Top Story Replay: Name Change for 1960 Olympic Ski Resort

(ATR)Squaw Valley Ski Resort in Olympic Valley, California, which rose to worldwide prominence during the 1960 Winter Olympics, is changing its name.Leaders of the renowned Northern Lake Tahoe ski destination have concluded that the term "squaw" is derogatory to Native American groups, including the local Washoe Tribe. The decision follows extensive research into the etymology and history of the name, in addition to outreach to local and extended communities.

The process to determine a new name will begin immediately with an announcement of the name change expected to come upon conclusion of the 2021 winter season.

"While the resort name will change, this special place will always be the location of the 1960 Winter Olympics, the home of our beloved KT-22 chair lift, the place where extreme skiing pioneers changed the sport forever, and the beloved mountain home for so many people who revere this amazing ski resort," said Ron Cohen, the president and chief operating officer of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows.

"With the momentum of recognition and accountability we are seeing around the country, we have reached the conclusion that now is the right time to acknowledge a change needs to happen.

"While we love our local history and the memories we will associate with this place as it has been named for so long, we are confronted with the overwhelming evidence that the term ‘squaw’ is offensive," Cohen said.

"The IOC has learned about the decision regarding the name change via the media," said an IOC spokesperson about the 1960 Winter Olympic resort. "At this stage, it has not been informed officially about any new name and is therefore not in a position to comment."

The resort’s Olympic legacy has lived on since 1960. The Squaw Valley Ski Team has produced numerous Olympic Alpine and freestyle skiers including four-time U.S. medalist Julia Mancuso and Nagano 1998 moguls gold medalist Jonny Moseley.

"It’s strange for sure, but I guess change is always welcome when it’s to evolve positively," said Mancuso, who grew up racing at Squaw Valley. "I don’t think anyone really related the name to being a racial slur, but it will be hard to use a different name when looking back."

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows most recently hosted women’s Alpine World Cup races in March 2017, an event held at the Olympic resort for the first time in 19 years. The California ski area was also a venue for 1968 FIS World Cup races.

Squaw Valley Ski Resort – revered for its spectacular scenery, rugged and vast alpine terrain, ideal snow conditions and abundance of sunshine – was founded by Alex Cushing and Wayne Paulsen in 1949 with just one chairlift and two rope tows. There were just 50 hotel rooms at the base.

It was Cushing’s dream and steadfast determination to bring the 1960 Olympic Games to the tranquil valley that ultimately sparked the resort’s exponential growth and popularity as one the country’s leading ski destinations. Cushing told the IOC: "we will build from scratch an Olympic Village."

Squaw Valley was chosen as the host of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games at the 1955 IOC session in Paris, France. It won the bid by two votes, 32-30, in the second round over Innsbruck, Austria. The selection was an unpopular victory for many Europeans, who deemed the location unfit to host the Games.

Cushing transformed Squaw Valley into one of the Sierra Nevada’s leading ski resorts by 1960. Olympic Alpine skiing events were contested on three nearby slopes – from the top of Squaw Peak for the men’s downhill, KT-22 for men’s giant slalom and slalom, in addition to the women’s downhill, and Little Papoose Peak for women’s GS and slalom. Seven of the eight venues were located at the resort base or in close proximity and within walking distance for athletes.

A motorway over Donner Summit, access roads, chairlifts, athletes housing, a thriving base area, two speed skating ovals, a ski jump and the Blyth Memorial Arena for ceremonies and ice hockey, were all constructed prior to the 1960 Games.

U.S. vice president Richard Nixon opened the Squaw Valley Olympic Winter Games on Feb. 9, 1960 at a snowy opening ceremony, produced by Walt Disney. Some 665 athletes representing 30 countries competed in 27 medal events across eight sport disciplines. The Squaw Valley Games were the first to be televised in the U.S., by CBS, enhancing the visibility and eventual rapid growth of the resort and region.

The legendary ski filmmaker Warren Miller said of Squaw Valley: "A place like Squaw Valley probably has the best variety of Alpine terrain of any resort in America."

Early settlers, having arrived in the 1850’s to the area where the Sierra Nevada ski resort is now located, witnessed Native American women working in the area and were believed to have given the name Squaw Valley.

Regional California tribes have asked for the name of the ski resort to be changed numerous times over the years, with little success.

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli

Follow Brian on Twitter: @Brian_Pinelli

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