The 97-year-old talks about skiing the way one might describe finding a soul mate.
Klaus Obermeyer, the founder of the eponymous ski apparel brand, is close to a century old and in great shape. He goes to work at the Aspen office nearly every day, usually after hitting the slopes. Many days he also swims or practices martial arts.
Born in an alpine village in Germany, Obermeyer moved to Aspen in 1947 at a time when the former mining community was a ghost town. He became a ski instructor and helped propel the sport’s popularity forward, first by teaching celebrities such as Gary Cooper, and then through apparel innovations that made it accessible to a wider audience.
We chatted with the skiing veteran about his lifelong love of the pastime, how his company contributed to its evolution, and how he manages to stay healthy and vibrant while pushing 100 years old.