#ThankYouDave

Dave McCoy, the visionary behind Mammoth Mountain, passed away at the age of 104 on Feb. 8, 2020. 

“Behind every mountain, is a story. And behind every story is a legend. One such legend was Dave McCoy.”

Because of Dave’s grit and tenacity, he built what no one imagined could be possible. Since its inception in 1953, he shared the fun and beauty of Mammoth Mountain with millions of people. Mammoth Ski Area grew from a single, homemade chairlift, to 3,500 skiable acres served by 28 lifts attracting the world’s best skiers and riders to its slopes. 

Mammoth Mountain has proved its ability to breed talent and foster a culture of athletic development that almost seems embedded in the mountain’s DNA. The resort has hosted the U.S. Grand Prix more than a dozen times and has been fortunate enough to name our Olympic athletes three times including in 1998—the first year the Olympics hosted snowboard halfpipe as an official event. Mammoth also hosted the final qualifying event before the 2014 and 2018 Olympic Winter Games. With one of the longest snow seasons in the United States, Mammoth Mountain became an invaluable training site for elite freeski, snowboard and alpine athletes. U.S. Ski & Snowboard is deeply saddened by the loss of Dave, his memory will live on the slopes of the mountain he built and loved. 
 

Mammoth Mountain is hosting a skiing and snowboarding celebration on Feb. 28. Skiing is what Dave loved most, may his memory encourage all skiers and riders to never forget the thrill of a turn. Because “As Dave would say, ‘The most fun, is having fun.’”