Far West Ski History...
Herbert “Zip” Schneider, age 92, died in June 2012 from natural causes at Maine Medical Center, Portland, OR. He was the son of Hannes Schneider the pioneer of the Arlberg skiing technique.
Herbert was owner and operator of Cranmore Ski Area, NH from 1963-1984 where he developed new ski terrain and lifts.
During the late 60s and early 70s he installed snowmaking and instituted modern snow grooming at Cranmore.
During the 70s and 80s Schneider hosted the Volvo International Tennis Tournament at Cranmore.
Herbert won the bronze star for action while on patrol with the 10th Mountain Division during World War II in the Apennine Mountains in Italy in April 1945.
Other honors include being elected to the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame in 1992, receiving the New England Ski Museum's Spirit of Skiing Award in 2009, and being made an honorary lifetime member of PSIA and of the Ski Club Arlberg of St. Anton, Austria, in 2010.
He oversaw the expansion of the Eastern Slope Ski Club’s Junior Program at Cranmore, which produced Olympians Tyler and Terry Palmer, David Currier, Abbi Fisher and current U.S. Ski Team member and 2010 Olympian, Leanne Smith.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the New England Ski Museum in Franconia, N.H., or the 10th Mountain Division Veterans Association at P.O. Box 150, Carthage, N.Y. 13619.