John Fry

John Fry, journalist and author, was editor-in-chief of the esteemed SKI magazine from 1964 to 1980 in New York City. He later became the founding editor of Cross-Country Ski Magazine in 1982 and of the New York Times-owned Snow Country Magazine from 1988 to 1999.

John raced in Quebec through his college years as a member of the Red Birds Ski Club, graduating from McGill University in 1951. A ski enthusiast, historian and innovator, John combined his passion for the sport with his journalistic talent.

He created the FIS Nations Cup, awarded annually to the country compiling the most World Cup points. He also originated NASTAR (National Standard Ski Race), a system for rating recreational skiers that was later adopted in other countries, including Canada.

John authored the award-winning The Story of Modern Skiing (2006), which chronicles the revolution in technique, equipment, resorts and competition that transformed the sport after the Second World War. He also wrote extensively on Canadian ski history.

He was elected to the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the FIS Journalism Award in 1997. In 2005, he was honoured with the North American Snowsports Journalists Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2016, he was inducted into the Laurentian Ski Hall of Fame.

John was a long-time chair of the non-profit International Skiing History Association. He lived in Katonah, N.Y., and continued skiing well into his later years. He died on Jan. 24, 2020, two days after his 90th birthday.

“John’s love of skiing, combined with his talent for in-depth reporting and crystal-clear writing style, set the standard for ski journalism not only in English but worldwide,” said Seth Masia, president of the International Skiing History Association. “Those of us who had the good fortune to work for him loved him for his wit, warmth and mentorship. He was the heart and soul of each magazine he edited and was more productive and inspiring than ever during his final years with us.”

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Member of the Red Birds Ski Club; graduated from McGill University (1951)
• Editor-in-chief, SKI magazine (1964–1980)
• Founding editor, Cross-Country Ski Magazine (1982)
• Founding editor, Snow Country Magazine (1988–1999)
• Creator of the FIS Nations Cup and founder of NASTAR race system
• Author of The Story of Modern Skiing (award-winning history of the sport)
• Elected to the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame (1995)
• Recipient of the FIS Journalism Award (1997)
• Lifetime Achievement Award, North American Snowsports Journalists Association (2005)
• Inducted into the Laurentian Ski Hall of Fame (2016)
• Long-time chair, International Skiing History Association

Note: The information gathered in this biography was compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments. Copyright © Canadian Ski Hall of Fame & Museum. For personal and/or educational use only. All rights reserved.