2013 Ski Hall of Fame

Paul Souder was born in 1930 and discovered skiing in 1962 while working at Sandia Labs in Albuquerque. By 1964, he had become skilled enough to join the Sandia Peak Ski Patrol, where he served as a dedicated member until 2004. His flexible schedule at the Lab allowed him to patrol on some weekdays, contributing significantly to mountain safety.

Paul was especially active in ski and toboggan handling instruction and training, sharing his knowledge and passion with countless skiers—some in need of assistance, others eager to improve their skills. His keen observation once helped him locate three people in serious trouble during an end-of-day patrol sweep, and he also assisted in a vehicle accident recovery after spotting fresh tire tracks off the road.

Committed to honing his own skiing, Paul became a Certified Ski Instructor at Purgatory Ski Resort and participated in ski racing at Ski Santa Fe and Taos Ski Valley. After retiring from Sandia Labs in 1991, he launched a branch of the rough-rider program, inspired by Lito Tejada Flores’s teaching methods, to help senior skiers enjoy and improve their skills. This program gained popularity among seniors at Sandia Peak.

Reflecting on his decades of service, Paul said, “Being part of the Sandia Ski Patrol was a rewarding experience—there’s a certain satisfaction in helping another human being in trouble. I was also a ski instructor and really enjoyed working with people who want to improve their skiing.” He described skiing as “addictive,” emphasizing, “It’s fun at any level. The more you ski, the better you get—and the better you get, the more fun it is.”

Paul passed away in August 2023, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, kindness, and passion for the sport he loved.