He made history in Kitzbühel.

The ski world mourns the loss of the exotic Kitzbühel winner

63 years ago, a skier achieved an absolutely rare victory in Kitzbühel. Now he has died.

26 April 2025

From: det

The races in Kitzbühel are the most popular, prestigious, and spectacular in the world. In this upscale Austrian ski resort, young men and women become true heroes and legends. One of them is Chuck Ferries: The American won the slalom on the Ganslern slope back in 1962. Now the former skier has died at the age of 85.

Why is Ferries' story unique? Quite simply. To this day, he remains the only American and the only non-European to win the legendary slalom in Kitzbühel. On that day 63 years ago, Ferries was still in eighth place after the first run, but catapulted himself to the top with a fastest time in the second run and ultimately took home the golden chamois.

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A post shared by Hahnenkamm Race Kitzbühel (@hahnenkammrennen)

As was recently announced from Ferries' hometown of Ketchum, near Sun Valley, the former skier died on April 17 at the age of 85. The Kitzbühel organizers dedicated a farewell Instagram post to Ferries. "The Kitzbühel Ski Club will forever honor him on the Hahnenkamm Races' Roll of Honor," the post reads.