Announcing the Class of 2023! Butch Hoffman, Ted Ligety and Ruff Patterson join the Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame.
Butch Hoffman (1938-2021): Ski Sport Innovator - Utah
Butch was a master of reaching, teaching, and challenging hundreds of racers to reach their potential, devoting his career to coaching at the Snowbasin and Nordic Valley ski areas. An accomplished skier in his own right, having won the giant slalom championship at the U.S. National Veterans Alpine Championships, Butch knew what it took to win, and he built a hugely successful program that included all the necessary fundamentals to take kids to the highest levels of the sport.
Ted Ligety (1984 - ): Ski Competitor - Utah
Ted is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, who performed at the highest level of ski racing for over two decades. Park City served as his training grounds, starting with him chasing his older brother around the mountains, to becoming a member of the Park City Devo Team, attending the Park City Winter Sports School, and forerunning the 2002 Olympics. Park City was instrumental in the rise of Ted’s groundbreaking career as one of the greatest ski racers of all time. After retiring in 2021, Ted settled down in Park City where he can be seen racing around Deer Valley with his sons.
Ruff Patterson (1953 - ): Ski Competitor / Coach - Idaho
Ruff was raised in the shadows of Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountain Range where he became a fierce competitor as a Nordic specialist. After winning the NCAA championships with his University of Colorado ski team, he returned home to coach the Sun Valley Nordic Team, a move that launched his remarkable 45-year coaching career. Over his career, he inspired everyone from junior racers through U.S. Olympic team members with his uncomplicated, fair, low-key coaching style. Ruff is currently enjoying retirement here in Park City.
The induction ceremony will be held on August 24th at 6 p.m. at The Chateaux Deer Valley.