Junior Bounous

Today's the day!

Before the Skiing History's ticketed dinner, when Junior accepts his lifetime achievement award, Junior and Ayja will be selling and signing copies of Junior's hardcover Centennial Edition biography at the Cliff Lodge at Snowbird from 5-6 pm. If you're in the canyon today, we'd love to see you there!

If you can't attend but would like to order a book, you can do so here: https://www.ayjabounous.com/purchase

It's a big week for this guy! This week is the International Skiing History Association's Celebration at Snowbird's Cliff Lodge, and Junior has a packed schedule—including a Lifetime Achievement Award!

On Thursday (April 9th), Junior will participate in a panel about skiing in Little Cottonwood Canyon—the IHSA John Fry Presentation: How Little Cottonwood Canyon Influenced the World of Skiing (4-6 pm). This is a free event—all are welcome!

On Friday (April 10th), Junior and granddaughter Ayja will be selling Junior's award-winning biography during the ISHA Author's Reception (5-6pm). The special, limited Centennial Edition of Junior's biography will make its debut!

Later that evening, Junior will receive his Lifetime Achievement Award at the IHSA Awards Dinner from (6pm–8pm). What better venue for this Snowsports Legend to accept his well-earned award!

This is a paid event, and tickets are still available. Check out Skiing History's full schedule here: https://events.humanitix.com/ussshof-2026/tickets

As always, Junior's award-winning biography is available for purchase online here: https://www.ayjabounous.com/purchase

We'd love to share a fun opportunity to have lunch with Junior Bounous at The Forklift and enjoy a day of skiing at Snowbird Ski Resort! Junior and Snowbird have teamed up to contribute a special package to Wasatch Adaptive Sports' Highly Decorated Silent Auction, which honors veterans while raising funds for adaptive winter sports. Junior and Peter Mandler founded Wasatch Adaptive Sports almost 50 years ago to empower those with disabilities through outdoor recreation, and the program has since grown to serve over 1,100 participants each year, with 96% of lessons offered at no cost to students.

Junior's silent auction package includes:
* 4 lift tickets to Snowbird
* Lunch for 4 at The Forklift (Junior's favorite restaurant!) with Junior and his son Steve (former pro ski racer)
* 4 signed copies of Junior's award-winning biography

This is an excellent opportunity not only to spend time with 100-year-old Junior and hear stories from his 30 years as Snowbird's Ski School Director, but also to support a cause near and dear to his heart. (Junior might even wear his iconic red and yellow sweater to match the photo of him in The Forklift!)

And if you're looking for meaningful Christmas gifts—check out the other silent auction items being offered! All proceeds go towards providing free ski, snowboard, biking, paddleboarding, and yoga lessons to Utahns with disabilities.

Bid on Junior's package and browse the auction at: https://wasatchadaptivesports.org/highly-decorated

Some fun old footage featuring Junior (dark hair and wearing a red sweater with white and black stripes on the upper arms) from Sundance back when it was called Timp Haven.
Junior's storied history at Timp Haven began all the way back in 1943, when Junior responded to an ad in the paper recruiting for the Utah County Division of the Civilian Defense Ski Corps for Mountain Rescue. At the meeting, he met Ray Stewart, the soon-to-be founder of Timp Haven. (He also met his future wife of 67 years, Maxine!) Junior and Ray became fast friends, and when Ray purchased a rope tow in 1945, Junior helped Ray with his dream of starting a ski area. They installed the rope tow in North Fork Canyon, on land that Ray's family had homesteaded since the 1800s, and Timp Haven was born. Junior went on to become a partial owner in Timp Haven and ran the ski school, after-school ski programs, and ski shop. When Robert Redford purchased the resort, Junior worked alongside Bob to transition Timp Haven to Sundance in the late 1960s.

You can learn more about Junior's history at Timp Haven/Sundance and other ski areas by reading his award-winning biography:
https://www.ayjabounous.com/purchase

https://www.amazon.com/Junior-Bounous-Joys-Skiing-biography/dp/B0BRTH47TW/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2P1QTSDF8W57T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gvoFYyIpZLABKaXq5WZKjg.Zdh1pFcpXbVnptFDD-PhtpbrzmWcJnIKvnP3R0uI0rk&dib_tag=se&keywords=junior+bounous&qid=1762824847&sprefix=junior+bounous%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-1

Recently, we got word from our friends at @altaskiarea that they’d unearthed some old film footage that had been previously lost. As they reviewed the footage, filmed between the 1930s and 1970s, they found this treasure—skiers at Sundance Resort back when it was Timp Haven, its first iteration! These scenes were most likely captured by Sverre Engen, champion ski-jumper and longtime ski school director at Alta. Watching the footage is a delightful little trip back in time. The beauty of this mountain remains forever the same … but we’re sure glad the lifts are a little faster and safer these days!  Footage credit: Sverre Engen of Alta Ski Area

Happy 100th Birthday, Junior Bounous!

Today we celebrate the centennial of a true skiing legend, Junior Bounous, born August 24, 1925 in Provo, Utah. From crafting his first skis at age eight to helping shape world-class resorts, Junior’s story is woven into the very fabric of American skiing. Over the decades, he taught at Alta under Alf Engen, became one of the first American-born ski school directors, helped develop Timp Haven (now Sundance) and Snowbird, and introduced innovative programs for kids, adaptive skiers, and seniors.

Along the way, he co-founded PSIA, advised industry committees, wrote ski technique guides, and earned a place in the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame. Even in his 90s, he kept breaking records, most famously as the oldest heli-skier ever at 95, and last winter, at age 99, he logged 73 ski days.

Help us wish Junior Bounous a happy birthday!