Austrian National Day 2026: Celebrating Alpine Ambitions and the Austria-U.S. Friendship
Ambassador Petra Schneebauer with the Mayor of the City of Lienz, Elisabeth Blanik (m.), and the delegation from Lienz, East Tyrol
Photo: Austrian Embassy Washington
Ahead of Austrian National Day, Ambassador Petra Schneebauer hosted an evening celebrating Austria’s cultural heritage, its enduring friendship with the United States, and the many connections that have brought the two countries together over the decades. The celebration also marked the opening of the Embassy’s new exhibition, Alpine Ambitions: How Austrians Influenced American Ski Culture, highlighting the remarkable story of Austrian ski pioneers who brought the spirit, skills, and traditions of the Alps to the United States.
From Sun Valley to Aspen, Vail, and Jackson Hole, Austrian athletes, instructors, and pioneers played an important role in shaping American ski culture and became an integral part of the communities they helped build. Their stories illustrate how sporting traditions can create lasting connections across the Atlantic.
A special connection to the exhibition was provided by a delegation from the city of Lienz, including Mayor Elisabeth Blanik and members of the city council. Lienz is the hometown of Olympic ski champion Josef “Pepi” Stiegler, whose remarkable career took him from the Austrian Alps to the American West. After winning Olympic gold and silver medals for Austria, Stiegler moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in the late 1960s. There, he became an influential figure in the development of the local ski community, sharing the techniques and traditions of the Austrian ski school with a new generation of American skiers. His story is one of many featured in “Alpine Ambitions,” which explores the lasting influence of Austrian ski pioneers on the development of skiing in the United States.
The exhibition also highlights the career of Austrian ski legend Pepi Gramshammer, whose life and work helped establish Austrian skiing traditions in America. Among the memorable photographs featured is the iconic image of Gramshammer skiing alongside President Gerald Ford in Vail. Together, these stories showcase the people who carried Austrian Alpine traditions across the Atlantic and helped shape the culture of some of America’s best-known ski destinations.
The evening brought together friends and partners of Austria from across the Washington community for an evening of culture and connection. It was an opportunity to celebrate not only Austrian National Day, but also the many shared traditions and experiences that continue to connect Austria and the United States.
From music and culture to sports, innovation, and people-to-people exchanges, 2026 has offered many occasions to celebrate this enduring friendship — including the Sound of Ambition exhibition and the Vienna Philharmonic’s performances in Washington, as well as the excitement surrounding the Austrian Men’s National Team performance in the FIFA World Cup 2026. Thank you to San Francisco, Dallas, Kansas City and Los Angeles for hosting the Team Austria matches and welcoming so many of our dignitaries, fans and citizens to your home countries!
The opening of Alpine Ambitions offered another perspective on this longstanding relationship: the story of Austrians who brought a piece of their home country to America and, in doing so, helped create something new together.
Ambassador Schneebauer expresses her appreciation to all the guests, partners, and supporters who helped make the celebration such a memorable evening. The Embassy extends its heartfelt thanks to all of our sponsors and partners for their generous support.
