Being Frank

Today - July 8th, 2011 - is Frank Prihoda's 90th birthday. Frank must be Thredbo's oldest and wisest resident. Having represented Australia in the winter Olympics more than a few years ago he made the decision to settle in Thredbo. Be it the air, the altitude, the beer, fine cooking and / or the great community attitude, Frank has lived and skied in Thredbo for a very long time.

Someone - who obviously looks favourably upon Frank and with great power and kindness - rewarded us all with a spectacular day of blue sky and sunshine after a week of cloud and snow.

Today Thredbo celebrated Frank’s birthday in a most fitting manner. KT set up and ran an invitation race on Rossi race course. Kurt Lance, one of Frank's closest youngers, told me it was the perfect course for racing. I found it like race courses in the past, hard and icy, but I'm not and never will be a racer. Around 70 of Franks friends and family turned up to see if they could beat or come close to Frank's times over two runs.

Race presentation took place at Knickerbocker Restaurant, where Brad and staff put on a lavish lunch. Race presentations and speeches were very entertaining and I felt very honoured to be amongst the invited. I consider myself to be by far the newest of Frank’s long and established friends in Thredbo.

I think very special thanks should go to KT, Kim Clifford, Rodney, Adam and the race crew as well as Brad Spalding, Ian and all the staff at Knickerbocker. Hot shots were on hand to record proceedings on the race course and of course a huge thanks to Frank's god-daughter Julie Kantor whose organisation made the whole day the wonderful success it was. Heinz, Doug and Brad did wonders on the microphone but best of all were Frank’s retorts to all the joviality.

We all hope to be present in 10 years time for Frank’s 100th race and birthday special.

HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY FRANK

The sun rose early to reveal a special day in Thredbo

Out of the gates. Frank’s first run with Olympic escort

Kurt, Chrissie and Will

Best classic costume: Marion and Adam

Tommy turns 85 in 2 weeks

An interlude between race and lunch
Marion skiing Village Square

Frank: never shy to have a word

A birthday song for (Mr President) Frank
And cutting the cake

Sasha wearing a Frank mask

So many photos to squeeze in: Tommy and Frank on Snowgums
Heinz yodelling, Jules’ back
And finally more power to Frank – may you ski another 10 years

But the celebrations don’t end today - there's a heap more coming over the next couple of weeks.

If you are wondering about the snow, take a look at yesterday's report - click here.