Smith downhill race needs support

After more than 50 years as North America's longest continuously-contested downhill ski race, the Doug & Rollie Smith Downhill Race is in jeopardy of falling by the wayside.

Since 1948, the Doug & Rollie Smith race has been held on the Big Mountain at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Over the years, many legendary ski racers have competed in this internationally contested event. The list of former contestants and winners reads like a who's who of ski racing.

A brief list would include the first winner, Montana's Dr. Amos "Bud" Little in 1948, and the legendary Austrian Toni Matt in 1949. Whitefish's own Martin Hale won back-to-back races in 1953 and 1954. Kalispell's Olympian Jim Barrier won in 1960, and Whitefish's Tim Hinderman took the trophy in 1966.

Whitefish Mountain Resort has hosted the U.S. Alpine National Championships four times — 1949, 1951, 1983 and 2001, with the U.S. Ski team member Daron Rahlves winning.

The downhill was traditionally contested as the Doug Smith. Olympic gold medal winners who raced in the Doug Smith included Whitefish's Tommy Moe, Picabo Street, Bode Miller and Bill Johnson (who suffered a life-threatening injury at this event in 2001). Other skiing luminaries include AJ Kitt, the "Crazy Canuk" Ken Read, and both Phil and Steve Mahre.

Named after Whitefish brothers Doug and Rollie Smith, two early local ski racers, this event has become the longest continuously contested downhill ski race in North America.

It has become a Whitefish annual tradition that has spanned generations. Throughout the years, it has taken the efforts of many locals to host this event. In the early days, competitors were hosted by members of the community, who would house and feed these athletes.

This has always been and remains today a galvanizing force for skiing and racing in the Flathead Valley. The event has generated enormous amounts of publicity and positive public relations for Whitefish and the Mountain, including coverage on ESPN and ABC television. Over the years, hundreds of local skiers and non-skiers alike have volunteered their efforts to ensure the ongoing viability of the race.

In recent years, it has taken the combined efforts of the Whitefish Mountain Resort, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association and the Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation, as well as the huge local volunteer force, to make this event happen.

Financially, the "Doug" has become burdensome for all concerned. Escalating costs and logistical requirements have put the event in jeopardy. Whitefish Mountain Resort, the USSA and the Ski Foundation have been working together to overcome these obstacles.

The Smith family has been instrumental in helping to provide financial aid throughout the years. Other local individuals and businesses, such as American Bank, have played a key role in keeping the "Doug" alive.

With the combined financial efforts of all the aforementioned players, the Ski Foundation still finds itself short of funding to carry on this great Whitefish tradition. The Ski Foundation is looking for any person or entity that is in a position to lend support to continuing this rich and colorful tradition.

Two upcoming Ski Foundation events that are significant fundraisers are the Showcase of the Chefs at Grouse Mountain Lodge on Dec. 4 and the annual Warren Miller movie at the O'Shaughnessy Center on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14 and 15.

Interested parties can contact the Ski Foundation by contacting president Richard Kramer at 862-8916 or Kent Taylor at 862-6516.