NOMINATION FORM
For
HONORED MEMBERSHIP
In The
U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD HALL OF FAME
Candidate’s Name: Rodney Goddard Aller
Date & Place of Birth: _ October 24, 1916 - Phoenix, Arizona
Address of Candidate: ------
Telephone Number: ------
Email: -------
Is the candidate still living? If not, provide date and place of death: No. Rod died on March 21, 2005 in Sharon, Connecticut.
Nominator information:
Name: Dard Aller (Rod’s son)
Address: Box 2604, Kailua Kona, Hawaii 96745
Telephone Number: (808) 936-4657
Email: hidard@gmail.com
For what category are you nominating this candidate?
Athlete: _________
Snowsports Builder: _______
Heritage: X
(See appendix one at the end of this form for category definitions)
An 8 x 10 photograph of the candidate must be supplied:
Rod Aller -World Master Criterium (Abetone, Italy, March 2002).
State why the candidate merits election to the U.S. National Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame (limit this statement to 250 words):
The racing career of Rod Aller personifies the value of amateur sportsmanship. From cross-country skiing at age eight in 1924 to his four gold medals at The World Masters Criterium (Abetone, Italy) in 2002 at eighty-five, Rod loved to ski and served as an ambassador of the sport.
He formed the Hotchkiss Nordic Club in 1930 and the Princeton Ski Team in 1934 winning numerous Ivy League Alpine and Nordic competitions.
As president of The Salisbury Winter Sports Association (CT) in the 1940s, he restored the 60-meter jump, site of the 1931 Olympic Ski Jumping trials and worked with local Norwegian legends Ottar and Magnus Satre to establish a Nordic training center.
Dominating his class for decades, in the1986-87 season alone Rod won 20 races on the International Alpine Masters circuit including nine for nine in Austria, Italy, Switzerland and Spain. He swept all four events in his class at the International Criterium Mondial in 1987, 1992 and 2002.
Rod was named U.S. Masters Skier Of The Year in 1985, 1986 and 1988.
April 14, 1986 Sports Illustrated: “Aller, a 69-year-old lawyer, placed first in the downhill, slalom, giant slalom and combined to sweep the 65 - 69 age group events for the second straight year at the National Alpine Masters skiing championships in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.”
He was selected to The U.S. Alpine Masters Team in 1997 at age 81 for the fourth time in nine years.
Rod was a proud member of The New York Amateur Ski Club, The Comets Ski Club, and The Catamount Ski Patrol.
In chronological order by year, list the candidate’s achievements:
(eg: January 12, 1965: proposed the establishment of the Professional Ski Instructors Alliance)
Rod started skiing at age eight (1924) in New Jersey using toe straps, continued in Salisbury (CT) with Nordic events and even tried skiing at Grants Tomb (1931) on Riverside Drive in New York City.
Rod Aller formed the Hotchkiss Nordic Club in 1930 and the Princeton Ski Team in 1934 winning numerous Ivy League Alpine and Nordic competitions against Brown, Colgate and Yale.
He flew the Big Hill (60 meters) in Salisbury (CT) for the first time in 1939.
He was eighth in Jumping at The Vale De Temps during The Dartmouth Winter Festival in 1938.
As president of The Salisbury Winter Sports Association (CT) in 1948 he restored the 60-meter jump, site of the 1931 Olympic Ski Jumping trials and worked with local Norwegian legends Ottar and Magnus Satre to establish a Nordic training center.
In 1941 Rod won the first Connecticut State Slalom Championship and numerous Eastern Alpine races in the 1950s and ‘60s.
He joined the Catamount (NY) Ski Patrol in the early 1950s and served throughout his life.
On March 4, 1967 the New York Amateur Ski Club team of Rod Aller, Jack Tobin, Charlie Stiassni and Trux Pratt won the ASC Wing Hochgebirge Team Race for the fourth year in a row.
Rod Aller entered the first National Alpine Championships in 1968 at Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, winning all events in Class V: Downhill, Giant Slalom, Slalom and the Combined. In 1968 he also won the New York Metropolitan Combined Championship.
In 1969 Rod took gold in both the SL and GS in Class V at Mad River Glen, Waitsfield, Vt. On March 1, 1969 Rod Won the Dabney Trophy and top honors in Class VI at the annual Hochgebirge GS in Franconia, New Hampshire, for the third year in a row. He won this race many times in his career. His favorite trophy was the Sise Cup Rocking Chair that he won in Class XIII.
