THE WERNER ZWAHLEN SKI EDUCATION FOUNDATION

EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE, THE STORY

TO UNDERSTAND THE REASON FOR THE WERNER ZWAHLEN SKI FOUNDATION IS TO UNDERSTAND THE WERNER’S CHARACTER.

STEP BY GRUELING STEP, WERNER KICKED THE TOE OF HIS CRAMPOONED SKI BOOTS INTO THE SNOW AND CLIMBED THE STEEP GLACIER SNOW BOWL. IT WAS YEARS BEFORE CELL PHONES OR HELICOPTER RESCUES OCCURRED IN THE SWISS ALPS.

ON THAT EARLY SUNDRENCHED SPRING MORNING, WERNER AND TWO COMPANIONS LOOKING FORWARD TO A PERFECT DAY OF SKIING ROAD THE CABLE CAR TO THE 9000′ GLACIER. BUT THE DAY DID NOT TURN OUT AS PLANNED WHEN ONE COMPANION FELL ON A PENCIL-THIN TRAVERSE JUST BELOW THE HEAD WALL AND DISAPPEARED DOWN INTO THE DEEP GLACIAL BOWL.

THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURIES BEING GREAT, THE OTHER COMPANION CONTINUED TO SKI DOWN TO THE GONDOLA STATION, WHERE THE NEED FOR A RESCUE CALL WENT OUT. WITHOUT HESITATION, WERNER TURNED THE TIPS OF HIS SKIS OFF THE TRAVERSE AND SLIPPED OVER THE EDGE. AT THE BOTTOM, HE FOUND BROKEN SKIS AND HIS FRIEND, TOO INJURED TO MAKE THE CLIMB OUT OF THE EXITLESS BOWL. HE ADMINISTERED FIRST AID AND SECURED HIS SKIS TO HIS BACKPACK AND HIS FRIEND ON HIS BACK. STEP BY GRUELING STEP THAT DAY ON THE WHITE SNOW OF HIS BELOVED ALPS, COURAGE, AND TENACITY SAVED HIS FRIEND’S LIFE.

MANY YEARS LATER, IN 2000, HE FACED ANOTHER DAY THAT WOULD TEST HIS COURAGE, TENACITY, AND FAITH THAT BEGAN NOT ON THE SNOW OF HIS BELOVED ALPS BUT ON THE WHITE SHEETS OF A HOSPITAL BED WHEN HIS DOCTOR SAID, “YOU HAVE ADVANCED ESOPHAGEAL CANCER. SILENCE HUNG BETWEEN DIAGNOSIS AND RESPONSE.

“BUMMER, HE SAID. THE DOCTOR BEGAN SPEAKING, BUT WERNER WASN’T LISTENING. “WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO ME?” NO ONE ANSWERED. WHO COULD? WERNER SPOKE AGAIN, TO SOMEONE, NOT TO US. “WAIT, I’M SORRY. I CAN’T BELIEVE I JUST SAID THAT.”

WERNER ZWAHLEN

FROM THAT AWFUL YET ELECTRIFYING MOMENT, HE PUSHED OUT OF THE STARTING GATE, SET HIS EDGE DROVE THROUGH CANCER’S FIRST ASSAULT, SELF-PITY, AND ENTERED HIS RACE FOR LIFE AGAINST A LETHAL COMPETITOR. THE BRUTALITY OF THE COURSE TESTED HIS PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND COURAGE. WHATEVER CANCER THREW AT HIM TO KNOCK HIM OFF COURSE, HE PRESSED ON, WINNING GATE AFTER GATE. WITH GOD AS HIS UNDERPINNING, HE MET AND OVERCAME CHALLENGES TO MAKE IT TO THE FINISH LINE, WITH NEVER QUITTING WHEN CANCER TESTED HIS COURAGE, TENACITY, AND FAITH.

CERTAINLY, THE RACERS HE MENTORED WERE NOT FIGHTING CANCER, BUT IN WERNER’S EYES, THEIR LIFE CHALLENGES WERE EQUALLY IF NOT MORE IMPORTANT, HE WOULD SAY, THAN HIS CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF THE WERNER ZWAHLEN SKI EDUCATION FOUNDATION. A SCHOLARSHIP IS AWARDED ANNUALLY TO TWO ATHLETES WHO FACE AND OVERCOME CHALLENGES WITH NO QUITTING COURAGE.