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Vail’s John Dakin, a pioneer in Alpine ski race calling, inducted into hall of fame

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14min 49sec
John Dakin Vail Colorado Snowsports Museum Hall of Fame
Chandra Thomas Whitfield
John Dakin, the first person to be chief of press at three different World Alpine Ski Championships, was inducted into the Colorado Snowsports Museum Hall of Fame in August for his work as an ambassador and representative of ski racing.

John Dakin says he hasn't had a job in more than 40 years. Instead, he's had a passion project. And that passion has led to the highest award in Colorado snow sports. Dakin was inducted into the Colorado Snowsports Museum Hall of Fame this year.

Dakin has the unique distinction of being the first person to hold a chief of press position at three different World Alpine Ski Championship events. And in between those groundbreaking roles, he also served as Alpine press chief at the 2002 Olympics and as the Alpine mixed zone coordinator at the 2010 Olympics. Through it all, he became a pioneering ski race caller, and shared with the world the story of Colorado snow sports.