In the 1970s in addition to Alpine Masters racing he won the Stowe Derby several years. This was an 18 Kilometer cross-country race from the top of Mt. Mansfield to Stowe Village (VT).
In 1980 Rod took first in DH, first in SL, third in GS and won the combined trophy at the National Senior Ski Championships held on the Olympic course at Whiteface Mountain, Lake Placid (NY) edging out Cory Engen and Dave McCoy in Class VII. Competitors came from Canada, France, Austria, Italy and Spain.
In 1984 Rod was the National Alpine Masters Champion (Class IX) winning six golds and three silvers at Aspen and Snowmass. In the Rocky Mountain Division Masters Downhill, Rod won the gold. In the four days of racing in the Federation Internationale de Ski he won four gold medals in the slalom and downhill events.
In 1985 Rod took firsts in the International Veterans Trophy series held at Killington (SL) and Loon Mt. (GS) “Rod really bloomed in March winning every masters race held in the East in his class). He won Class VII at the Tobler Masters Series race at Suicide Six after an electrical failure required racers to climb the hill on foot. For the year he won ten gold medals in a row in his class, earned the largest-size Sise Cup, the NY DH, the Eastern Championship, the National Championship and four FIS gold medals.
In 1986 Rod (Class VIII) won the USSA Alpine Masters Championships at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in Downhill, Slalom, Giant Slalom and Combined. As a result he earned the title of Master Alpine Skier of the Year in Class VIII for the second year in a row.
In January 1987 Rod took SL, SG and GS gold at the International Masters Championship series at Baqueira/Beret (SPA) in the Pyrenees north of Barcelona. He was selected to be on The 7th Annual All*America Team by the 50 Plus magazine along with golf star Chi Chi Rodriguez.
In the April 14, 1987 edition of Sports Illustrated Rod was selected to appear in “Faces In The Crowd” with a picture and statement: “Aller, a 69-year old lawyer, placed first in the downhill, slalom, giant slalom and combined to sweep the 65 – 69 age group events for the second straight year at the National Alpine Masters skiing championships in Jackson Hole, WY.”
In 1987 at age 71 Rod won 13 International Masters Cup races and 20 of 21 races in Eastern, National and International Masters Competition. On March 8, 1987 Rod won the Win Hoyt Race at Stratton Mountain.
In his “Report from Europe – January 1987” Bob Bernard said, “Rod Aller of Lakeville, CT was the U.S team standout, gathering nine golds in nine races, including three in the world criterion series. He totally out classed his competition in his 70-74 age class…” He won in Bad Kleinkircheim, Bormio, Saanen, Bequera Beret, Olympic Valley and Lake Tahoe.
On June 25, 1987 Joaquin Bofill Ferre wrote Rod to congratulate him “for success in last year's races all over the world.”
In 1988 won the National Giant Slalom title in Class X at Big Sky (MT) by over 20 seconds and was faster than anyone in Class IX. Rod was named again to the U.S. Alpine Masters Ski Team.
That same year Ski Racing magazine selected Rod as the U.S. Masters Skier Of The Year along with Joan Barthold, Nancy Auseklis and Fritz Siegenthaler. This was Rod’s third Skier of The Year award in four years.
In 1989 Rod won 1st Place in the 12th Annual 70+ Club Championship at Hunter Mountain, New York.
On March 22, 1990 Rod won the Volkl Giant Slalom at Sugarloaf, Maine, in Class X. On the same day Rod won the Giant Slalom at the Michelob Light Masters National Championships in Class X. The next day (March 23, 1990) he won the Slalom by over seven seconds, was faster than anyone in Class IX and would have won Class VII.
On April 8, 1990 Rod was informed that the National Alpine Masters Committee had selected him again as a member of the 1991 U.S. Alpine Masters Ski Team.
In 1991 Rod won the Class IX SG and GS at the Masters World Championships at Winter Park, Colorado.
In the 1991 – 1992 season Rod was the FIS International Masters Cup Champion in Class XI. He took GS gold at Kossen, AUT; GS gold in Murren SUI; GS, Super G gold medals and the SL at the Criterium Mondial (Gstaad/Saanen SUI); gold in two GS races (Alpine Meadows, CA); gold in two SL races (Heavenly Valley, CA). Total FIS points: 175.
On February 21, 1992 Rod won the Class XI Hochgebirge Slalom. On March 27, 1992 Rod won the Class XI GS gold medal in the Subaru U.S. Alpine Masters Championships at Mammoth Mountain (CA).
March 5, 1993 Rod posted the fastest times in the Connecticut Senior Olympic Winter Games in every race and was the first overall in Nordic and Alpine combined, the champion “Ski Meister”. Rod lists some of the locations of his International Victories.
