John Fry

Journalist and author, John Fry was editor-in-chief of the esteemed SKI magazine from 1964 to 1980 in New York City, the founding editor of Cross-Country Ski Magazine (1982) and of the New York Times-owned Snow Country Magazine (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. John was a ski enthusiast, historian and innovator in addition to being an accomplished journalist. John created the concept for the now FIS Nations Cup, awarded annually to the country compiling the most World Cup points.He also created NASTAR (National Standard Ski Race), a system to rate the ability of recreational skiers, which came to be adopted in other countries, including Canada. He is the author of the award-winning The Story of Modern Skiing, the revolution in technique, equipment, resorts and competition that transformed the sport after World War II. He has written extensively about Canadian ski history.

He was the only person elected to the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame in 1995. He received the FIS Journalism award in 1999, and Lifetime Achievement Award of the North American Snowsports Journalists Association in 2005. He was elected to the Laurentian Ski Hall of Fame in 2016. He is the long-time and current chair of the non-profit International Skiing History Association. Fry lived in Katonah, New York and was an avid skier until late in his life. John passed away on January 24, 2020, two days after celebrating his  90th birthday. He was a much beloved journalist and mentor to many.

“John’s love of skiing, combined with his talent for in-depth reporting and crystal 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.”

Please Note: The ski information gathered here is compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments. Copyright © 2021, Canadian Ski Museum. For Personal/Educational use only. All Rights Reserved.