A Story of Belonging
A sense of belonging means feeling at home. To the original members of the Tyrol Ski & Mountain Club, this was of utmost importance as they were all a long way from home. My father Walter Preissl immigrated to Canada from Austria and found his sense of belonging through skiing and mountaineering. Along with my mom (First Nations), they were among the first investors (debenture holders) in the Club.
Through the building of the Tyrol Lodge, dancing at parties, the occasional drink (lol), and the sharing of traditional, home cooked food, they found lifelong friends and a deep sense of belonging. This gang worked hard and played harder.
Their sense of community and grassroots club values involved looking after each other’s kids and helping with races, which instilled in us kids the meaning of contributing to community, honouring elders, and finding our own sense of belonging in the world. Myself and my four brothers were part of the original racing program… what a feeling 50+ years later to be schussing down mountains thanks to the foresight of the original Club members.
When visiting the Lodge years or decades after our very active years there (with partners or our own children), there is pride and a sense of security or entitlement—a home away from home when one knows which bathroom door is the squeaky one; which fridge works the best; and which room has the best view, stretchability, or air ventilation.
There is a sense of one’s place I get when I see Frank Grundig’s iconic black and white photographs around the Lodge, some of which feature my Dad. The photos are as quintessential to the Lodge as Buster the cat, the donated mix ‘n match kitchenware, squashed ping pong balls, orange carpets, or the Caretaker Cabin (or for those of us who have been around a really long time, hanging out in the wee hut behind the Caretaker’s house après schifahren!!)
In speaking with my brothers about their memories of either mom and dad or us at the Lodge, there was an immediate smile and chuckle and a “Oh I remember the time….” One epic memory involved us WALKING over in our ski boots from the Lodge to the base of Whistler for the annual Easter Downhill. We were thrashed by the time we got there and couldn’t even imagine having to train all day! We didn’t own after-ski boots back in those days (early-mid 70s). And who could forget the end-of-the-year party at the original Seymour cabin? In addition to fun and prizes for us kids, I have a better memory of adults racing through the obstacle slalom race with sausages or wine skins suspended between them…bites or guzzles had to be consumed prior to proceeding to the next gate!
Mom and Dad continued their friendships outside of the club for 60 years. My dad passed away in August 2020 while my mom passed away November 2021. For all those years, they had a tight knit social group of Grundigs, Steiglmeirs, Andexers, Froweins, Planinsics, Pichlers, Kaziols, and Siebers and counted many, many more Tyrolean clubbers as good friends (whether through Christmas cards, calls, or events). They had a wide circle of people they loved and vice versa.
These founding members left a legacy that is hard to describe. How does one express how valuable it is for us to consider these Tyrol Ski Clubbers as second parents? As someone we could call up or visit with despite being a generation apart? How do we describe the feeling of being in contact with all of their ‘kids’ (now all in our late 50s and 60s) on Facebook? Priceless connections!
The foundation the Club was built on certainly includes values such as community, camaraderie, tolerance, loyalty, and dedication. For us siblings, the Club and the Lodge is a curious mixture of growing up around a group of likeminded people, Grundig photos, barbecues, gluhwein out of knapsacks, smelly rooms, over-crowded wax rooms, missing ping-pong paddles, frozen car doors, assisting or being in ski races, the 35th Annual Giant Slalom (especially the after party!), sunning on the deck, snores from three doors and a floor down, Christmas parties with Santa, and Ski Trails magazine. It’s ancient German books, a lousy sound system, excellent homecooked potlucks, and line-ups for the shower. But mostly, it was a sense of connection and belonging and a home-away-from-home.
Although our family are no longer members and scattered hither and yon around the province and we may have left the Club physically, it hasn’t left us emotionally. It was a huge part of our life and resides in our hearts whether we are carving a perfect line in the back bowls or getting a condolence call from one of their Tyrolean friends. Thank you mom and dad for this priceless legacy and thank you to the Tyrol Lodge members (the beginning members, the middle, and the present day members).
Karen Goodfellow (neé Preissl) along with Al, Pete, John and Andy
PS-Karen is the fastest skier 😉
Marie Preissl’s memorial will be held on Saturday, June 25th at 2pm. It will be livestreamed online and in-person for family and close personal friends. For more information please email karengoodfellow@telus.net