In 1993 Rod won everything in class (SL by over 49 seconds), (GS by over 21 seconds), (DH by over 32 seconds) and (Combined by over 998 points) at The Subaru U.S. Alpine Masters National Championships in Jackson Hole (WY) prompting Lisa Densmore to say, “In Men’s Class XI Rod Aller won every race by so much that people are now speculating he has found the fountain of youth.” “Superskier Rod Aller…”
He was recognized for this achievement by being selected for the third time to the 1994 Alpine Masters Team. Frazer Noble said, “Rodney Aller has reached the top of the list as a National Team Member…and is likely the best in the world in his age class.” Victory at Bear Mountain.
In the 1994 U.S. National Ski Championships at Big Sky, Montana, Rod won Class XI gold medals in SL, GS, Downhill and Combined.
Rod was selected for The 1995 Spyder Men’s Alpine Masters Team.
March 11, 1995 Sunday River, Maine – Rod takes gold in Class XI at the Masters Sise Cup Slalom Finals Mens Overall division.
March 1-3, 1996 - Mt. Snow (VT): Rod secured the Class XI Eastern Sise Cup 20-race series by winning the Slalom, Giant Slalom and Super G. The following day, March 4, 1996 Rod began International Competition at Stratton (VT) winning the GS and Slalom. March 10-16, 1996 at Sunday River, Maine, Rod won SL, GS, SG and Combined gold medals. On October 16, 1996 Rod celebrated his 80th birthday with masters-ski friends in Stowe (VT).
In 1997 Rod was selected to the U.S. Alpine Masters Ski Team for the fourth time in nine years. Locations where Rod has won gold in National competition. Rod believes at this point he has won over 40 gold medals in National competition and over 15 in International competition.
In 1998, Mammoth Mountain (CA) Rod was the overall Class XII U.S. Masters National Champion. Race Bio Summary as of 1998. On January 31, 1998 he won Class XII at the North Conway (NH) Gibson Trophy Slalom beating all the men in Class XI as well.
On January 3, 1999 Rod won the Okemo GS in Class XII. His time was better than any of Class XI.
February 24, 2001 – Rod received the Dabney award at the Hoch Team Challenge Races at Cannon Mt. for being the “fastest oldest...like the days of old with his magic heart valve.”
In March of 2002 at age 85 Rod swept all the gold medals in Class XIII (SL, GS, SG and Combined) at the 14th World Masters Criterium in Abetone, Italy. Italian News coverage of Rod. This was the third time that he had swept all events in Class at the World Masters Criterium. Harold Herbert, President of the International Ski Federation, presents Rod with the Masters Combined Gold. Abetone report. Abetone report by team captain Anne Nordhoy (page 1) (pag2).
In 2002 he was the Mount Gay Rum Sise Cup Champion in Class XII.
Lisa Densmore reported on Rod’s performance in the 2003 U.S. Alpine Masters Championships, March 18 – 22 in Park City, Utah, saying, “In men’s Class 13, Rod Aller proved unstoppable, winning the Super G, then the Slalom and GS as well…..the only man in Group D to sweep every event at this year’s nationals.”
On March 1, 2003 at age 87 Rod won the Class XIII Eastern Championships Giant Slalom held at Sugarbush (VT).
In 2004 Rod won the Thomas Dabney Award, presented by Ski Club Hochebirge to the “fastest older skier” at the Hochebirge Challenge Team Race.
Before Rod died on March 21, 2005 of “respiratory bad news,” he had highlighted regional, national and international competition for that season.
Rod Aller: The Man, true gentleman, serene image, adult racer of the century, unstoppable, fastest gentleman on skies, best in the world, legend, inspiration, top of the list, ageless, complete athlete , energizer bunny, the Clark Kent of senior racers, famous Princeton jumper, team standout, superskier.
Rod Aller: Gold Medals and Awards in Regional, National and International Championships.
Additional information on Rod Aller’s racing achievements can be found at Rodney Goddard Aller.
On one page provide additional data, anecdotes, etc. that you feel are pertinent to this nomination:
Lowell Thomas “did dash up to Salisbury” in Feb. 1948 to report on the 60-meter jumping competition. Lowell admired “that famous Princeton jumper Rod Aller who I think was the first chap I ever saw in graceful flight at Ste Sauveur, along in 1935 -36.”
