Palisades Tahoe and The Sierra Nevada Olympic & Winter (SNOW) Sports Museum recently honored ski legend Martin Hollay, a 101-year-old former ski patroller, known across Tahoe for his many contributions to the ski industry, according to a press release.
Hollay notably had an important role in the 1960 Winter Olympic Games held at Palisades Tahoe. He built the cross-country track and still participates in cross-country skiing at age 101. Originally from Hungary, Hollay served as a ski patroller for many decades and contributed greatly to the formation of the Heavenly Area Ski Patrol.
The ceremony was held in The Village at Palisades Tahoe on Nov. 2. Hollay told stories from his long history on snow to the crowd in attendance. During the ceremony, Dee Byrne, president and COO of Palisades Tahoe, presented Hollay with a metal sculpture made from old lift parts from the resort and a complimentary Palisades Tahoe season pass, as attendees sang a round of “Happy Birthday.”
Martin recently turned age 101. Eddy Ancinas, the vice-president of the sports museum board and a past IOC guide at the 1960 Winter Olympics, said the museum eventually looks forward to telling the stories of Hollay and other legendary people who have worked behind the scenes to make the ski community what it is today. Her husband, Osvaldo, who was a competitor at the 1960 Winter Olympics, closed the ceremony with a yodel. | palisadestahoe.com
