The 1960 Olympic Winter Games were a long-shot effort that succeeded beyond the wildest expectations. Working in a sparsely populated valley in the Sierra Nevada with only rudimentary facilities, organizers created a world-class Olympic site in four short years. For the only time in Olympic history, the venues and athlete residence halls were located in a compact, intimate setting that encouraged sportsmanship and interaction between athletes.
It shares the story of how the underdog American ice hockey team won the first-ever USA gold medal in that sport. Discusses how American figure skaters swept gold in the individual events. Details on the domination of the well-trained Soviet and Scandinavian athletes in speed skating and cross-country skiing. Highlights how American women proved their mettle in the Alpine skiing events. Relays the surprise upset German skiers made in the Nordic combined and ski jumping contests. And shows how CBS-TV was there to capture the most exciting moments and make groundbreaking live broadcasts to American audiences.
Highlights of The 1960 Winter Olympics include:
• Includes a collection of rarely seen images, some of which are from private collections and have never before been published.
• Shows the contributions of Walt Disney to Olympic ceremonies and pageantry.
• Shares the story of American skier, Penny Pitou, who won the first American medal in women’s downhill skiing.
• Highlights photos of Squaw Valley in its pristine condition before ski area development and the hosting of the Olympics.
Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/.
David C. Antonucci has resided in the Lake Tahoe area for over 38 years. He holds bachelor and master’s degrees in civil and environmental engineering from California State Polytechnic University and Oregon State University, respectively. He is a licensed professional civil engineer in California. He has pursued a successful professional career at the senior manager and policy level positions in the public sector since 1973. He is semi-retired and operates a part-time consulting practice.
His interest in the 1960 Olympic Winter Games started with his research on the source of what appeared to be abandoned trails near his home on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe. He determined that the trails were the remnants of the cross-country ski courses of the 1960 Winter Olympics. He founded the Olympic Trails Restoration Committee and worked closely with California State Parks and others to reopen the surviving trail system for public use. Each winter, he leads interpretive ski tours of the trails and biathlon ranges at Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park. He serves on the board of the Squaw Valley Olympic Museum Foundation and is a member of the Olympic Heritage Celebration Committee.
The author’s first book, Snowball’s Chance – The Story of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games, won the Ullr Award presented by the International Skiing History Association as an outstanding contribution to ski history. The author is a cofounder of the Museum of Sierra Ski History and 1960 Winter Olympic in Tahoe City, CA.
He enjoys studying the science and environmental issues and natural history of Lake Tahoe. He has done original research that has identified the travel route and campsites of Mark Twain and published the book, Fairest Picture – Mark Twain at Lake Tahoe. He regularly gives multimedia presentations to visitors and conference groups on Lake Tahoe natural history, Mark Twain at Lake Tahoe, and the 1960 Olympic Winter Games.
The author enjoys cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, biking, kayaking, running, hiking and camping. He resides at Lake Tahoe with his wife and son.