For those who've been following my westward Odyski, let's note that the Ski Bum is happily ensconced at Big Sky Resort in Montana and had a wonderful day schussing the "biggest skiing in America," as their marketing guys put it. But before tackling Big Sky on this blog (tomorrow perhaps) let's backtrack a couple of days (and about 1,300 miles) to the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum in Ishpeming, Michigan.

The manequin (womanequin?) represents a nordic skier from the 1970s -- a display of the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum in Ishpeming, Michigan.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Three figures representing three decades of ski equipment and fashion -- an exhibit at the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum in Ishpeming, Michigan.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

This manequin represents a soldier of the famous Tenth Mountain Division, the elite unit of U.S. "ski troops" who fought in World War II.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

First you ask two questions. Where is Ishpeming? It's in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, a seldom-visited region that's rich in skiing heritage.

And exactly why Ishpeming? At the dawn of the 20th century, Ishpeming was the center of American skiing and the predecessor to the United States Ski and Snowboard Association was founded here.

Curator Tom West gave me a tour of the building, its many exhibits and the Roland Palmedo Library. He posed for a picture on the historic Skimobile, which once carried skiers at Mount Cranmore in North Conway, New Hampshire.

We talked about some of the Hall of Fame inductees. This year's class includes Everett Kircher, founder of Boyne Resorts, the owner of Big Sky, Sunday River and Sugarloaf.

Tom West, curator of the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum, talks about the evolution of equipment.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

And talking about ski history and heritage reminds me to remind readers that the Ski Museum of Maine is holding its Maine Ski Heritage Classic at Sugarloaf on Saturday, February 16. Save that date!

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