Project Description
Pepi was born in Kufstein, Austria in 1932, where he began ski racing at the age of 10. After many years of hard work he lived out his dream of being a member of the Austrian National Team in 1955, which he skied on for five years along with becoming a certified ski instructor. In his free time he helped coach Willy Jr., son of the German Olympian and head of the fashion house of Bogner, Willy Bogner. In 1962 Pepi moved to Vail and never left.
Pepi and his wife Sheika operate a Vail Landmark in the heart of Vail Village, the Hotel Gasthof Gramshammer, Pepi’s Bar and Restaurant and Pepi Sports Ski Shop and Boutique. He designed a ski training program for recreational skiers called Wedel Weeks, and was the racing coach and director of the Red Lodge Summer Ski Racing Camp in Montana for young aspiring racers. Over the years Pepi and Sheika have been very active in promoting the sport of skiing. They have hosted the Crystal Ball in Vail starting in 1981, which supported the US Ski Team, Handicapped Skiers Program, Jimmy Huega Express, Buddy Werner League, Ski Club Vail, and the Vail Valley Foundation. The Vail Valley Foundation organizes the World Alpine Ski Championships and the Birds of Prey World Cup Races.
Keep an eye out for Pepi on the slopes of Vail, enjoying his favorite run “Pepi’s Face”.
