to Women’s 1952 Olympic Team (1951)
• Secretary, Intermountain Ski Association , volunteer (1952-59)
• Volunteer Organizer – Coach, United Alta Skiers: Junior Racing Team, ages 10-18 (1967-72)
• Chairman, Salt Lake Area U.S. Ski Team Fundraiser – $50,000 raised (1985)
• Women’s World Cup – Park City, Utah: All-star Team Race – 4th Place (1986)
• Honorary Chairman, Jimmie Heuga Ski Race Fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis to Reanimate the Physically Challenged, Snowbird, Utah – $25,000 raised (1987)
• Selected Community Hero Honorary Torchbearer for Olympic Torch Relay (1996)

Suzy has truly distinguished herself by being active in numerous ski-related and community affairs. She was a Girl Scouts/Brownies volunteer, a Suicide Prevention Hot Line volunteer and chairman of the board at a children’s center.

Suzy is married to William R. Rytting. They have two children, Jessica and Roblyn and four grandchildren: Carolyn, Bryan, .D. and Heather. Suzy’s other two loves are Charlies Angels and Harry Potter, her two Lhasa Apsos.

Suzy Harris Rytting was elected to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 1988. She is also in the Utah Sports Hall of Fame and the University of Utah Hall of Fame. In December 1999, she was named one of 50 greatest athletes of the century by The Salt Lake Tribune and the Utah Sports Hall of Fame. Suzy was honored with the TEXACO STAR AWARD for her dedication in making the community a better place to live and recognition as one of the world’s best ski and snowboard athletes. In 2004, she was inducted into the Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame and given the prestigious S.J. Quinney Award for her continuous contributions to skiing in the Intermountain West.