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FRIEDL: The Remarkable Story of a Ski Champion, WWII Vet, Sun Valley Pioneer & Founder of Aspen Ski Corp

"FRIEDL". The story of Friedl Pfeifer
Born and raised on a farm in St. Anton, Austria, Friedl Pfeifer became one of his country’s most accomplished alpine ski racers, winning numerous prestigious events including the legendary Grossglockner race. Mentored by the legendary Hannes Schneider, Friedl’s life took a dramatic turn when the Nazis arrested his mentor. Forced to flee Austria, he embarked on an extraordinary odyssey that took him through Italy, by ship to Australia, then on to New York City, and finally by train to Sun Valley, Idaho.
There, after falling in love and marrying, Friedl was arrested by the FBI and interned as an enemy alien. Upon his release, he joined the 10th Mountain Division, trained as a ski trooper, and served on the front lines in Italy during World War II. Left for dead on the battlefield after a brutal assault, he miraculously survived and returned to the United States.
Driven by his passion for skiing, Friedl went on to modernize the Sun Valley Ski School and ultimately founded the Aspen Ski Corporation, forever changing the landscape of American skiing.

Credit for some photos must go to the Aspen Historical Society

  • Chris Rodriquez Anthony
    Director
    Mission Mt. Mangart
  • Chris Rodriquez Anthony
    Writer
    Mission Mt. Mangart
  • Chris Rodriquez Anthony
    Producer
    Mission Mt. Mangart
  • Friedl Pfeifer
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    51 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 6, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    70,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia, Austria, Germany, Italy, United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Film,
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Chris Rodriquez Anthony

Chris Anthony is a Colorado native, professional freeskier, filmmaker, and inductee into both the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame and the United States Army 10th Mountain Division’s Warrior Hall of Fame.

Born with skis on his feet — literally starting at 18 months old — Chris has competed in nearly every discipline of snow sports. He began in alpine ski racing, rising through international ranks, before becoming one of the pioneers of big mountain freeride (extreme skiing) in the 1990s. In the off-season, he raced road bikes professionally for a top continental team, which led him to the Olympic Training Center and a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Colorado.

While in college, Chris was recruited by Warren Miller Films. What began as on-screen skiing appearances evolved into a 28-year career as a host, emcee, writer, and storyteller for Warren Miller Entertainment. His work took him around the globe, filming in some of the world’s most spectacular mountain ranges.

In recent years, Chris has transitioned into writing, producing, and directing. He wrote, directed, narrated, and edited the award-winning documentary Mission Mt. Mangart, which tells the powerful story of the 10th Mountain Division. He most recently completed his second feature documentary, FRIEDL, the inspiring life story of Friedl Pfeifer — Austrian and American ski champion, WWII veteran, modernizer of the Sun Valley Ski School, and founder of Aspen Ski Corporation. Both films have received strong critical acclaim and multiple international awards.

A passionate keynote speaker, Chris regularly presents at distinguished venues including the Slovenian Embassy in Washington, D.C., the NATO Mountain Warfare Center of Excellence, Fort Drum, the Ministry of Defense of Slovenia, and the U.S. Embassy in Slovenia. He is also a frequent speaker for Fortune 500 companies and private events, inspiring audiences with stories drawn from his extraordinary athletic career and filmmaking journey.

In 2018, Chris was inducted into the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame. In 2021, he received the prestigious Far West Ski Association Warren Miller Award. In 2023, he was inducted into the United States Army 10th Mountain Division’s Warrior Hall of Fame.

Through the Chris Anthony Youth Initiative Project, he has introduced over 100,000 young people to skiing and continues to create meaningful experiential educational opportunities for underserved youth.

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