U.S. Ski and Snowboard

Hall of Fame
Class of 2016

U.S. Ski and Snowboard

Hall of Fame
Class of 2016

Dan and John Egan

Dan and John Egan were the first skiers and the first siblings to be inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame as a pair. Their arrival, in tandem, on the stage of extreme sports was legendary in both its familial nature and the brother’s daring new approach to skiing.

The “Egan Bruthas” from the Boston area were the extreme skiing pioneers, constantly pushing the boundaries of snow adventure. Fueled by unrivaled passion for the sport and a strong work ethic, the Egan escapades set a new standard for big mountain dreams. What made the brothers’ travel feats iconic was the public’s access to their experiences through the innovation of technology and the growing demand for ski and adventure films.

In the 1980s, Warren Miller saw John and Dan as the relatable trailblazers the ski industry needed to reinvigorate ski culture. Warren bonded with the Egans over their bootstrap mentality and featured the brothers in 17 films collectively. Dan and John both took part in the production of many of the Warren Miller film segments, managed video sales east of the Mississippi, and hosted hundreds of shows on the film tour. In 1990, The brothers nearly escaped death after a massive cornice broke at Grand Targhee in Wyoming. The thrilling shot of the men floating above the fracture line as several tons of snow plummet from the ridge is captured in the film Extreme Winter.  To this day, the clip is one of the most viewed ski film segments of all time.

The Extreme Team

Dan and John are also known as the founders of the North Face Extreme Team with Scot Schmidt. The skiers appeared in the first five Extreme Team Films as well as various automotive, soft drinks, and beer commercials. The brothers marketed the sport of skiing through ski shows, retails appearances, X-Team Ski Clinics, and film tours. Without social media, creative marketing and sponsor partnerships were the most effective way to show and share the sport of skiing. The brothers’ focused their film and ski objectives to follow the geopolitical landscape of the times, spreading the idea that where people could ski, they could be free.

John Egan, seven years older than Dan, was a successful competitor on both the pro race and mogul circuit. Today, he serves as the Vice President and Chief Recreation Officer at Sugarbush in Vermont, where he began his professional ski career in 1979. John founded the Adventure Learning Center at Sugarbush, transforming the resort into a year-round destination.

Dan, whose innovative marketing and business skills facilitated the brothers’ travel and paid the bills, has made a life for himself teaching private clinics around the world, producing award-winning films and TV shows, and managing marketing and sponsorship for big name brands and organizations like US Sailing and Rolex. In his career Dan has also served as a resort association director, mountain manager, and author.

To this day, John and Dan Egan continue to promote the sports and lifestyle they love. POWDER Magazine has named them among the most influential skiers of all-time, a reputation that encompasses the impact of the Egan brothers on the ski industry. 

 

Career Highlights – Dan Egan:

1985: John and Dan first appeared as the “Egan Brothers”  in a Warren Miller film.

1990s: The Egans founded The North Face Extreme Team and created an apparel line with Scot Schmidt.

1990: John and Dan’s “cornice break” segment in Extreme Winter.

1990: John and Dan climbed and skied Mt. Elbrus in Russia and filmed at Red Square.

1996-2008: Dan Egan produced and starred in the Wild World of Winter series, a nationally syndicated cable TV show.