Nelson Bennett’s valuable advice has helped the development and management of ski areas.

Nelson Bennett served his sport of skiing for more than 45 years. He began skiing at the age of six and was a member of the ski team at the University of New Hampshire from 1936 to 1940.

In 1940, he moved to Sun Valley, Idaho where he worked on trails maintenance and was a member of the ski patrol. He also became active in the NSA and the PNSA, holding several offices and serving on several committees of both groups.

In 1942, he joined the famed 10th Mountain Division where he saw service in Italy with the group.

When he was discharged in 1945, Nelson went back to Sun Valley where he was made the Superintendent of Recreational Facilities. During this time, he became an F.I.S. Technical Delegate and served on the F.I.S. Committee for Alpine Courses.

He was a member of the Olympic Alpine Team Selection Committee in 1948 and 1952 and the manager of the U.S. Olympic Alpine Team in 1956.

In 1960, he moved to Yakima, Washington to become the general manager of the White Pass Company, a job which included the planning, construction, maintenance and operation of the White Pass Ski Area.

He was the Assistant Director of Ski Events at the Olympics at Squaw Valley in 1960 and Chief of Course for the top one-third of the men’s downhill and Chief of Course for the ladies’ Slalom at Lake Placid for the Olympics of 1980.

He retired in 1985 after 25 years with the White Pass Company and ran a modest consulting service to a number of ski areas in the United States and Canada.

Nelson Bennett was elected to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 1986.