Rod said his two worst skiing experiences were falling into a 15-foot fumerole in 1938 while skiing on a Chilean volcano and being buried in an avalanche on Bell Mountain (Aspen) in 1948 to the point where his outstretched arm and fully extended ski poll saved his life when the glimmer of the tip was seen reflected in the sun.
In 1981 President Ford invited Rod to join the Jerry Ford Celebrity Cup at Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado. Rod's team captain was Pepi Steigler who set the handicap along with Jean-Claude Killy. Rod’s 1976 letter to President Ford.
Three months shy of his 70th birthday Rod wrote the USSA US Olympic Complex in Colorado Springs (CO) to enquire “whether it is permissible under USSA regulations to make an election to race in an age group lower than one’s age would normally require.” 7/29/1986
In 1993 Rod passionately encouraged the USSA to bring back the “Ski Meister” Masters category that would determine an overall champion by combining Nordic and Alpine events.
Albert Sise, who at age 79 had won over 200 titles in 50 years, marveled at Rod’s success on the slopes saying, “ He has tremendous strength and his timing on the turns is about as precise as you get it.”
Asked about why he races, Rod said, “Camaraderie, the adrenaline rush and winning.”
What Rod liked least about ski racing: Travel, waiting in line, missing out on recreational skiing on race day and losing.
Rod promoted club and family ski racing especially through the New York Amateur Ski Club at Mad River Glen (VT) with his kids and many friends including area founder Roland Palmedo. He built a ski-in chalet on the practice slope there in 1970: “The house with the yellow door.”
He often raced and trained with Comey’s Comets, an East Coast ski club that included early winter racing clinics at Stowe (VT). He was continually a student of the sport who adapted quickly to new techniques and equipment.
Rod was meticulous in waxing and filing his edges. You couldn’t go wrong giving him Swix wax as a present for Christmas.
His daily routine during the spring, summer and fall was an early morning swim of twenty strokes in Lake Wononscopomic (Lakeville, CT) and a ten-minute workout of stretching, sit ups and pushups.
Three years before he died Rod donated his trophies and awards to the NYASC to be given as prizes in Club competition to the youngest age groups.
He was an avid sportsman who enjoyed sailing, hunting, skating, skate sailing, ice-boating, swimming, wind surfing, hiking, biking, fishing,and kayaking. Because of all his sporting equipment there was little room in his garage for cars.
Please list the names and addresses of those people who are supporting this nomination (Minimum of three - limit six):
Rick Moulton
Keystone Productions
109 Moulton Drive
PO Box 97
Huntington, VT 05462-0097
Tel: (802) 434-3629
Email: rick@rickmoulton.com
Lisa Densmore
PO Box 1343
1297 Kane Circle
Red Lodge, MT 59068
Tel: (603) 930-7623
Email: Densmore1@aol.com
Drury Cooper
PO Box 2023
Ketchum, ID 83340
Tel: (208) 726-8609
Office: (208) 726-5600
Email: jeanmo@cox.net
Jim and Jane Cooke
69 Kenneth Rd.
Marblehead, MA 01945
Tel: (781) 631-0750
Email: mhdcookie@verizon.net
John Gianotti
PO Box 1233
Zephyr Cove, NV 89448
Tel: (775) 588-5599
Cell: (775) 722-413
Bill Skinner
1 Victory Lane
Park City, UT 84060
Tel: (453) 647-2633
Email: Bill Skinner<bskinner@ussa.org>
Please provide a list of sources for visual material that can be used at the candidate’s induction presentation:
http://www.k-b-c.com/worldchamp.htm - Web site with visual material that can be used for Rod Aller.
http://www.k-b-c.com/RodWorldMastersChampionW.jpg - Rod at the podium receiving one of four gold medals at the International Masters Championship at Abetone, Italy in March 2002 at age 86.
http://www.k-b-c.com/RodProfile1987W.jpg - 1987 Interview of Rod by John Bowen.
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/Rod%20and%20Jack%20Tobin.jpg - “Rod’s story is…the history of organized ski racing in this country as well.”
http://www.k-b-c.com/JacksonHoleWeb.jpg - Rod sweeping all events at Jackson Hole (WY) in 1986 for the second year in a row.
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/1987Billletter.jpg - Rod at age 71 writes to the Princeton Alumni Weekly regarding his outstanding 1986-1987 racing season.
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/worldchamp/sportsillustrated.jpg - Rod in “Faces in The Crowd” of Sports Illustrated, April 14 – 20, 1986.
http://www.k-b-c.com/RodPresidentSWSA-W.jpg - Rod, President of The Salisbury Winter Sports Association, presenting award to Paul Ottar Satre.
http://www.k-b-c.com/SWSA1947-W.jpg - 60-Meter Jump awards banquet with Rod (left), Astrid Satre, “Brownie” Robinson and Ottar Satre.
