Chaffee, Suzy (1946–)

views updated

Chaffee, Suzy (1946–)

American skier. Name variations: Suzy Chapstick (from a popular advertising campaign she endorsed). Born Nov 29, 1946, in Rutland, Vermont.

Influential in the creation of freestyle skiing, was known as the "Mother of the Hotdog"; ranked #1 as US female skier (1967); captained US Olympic ski team at Grenoble (1968); began competing in freestyle, skiing head-to-head with men; was World freestyle champion (1971–73); when International Freestyle Association was formed (1973), saw her concepts become central to the sport; as a member of US Olympic Committee, pushed for acceptance of freestyle skiing.

More From encyclopedia.com