"LITTLE MAN" DURRANCE IN SUN VALLEY
Sun Valley, Idaho.—He's, a little man to look at, but put him on a pair of skis and he's a mighty giant! That's "Little Man" Dick Durrance, former Dartmouth intercollegiate ace, who today continues to remain the foremost skier of America, a position which he has enjoyed for many years.
The mite of a skier, who not so long ago was believed to have been on the "way down" today is running better than he ever has. Those fortunate to have seen Dick capture five of six national championship at this soprts paradise. then add the F.I.S. slalom at Alta, east of Salt Lake City, after a tough break had deprived him of the downhill laurels and doubtlessly the combined honors, will never forget his victorious performances.
The way "Little Man," who has won virtually every major downhill and slalom title in this country despite his twenty-four years of age, came tearing down Baldy Mountain here showing his glistening steel edges to a brilliant array of internationalists in the national open "straight-down" test will never be forgotten. In fact, Durrance will never forget the mad dash himself for he came perilously close to writing finish to a brilliant career.
Disregarding his customary belief in "absolute control of your wooden runners," Dick showed little concern for life and limb as he schussed the two-mile speedy course with a vertical drop of 3,200 feet in the phenomenal record time of 2:56.2. or a speed of forty-eight miles per hour. Despite the many pitfalls along the way, such as trees, gullies, steep grades and rock gardens, the Green star ran the continuous falling-away trail wide open. Just twenty yards from the finish, he could not quite keep control of his speed and went slithering into the woods, just barely carrying this observer with him.
The enthusiastic throng hushed, fearing the worst. But "Durable Dick" was not to be stopped. He got up as fast as possible and finished under his own control! A dramatic and nerve-tingling end to one of the greatest downhill performances perhaps in the annals of modern skiing. His speedy dash down the "steilhang" .... a 500-yard fallaway with a 37' grade which victimized practically the entire field of seventy-four selected aces from eight foreign countries, forty clubs and sixteen states was a nightmare to those who saw it.
Down this steep wall came Dick in his deep vorlage style at a terrific speed. Whereas the remainder of the cast took this hazardous portion with three to six turns and still fell, "Little Man" went roaring down the mountainside in a straight line with just a prayer on his lips to save him as he made a dash into the woods at the bottom of the "Steilhang." By the grace of God undoubtedly, Durrance found an open spot in the timber stretch and succeeded somehow to get back onto the court and finish it without an injury. As Jules Blegen, 1932 Olympic coach remarked: "What Dick did, nobody else ever will!"
It was this same event that claimed as victims such talented skiers as Toni Matt, the defending titleholder; Alf Engen, national four-event champion; Hannes Schroll, Charley Proctor and Sepp Benedictor. With the exception of Toni, who took two bad spills, the rest were unable to continue after the "steilhang" while a number of those who managed to complete the race despite the hard luck on the steep pitch were physically unfit to compete in the slalom the next day, casting ever so much more glory on Durrance's spectacular downhill run, the most daring one in his remarkable skiing career.
Almost as outstanding as Dick's sterling race was the showing of Dartmouth's great skiing coach, Walter Prager, who finished runner-up, three and two-tenths seconds behind his former pupil. The Swiss Kanonen ran in his usual steady form taking the entire descent without a spill. The following day saw "Little Man" bow to Friedl Pfeifer, ex-American Olympic and F.I.S. women's instructor at St. Anton am Arlberg, in the open slalom, the lone national crown to elude Durrance in the titular competition. Prager was fourth in this test and third in the combined won by Durrance.
The following week-end saw Dartmouth's good-will "Ambassadors on Skis" go out for further glory in the international meet sanctioned by the F.I.S. at "romantic Alta," east of Salt Lake City. Dick was a victim of tough luck in the downhill in which he was overwhelmingly favored to win. He hit an unexpected snow drift in a 60-mile per hour gale but came back the next day to annex the slalom over an old Green compatriot, Harold Hillman. Prager was the combined victor.
Come what may, the phenomenal record-winning performance of the 145-pound whirlwind, "Little Man," in the national downhill probably will never be equaled. It was the most thrilling race in the varied and highly successful skiing career of America's No. 1 skier, "Dick (Durable) Durrance. A grand fellow! A Grand skier! And a grand champion!
Ski Editor, The New York Times.
"NOBODY ELSE EVER WILL"