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/worldchamp/lowellthomas1.jpg - Letter from Lowell Thomas
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/worldchamp/lowellthomas2.jpg - Letter from Lowell Thomas (2)
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skier4.jpg - Bormio, Italy, 1987
http://www.k-b-c.com/Rod1967Champaigne.jpg - Champaign Victory - 1967
http://www.k-b-c.com/1968b.jpg - 1968 National Champion
http://www.k-b-c.com/Class%20VIII.jpg - stars from 25 to 80 Incomparable and Mustachioed Rod Aller
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/1988/1988Awardb.jpg - 1988 U.S. Masters Skier of the Year
http://www.k-b-c.com/worldchamp/1992FIS.jpg - FIS IMC 1991 – 1992 Final Results (Finals at Megeve, FRA)
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/1994/awards1994b.jpg - Fraser Noble, Rod Aller and Eric Windisch at the 1994 Big Sky National Championships.
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/1998/1998Mammothb.jpg - Rod as class champion of the1998 U.S. Masters National Championships
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skier6.jpg - 2002 Mount Gay Rum Sise Cup Champion (Class XII)
http://www.k-b-c.com/worldchamp3.jpg - “Men like that (Jack Rabbit Johannsen who died at 112) make you feel like you don’t have to quit at 85.”
http://www.k-b-c.com/worldchamp/Rod75-79.jpg - “…won everything in his class at Jackson Hole in 1993.” Shock and Awe
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/1992/USAMC1992b.jpg - Aller Captures Giant Slalom Win at Subaru U.S. Alpine Masters Championships, March 27, 1992
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/usteam1988.jpg
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/worldchamp.jpg - Age 70 - 1987 World Champion; “… I had a great year!”
http://www.k-b-c.com/BaqueiraGold.jpg - Gold at Baqueira, Spain
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/1987Billletter.jpg - Rod to the Princeton ’38 class secretary about his year of Masters’ International Cup races in Europe.
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/1987/davemccoy1987.jpg - Dave McCoy congratulates Rod on his National Championship, March 28, 1987
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/rod5.jpgr/skiing/1986/1986champions.jpg - 1986 USSA Alpine Masters Champions
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/1986/1986b.jpg - 1986 Alpine Championship
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/bearmountain.jpg - 1985 Bear Mountain
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/rodclass38.jpg - 1985 Skier Of The Year
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/1981/FordCup1981c.jpg - Rod with Pepi Stiegler, Rod Slifer, Al Greenber, Paul McCllister and Jack Marshall at the 1981 Ford Celebrity Cup. http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/1981/FordCup1981c.jpg - Letter from President Ford.
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/Rod%20and%20Jack%20Tobin.jpg - Jack Tobin and Rod Aller after the finish of the 1978 Stowe Derby, a cross-country down-mountain 18 Km race from the top of Mt. Mansfield to Stowe Village. http://www.k-b-c.com/JackTobinRodAller.jpg
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/1993/CSOWG1993b.jpg - The Clark Kent of senior skiing.
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/1997Skiteam1.jpg - “…boogying with the belles of ball (were) John Gianotti and Bud Gibbs.
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/1996/hotchkiss1996.jpg - Taking “all the marbles….” In 1996 at age 79
(Class 11).
http://www.k-b-c.com/worldchamp/1996AlpineChampion.jpg - “…ever the fastest gentleman on skis….”
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodski3.jpg- Anne Nordhoy, Dewey Davidson, Frode Nordhoy, Duffy and Pat Dodge.
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/80th.jpg - George Caner, Dick wood, John Allar, Pete Donaghy, Charlotte Comey, Larry Williams, Mary Beck, Alan Beck and Bish McGill.
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/rodribbons.jpg
Princeton Ski Team 1934 http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/pust2.jpg
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/dartmouth.jpg - Rod takes eighth place at the Dartmouth Winter Carnival.
http://www.k-b-c.com/JackTobinRodAller.jpg - Jack Tobin and Rod Aller at the 1978 Stowe Derby.
http://www.k-b-c.com/1980b.jpg - 1980 National Senior Ski Championships
http://www.k-b-c.com/rodaller/skiing/rod5.jpg - 1968 National Champion
Dard Aller
__________________________________________
Signature of nominator
Mail completed nomination form to: U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 191, Ishpeming, MI 49849 or email to: administrator@skihall.com