From collection Person List
Ski racer Anton Matt, nicknamed “Toni,” was born in St. Anton, Austria, on November 21, 1919, and died on May 17, 1989. Matt is best known for winning the American Inferno Race on April 16, 1939, by “schussing” (skiing straight downhill) Tuckerman Ravine. He nearly cut other record times in half and achieved extreme speed. During his racing career, he was National Downhill Champion in 1939 and National Downhill and Combined Champion in 1941.
Matt was a student of Hannes Schneider and moved to the United States in 1938 to teach the Arlberg method, a teaching technique that Schneider pioneered. Matt was a talented ski instructor, teaching in both New Hampshire and Sun Valley, Idaho, over the course of his life.
Matt served in the 10th Mountain Infantry Division during World War II and became second lieutenant. The 10th Mountain Infantry Division gathered skilled skiers from across the United States and trained them for combat in Alpine terrain.
Although that day at Tuckerman Ravine earned Toni Matt a place in ski history, he led a life dedicated to spreading the knowledge of skiing.
Matt was a student of Hannes Schneider and moved to the United States in 1938 to teach the Arlberg method, a teaching technique that Schneider pioneered. Matt was a talented ski instructor, teaching in both New Hampshire and Sun Valley, Idaho, over the course of his life.
Matt served in the 10th Mountain Infantry Division during World War II and became second lieutenant. The 10th Mountain Infantry Division gathered skilled skiers from across the United States and trained them for combat in Alpine terrain.
Although that day at Tuckerman Ravine earned Toni Matt a place in ski history, he led a life dedicated to spreading the knowledge of skiing.
