Junior Bounous took the world by storm when Snowbird announced that he was the oldest man to go heli skiing at 95-years-old, and last season when he skied 96 days at 96-years-old.
Bounous is a living legend at Snowbird. He was the resort’s first ski school director and then served as the Director of Skiing. Some even consider him the ‘Godfather of Skiing’ on the slopes of The Bird.
Snowbird posted moments ago that today is Bounous’ 97th birthday. Here’s to hoping he’s healthy enough for another season on the mountain and that he can reach his goal of 97 days on the slopes!
Snowbird: “Happy 97th birthday to the man we all aspire to be like one day, Junior Bounous. Snowbird truly wouldn’t be the same without him. Junior was in charge of mapping out, cutting and bulldozing all of the ski runs at Snowbird. When the resort opened in 1971 he became Snowbird’s first Ski School Director, and in 1991 became the Director of Skiing.
Junior has skied pow in countless Warren Miller films, was accepted into the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 1996, dropped into Snowbird’s legendary Pipeline Couloir at 80 years old, set the world record for oldest heli skier at age 95, and most recently skied over 100 days during the 21-22 season.
Keep an eye out for Junior on the hiking trails, or on the ski slopes this winter, and make sure to wish him a Happy birthday!”
All images credit: Snowbird