In Memory of Graham Anderson (1933-2025)

Graham Anderson—a visionary leader, advocate and lifelong devotee to the sport of skiing—passed away on June 2, 2025 in Sun Valley, Idaho. He leaves behind a legacy that has shaped the foundation of ski racing in the United States and around the world.

Graham’s skiing journey began in 1947 on the slopes of Sun Valley. As a young athlete, he raced within the Pacific Northwest Ski Association and earned varsity letters in both alpine and nordic at the University of Washington. His love of skiing evolved into a career of purpose—marked by transformative leadership and enduring contributions to U.S. Ski & Snowboard and the global skiing community.

At the national level, he was chairman of U.S. Ski & Snowboard (then USSA) and led key committees including the National Alpine Championships Committee, Olympic Ski Games Committee and Coaches Association. He was also a trustee of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation from 1960-93 and remained an honorary trustee until his passing.

Internationally, Graham was a respected authority within the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), where he served as a delegate for nearly 40 years. His influence helped shape alpine ski racing—most notably, helping codify super-G as a discipline and leading the global movement to adopt breakaway race gates, enhancing safety for generations of athletes. He also held roles on the FIS Alpine Executive Committee and World Cup Committee and was a jury member at multiple World Championships and Olympic Games.

Graham’s service to the sport earned him the Julius Blegen Award—U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s highest honor—in 1979, and he was inducted into the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame in 1984. He was also inducted into the Sun Valley's Ski Hall of Fame in 2020. He believed deeply in the integrity of sport, always championing athlete safety.

In addition to his national and international roles, Graham helped steer the future of the sport at a grassroots level. From coaching high school athletes in Seattle to presiding over the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation board, Graham invested in the next generation. His impact extended to adaptive skiing through his leadership with SkiForAll, which provided programs for disabled skiers in the Northwest. 

Graham never lost sight of what made skiing magical. He skied Sun Valley’s Bald Mountain until he was 86 and remained a leader in the ski community until his final days.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard celebrates the life of Graham—a devoted steward of skiing. He is survived by his wife, four children and six grandchildren.