Sepp Kober 1921-2010 | 04/08/2010
Sepp Kober: Long-time Ski Director at The Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, VA. Honored as The Father of Southern Skiing by the Southeast Ski Areas Assn. Member of the U.S National Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame.
Joseph H. “Sepp” Kober, 88, of Hot Springs, VA, passed away peacefully at Bath County Community Hospital Aug 3, 2010. He was born Oct 25, 1921 in Igls, Austria. Sepp Kober was the primary builder of the downhill alpine skiing industry in the southeastern U.S. His efforts helped create one of the largest and most active skier markets in the country. From 1958 through the 1970’s, ski areas in Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee got their start under his guidance and planning. In the process, he earned regional and national honors.
As Ski Director at The Homestead from 1959-1998, he was the first to prove that skiing in the snow-starved South could become a reality. In 1962 he represented the southeast ski region as a charter member of the National Ski Areas Association. His efforts to organize ski clubs in the region created a flow of new skiers that continues to this day and is recognized by ski industry leaders as critical to the growth of the sport nationwide.
He co-founded and served multiple terms as president of the Southeastern Ski Areas Association. He was the region’s first certified ski instructor, its first ski area director, the first to teach ski area management and train professional instructors in the region. He was first to organize and host USSA sanctioned races and events and was first to promote junior racing and NASTAR below the Mason Dixon Line.
With his compact, powerful and effortlessly graceful skiing style, he inspired southern ski entrepreneurs to invest in the snowmaking infrastructure that would become the mainstay of the southern ski industry. He provided areas and shops with accredited sources of inventory, rental equipment, and ski lifts. In 1970, he founded the Southeastern Ski Representatives Association (now the Southeastern Winter Reps Assn) and was its president for six years.
He was the South’s first ski instructor at its first rope tows in 1958, at Weiss Knob in West Virginia and at Wisp in Maryland. At that time he was a prominent European ski racer who had also coached the national teams of Norway and Spain. He came to America as a skiing instructor at Stowe, VT, before migrating south where he was quickly hired by the 5-Star Homestead Resort in Hot Springs to start its skiing amenities and to sell the incongruous idea of Southern skiing.
For his contributions to the ski teaching profession in the region he received an honorary lifetime membership by the Professional Ski Instructors of America.
In 2009, he was inducted into the U.S. National Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame, the equivalent in sports to induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. A photo of the medal is below.
Dad's Hall of Fame Medal
Dad & Seppi enjoying some time together!
The above write up is courtesy of David Barudin.
The funeral service will be held on August 27th, 11am, at St. Lukes Church in Hot Springs, Va. A reception will follow the burial at the ski area lodge. For those traveling from out of town, there are some rooms blocked off at The Homestead. When calling for a room please mention it is for Sepp Kober’s Funeral. The toll free # is 866-354-4653.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to:
A) Bath County Community Hospital
106 Park Lane, Hot Springs Va. 24445
-or-
B) U.S National Ski Hall of Fame
P.O. Box 191, Ishpeming, MI 49849
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Dad, I will miss you SO much, but will always cherish the memories! The values you instilled in me will be carried on for ever! If I can accomplish a fraction of what you did, I will feel grateful. Please know that I AM YOUR BIGGEST FAN and love you more than words can say. You were the best father and grandfather anyone could ever want. Rest In Peace Dad! I love you!!!!
Tags: alpine skiing, bath county community hospital, carolina alabama, charter member, county community hospital, homestead resort, mason dixon line, nastar, national ski areas association, professional instructors, sepp, Sepp Kober, ski area management, ski areas association, ski clubs, ski industry, ski instructor, ski lifts, ski region, virginia north
I had the great good fortune to take a run with Sepp years ago. Since then the Kobers have become great friends. We are all honored to have known this great man and we are all in his debt for the vision he had and the zeal with which he implemented it. The world is a better place as a result of the tracks he laid for us to follow. God bless all the Kobers.
Among all his other accomplishments, Sepp also produced a fine son to follow in his footsteps. We Southeastern skiers remain blessed that the Kobers are a part of the sport we love.
When my dad died ten years ago, my son threw a snowball in the grave so he’d have something to ski on. I trust someone will do the same for Sepp.
Just want to let you know our thoughts & prayers are with you and your family. So glad your Dad was still living when the award was given. Know you are so proud of all your father’s accomplishments! What an amazing man.
Sepp, So sorry to hear about the passing of your father. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time of mouring.
Sepp Sr.,
Your passion, love, spirit and skiology continues on within Sepp & Seppi. You have enriched our family’s life beyond the essence of time. Blessings & Peace to you my friend. We will chat again soon!
The Thober Family
Mr. Kober started my Dad and I skiing in 1960, and I can remember what a good and unique Professsional he was at that time. Who would know that years later, when I became involved in the ski industry, that I would be able to experience, firsthand, what an impact he has had on the world of skiing in the Southeast.
He will be missed. Love you,Sepp. GEO
Sepp was a pioneer and a class act.He will be missed.
I first encountered Sepp while skiing at the Homestead in the early sixties and to me he seem larger than life both on and off skiis; truth be told, meeting Sepp while skiing at the Homestead had some influence in my entering the ski business. When I started in the business forty years ago I was fortunate to begin a long professional relationship with Sepp and during our long association, he was always quick to share his vast knowledge of the ski industry. His huge impact on Southern Skiing is well documented and Sepp richly deserves the title of “Father of Southern Skiing”.
Keep ‘em pointed downhill, Sepp
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