Why have so many American ski schools and resorts been influenced by Austrians? From 1931-1971 Professor Stefan Kruckenhauser and his ski instructors/ambassadors dominated the world of alpine ski instruction and alpine ski racing in particular. American investors paid top dollar to get Austrian champions, like Othmar Schneider, Pepi Gramshammer, and Pepi Stiegler, all interviewed in this film, to represent growing American ski areas, and as a result? Austrian alpine skiing technique, racing, coaching and culture permeated the American alpine ski scene, particularly at some of the Americas’ largest, best-known resorts: Aspen, Boyne, Jackson Hole, Stowe, Sun Valley, Sugar Bow, Stratton, and .Vail.
Explains and shows how and why two generations of Arlbergers, not only molded the Arlberg into the world capital of alpine skiing, in particular of ski instruction and technique, but also in the process greatly influence the development of American skiing. The film starts with Hannes Schneider, (late 1800s – 1950s and considered by many as the “Father of Modern Alpine Skiing”) and his self-proclaimed disciples; such as: Luggi Foeger, Franz Gabl, Friedl Pfeifer, Otto Lang, and Benno Rybizka, followed by Professor Kruckenhauser & his Ambassadors, like, Othmar Schneider and Herbert Jochum.
Explains and shows how the top austrian racer, coach, and ski school director Friedl Pfeifer, with the help of the Americans Walter Paepcke and Dick Durrance, developed Aspen into a world class ski resort. While serving as a trainer in the 10th Mountain Division, the United States’ first division of mountain troops, which trained at nearby Camp Hale, Pfeifer visited the then run-down mining town and nascent ski area of Aspen. He saw potential in the surrounding mountains, which reminded him of his home-town of St. Anton, Austria, and so promised the townspeople of Aspen that if he survived the war he would return to build Aspen into a world-class ski resort. After suffering near fatal wounds in the mountains of Italy he returned to Aspen and realized his vision. Story includes interview with Friedl Pfeifer.
Explains and shows how the owner Everett Kircher, one of the first pioneers of snowmaking, and the Austrian ski racing champion and ski school director Othmar Schneider, who is interviewed in this section, worked together during the late 50s and 1960s to develop Boyne, Mtn., Michigan into the premier ski area and ski school in the Midwest - a breeding ground for so many of Americas’ skiers.
Explains and shows how and why Austria’s “National Sports Home” in St. Christoph am Arlberg, first developed under the leadership of Ernst Janner, with help from Hannes Schneider, in the early 1920s, then by Professor Stefan Kruckenhauser (1930s-1972), and now referred to as Ski Austria Academy, became the world recognized center of snowsports’ study, practice, and development. Consequently, 
Explains and shows the legacy of Austrians coaching American racers, in particular American women - starting with the first U.S. Women’s Ski Team trained in St. Anton, Austria in the 1930s, and how since then numerous Austrians have been recruited to coach American racers at all levels throughout the 
Explains and shows how the original owner, Paul McCollister, with the help of Pepi Stiegler, the Austrian champion from the 1964 Olympics turned Jackson Hole ski school director, developed, via years of arduous work and marketing, this cold and remote area into a world-class ski resort known for its steep trails and spectacular scenery.
Explains and shows how and why this town developed into a world famous ski resort area, via the establishment of the famous Hahnenkamm races and the Kitzbuehel Ski Club, and how during the 1950s and 1960s became home to some of the world’s best racers, i.e. Christian Pravda, Ernst Hinterseer, Hias Leitner, Anderl Molterer, and Toni Sailer, all of whom enjoyed considerable success in Austria as well as in the Americas.
Explains and shows how Toni Sailer, referred to as the “Schwarzer Blitz” (Black Lightning), and Anderl Molterer the “Weisse Blitz” (White Lightning), Christian Pravda, Ernst Hinterseer and Hias Leitner lead the Kitzbuehel based Wunderteam, which from 1952 to 1962 won an incredible 15 of 24 Olympic medals and 11 of 16 World Championship medals. Together they created “The Austrian Decade” and made the Kitzbuehel Ski Club proud indeed. Story told in part by Ernst Hinterseer and Hias Leitner.
Explains and shows, through interviews with him, as well as his friend Konrad Staudinger, how and why Pepi Gramshammer, the Austrian downhill champion and later pro racing champion, became such an integral player in the development of Vail as a destination ski resort
Explains and shows how with the help from the Austrian Olympic Champion and ski school director Othmar Schneider, along with his cadre of top-notch and famous Austrian racing and instructor colleagues, the American Purcell family developed Portillo, Chile into one of the world’s most famous and best ski resorts. Othmar Schneider tells much of this story.
