Hans Georg came from the St. Moritz Ski School in Switzerland to the US in 1936 to become a pioneer ski tracker, rope tow operator and ski instructor. Hans evidentually made his way to Soda Springs to teach skiing. In 1939, Hans became the head of the Eastern Sierra Ski Club School at the Ski Ranch near the McGee Creek Lodge.
In 1940, Lloyd Nicoll built a tow at Observation Point, on the east side of Mammoth along the road to Twin Lakes. The next year, he sold it to Nyle Smith who then sold it to Hans in 1946 after Hans returned from serving in the 10th Mountain Division during WWII as a ski instructor and leader in the Italian campaign.
In 1945, Dave McCoy installed two 600 tows at McGee Creek that Hans used for his ski school. By 1946, Hans and Dave were the only tow operators in the Mammoth area. In 1948, Hans installed three tows in Mammoth in the vicinity of where Chair 15 is today. Although the tows remained until 1957, when the lifts begun to experience mechanical problems, Hans abandoned them and taught skiing at Daves lifts.
Hans taught thousands to ski, using the best of the Reverse Shoulder, Arlberg and French techniques. In 1940 and 1946, Hans attempted to develop a summer ski school at the 12,500-foot level eastern side of Mt. Whitney. Often, Hans was called to Hollywood to direct ski sequences. He wrote many books on skiing, including Modern Ski Systems, Reverse Shoulder Technique, and Simplified Skiing.
The Hans Georg Award is given for distinguished Accomplishment and Long-Term Contribution to Skiing. This award is given to an individual who has contributed significant achievements to skiing, not necessarily organized skiing. It reflects a long-term contribution over the years and is the highest award pesented by Far West.
| Year |
Awardee |
| 2008 |
Donn Bryant |
| 2007 |
Mike Sanford |
| 2006 |
Ken Calkins |
| 2005 |
Nancy Kelly |
| 2004 |
Steve Coxen |
| 2003 |
Tucker Hoffmann |
| 2002 |
Gene Fulkerson |
| 2001 |
Harry Davis |
| 2000 |
George Eachus |
| 1999 |
Randy Lew |
| 1998 |
Nic Fiore |
| 1997 |
Norm Cullen |
| 1996 |
Fay Mumbauer |
| 1995 |
Woody Hogan |
| 1994 |
Fred "Andy" Andrews |
| 1993 |
Dennis Agee |
| 1992 |
Pat Nangle |
| 1991 |
Mike Favia |
| 1990 |
Martha Perez |
| 1990 |
Mary Lou Bearden Reese |
| 1989 |
Sutter Kunkel |
| 1988 |
Janie “Frankie” Hansen |
| 1987 |
Alan Christian |
| 1986 |
Dick Goetzman |
| 1985 |
Jimmie Heuga |
| 1985 |
Ed Gehle |
| 1984 |
John James |
| 1983 |
Bill Berry |
| 1982 |
Joe Harris |
| 1981 |
Bruce Bell |
| 1980 |
Jane Wyckoff |
| 1980 |
Don Simpson |
| 1979 |
Chuck Morse |
| 1978 |
John Watson |
| 1978 |
Col Fraser E. West |
| 1977 |
Russ Read |
| 1976 |
No award |
| 1975 |
Wayne Poulsen |
| 1974 |
Dave McCoy, Mammoth Mountain |
| 1973 |
J. Stanley Mullin |
| 1972 |
Willy Schaeffler, U.S. Ski Team |
| 1971 |
Charles Fink |
| 1970 |
Billy Kidd |
| 1969 |
William Nagle, Jr. |
| 1968 |
Ben Cole |
| 1967 |
Walt Disney, W.D. Productions |
| 1966 |
Wilfred S. “Slim” Davis, USFS |
|
Before the Hans Georg Award, Far West honored these and others for their Long Term Contributions to skiing.
|
| 1965 |
|
| 1964 |
|
| 1963 |
|
| 1962 |
Byron Nishkian |
| 1961 |
No award |
| 1960 |
Dave McCoy |
| 1959 |
Robert J. Reed |
| 1958 |
Edward J. Johnson |
| 1957 |
Wesley B. Hadden |
| 1956 |
Gene Williams |
| 1955 |
Edward J. Johnson |
| 1954 |
Richard W. Cronon |

2005 Convention & 75th Anniversary Celebration Hans Georg Awardees: (standing) John James '84, Fay Mumbauer '96, Chuck Morse '79, Harry Davis '01, Jane Wyckoff '80, Gene Fulkerson '02, Tucker Hoffmann '03, John Watson '78, Norm Cullen '97, Alan Christian '87, Randy Lew '99, Woody Hogan '95, (seated) Steve Coxen '04, Nancy Kelly '05, Dick Goetzman '86.
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Hans Georg Schatzi Wood J. Stanley Mullin Jimmie Heuga
Jordan-Reily Tommi Tyndall Bill Mackey Bill Berry Warren Miller
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