Skiing legend Toni Seelos

Toni Seelos (1911–2006) was a seminal figure in alpine skiing and one of the most famous personalities from the Seefeld region. A four-time world skiing champion, he revolutionized the sport by replacing the traditional stem turn with the parallel turn. Although his professional status as a ski instructor prevented him from competing in the Olympics, he raced as a forerunner and finished faster than the Olympic champion.

Seelos also took on significant coaching roles. In 1934, he trained the German ski racer Christl Cranz, leading her to Olympic victory and twelve world titles. In 1937, he successfully coached the French national team. Up until the 1980s, he managed the ski school in his hometown of Seefeld. His legacy is felt not only in championships and techniques but also in the Toni-Seelos-Olympiaschanze in Seefeld, which is named after him.