Otto Lang, a renowned skier and pioneer ski instructor, was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908 and went on to make a lasting impact in the United States.
Lang's journey as a ski instructor began in Austria, where he taught at various smaller resorts before joining the prestigious Hannes Schneider Ski School in St. Anton am Arlberg. As one of the instructors who mastered the Arlberg Method, Lang was eventually offered the opportunity to teach in the United States, specifically at Pecketts' on Sugar Hill in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
He continued to share his expertise by moving west and establishing ski schools on Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, and Mount Hood.
In addition to his teaching, Lang demonstrated ski techniques in the documentary Ski Flight (1938),which premiered at Radio City Music Hall. His book Downhill Skiing, published in 1936, was recognized as the most comprehensive manual for skiing instruction at the time, and it inspired many, including Ski Filmmaker Warren Miller and newsman Lowell Thomas, to develop an interest in the sport.
