In the process of preparing to do a podcast series on the birth of freestyle skiing at Waterville Valley I had the opportunity to interview many of my skiing heroes. First on that list was a fellow who was a coach of the Waterville Valley Black and Blue Trail Smashers ski team, of which I was a young member.
The conversation begins with a tribute to JD Nelson, a bright, genuine, and gregarious African American who was first and foremost an avid skier who fell in love with Freestyle. He came to Waterville Valley as a result of his friendship with the Dunfey family. JD - in a turbulent time for an African American man - endured the difficulties of other black Americans but never let it rule his life. He easily developed friendships with both the heirarchy of the Waterville Company as well as the athletes. So it was a natural thing that when the Athletes felt taken advantage of as the sport evolved, they would turn to him and his business savvy to help them protect themselves and develop sponsorships. Later, he would play a critical role in saving Freestyle when it fell into a crisis over injuries - particularly to aerial skiers.
In this podcast, we take a whirlwind trip through Wayne Wong's amazing career.
