About Us
World Ski Awards 2017
Hans Grimus - outstanding contribution to Ski Tourism
Hotel Pension Grimus - Australia's Best Ski Hotel
The World Ski Awards is the only global initiative to recognise, reward and celebrate excellence in ski tourism. Held annually in November, the 3 day gala event is the only time that the international ski industry community comes together to exchange local knowledge, innovations and principles of best practise on a global stage.
We are extremely proud that this is the fifth year in succession that Hotel Pension Grimus has been named Australia’s Best Ski Hotel – an amazing achievement for us, but also inspiring us in the pursuit of excellence and achieving the highest standards in customer service. This could not be achieved without our loyal staff and a huge thanks must go out to them.
Each year as a finale to the event, the World Ski Awards Academy bestows a very special discretionary global accolade for Outstanding Contribution to Ski Tourism. This award is the highest and most prestigious Ski Oscar and is presented to individuals who have made a monumental contribution to ski tourism - a positive, defining impact, over the course of a lifetime.
In 2017 the World Ski Awards Academy has honoured HANS GRIMUS, with this award. We as a family are very proud of Han’s achievements and being recognized for his life-long work.
In the past, this honour has been bestowed upon the Canadian ski resort legend Charlie Locke, Dr. Josef Burger the CEO of the Bergbahn Kitzbühel, from Switzerland the inspirational Reto Gurtner, Japan’s mountain God Akia Shinya, the great Stein Eriksen and last year France’s ski tourism visionary Pierre Josserand.
Hans Grimus recognised for contribution to
Australian Ski Industry
Mt Buller stalwart and Austrian native Hans Grimus has been recognised for his contribution to the Australian ski industry by the Austrian Ambassador to Australia, Dr Helmut Boeck, in a ceremony at Mt Buller on June 15, 2014. Mr Grimus has spent 54 years on Mt Buller and been instrumental in constructing the first lifts on the mountain as well as building his eponymous hotel, and is an integral part of Mt Buller’s history and cultural fabric.
Arriving on Mt Buller in the early 1960s after coming to Australia, Mr Grimus is a former director of the ‘Orange’ ski lift company, and spent summers building the first lift infrastructure on the mountain, through record snow seasons and without the modern conveniences afforded to those constructing lifts nowadays. A carpenter in his homeland, Mr Grimus began building Hotel Pension Grimus in the early 1970s in the authentic Tyrolean style true to his heritage.
Today, Hotel Pension Grimus is widely regarded as one of Australia’s best alpine hotels, and has been the recipient of a number of awards including six World Travel Awards. The warm, traditional hospitality and personal attention offered by Hans and wife Lotte and their family makes Hotel Pension Grimus one of Mt Buller’s most-loved properties.
Dr Boeck presented Mr Grimus with the award at a ceremony on Saturday evening, where close to 100 family and friends joined the Grimus family in celebrating, including fellow Austrian, winemaker Wolf Blass. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Boeck praised Mr Grimus and his contribution. “If there’s one person in Australia who deserves this award its Hans Grimus. Mt Buller and Hans’ story are intertwined, and it’s something that’s very special. What Hans has done here is actually more than building a wonderful lodge; he’s presented a piece of Austria to Australia.”
Speaking at the evening’s proceedings, Hans thanked his family, friends and work colleagues who have helped him throughout his life, and expressed his love for his adopted home. “I am very humbled and proud, and I thank everyone for being here. I love Mt Buller and I love two countries – Austria and Australia. Australia is home now, but I am very proud I have done something that is good for both countries.”
Media contact:
Gillian Dobson
Marketing & Communications Assistant Manager
Mt Buller Mt Stirling Resort Management
T: 03 5777 6077
M: 0429 776 185
E: gillian.dobson@mtbuller.com.au
Grimus Ski Centre, the home of
Anton Grimus - Sochi 2014 Winter Olympian
Biography
The Grimus Ski Centre and Hotel Pension Grimus is the home of 2014 Sochi Winter Olympian –Anton Grimus. Anton grew up at Mt Buller and has spent much of his life surrounded by snow.
Like many Ski Cross racers his background is in Alpine racing. He and his older brother Hannes pushed each other, and as members of the Mt Buller Race Club competed at many international competitions including Junior World Championships.
In 2002, he and his brother moved to the city to attend Melbourne Grammar School. Anton took up a totally different sport and was a good rower before needing to decide between the two very different sports. Skiing won out partly because Ski Cross was emerging as an exciting alternative to traditional racing.
But while being born into a family synonymous with a snow resort meant that skiing was an almost certain outcome, achieving the distinction of national selection had to be earned. Anton was a member of the Australian National Alpine Ski Team, but made the switch to Ski Cross in 2010 with immediate success, qualifying second for the final in his first World Cup start.
While juggling university studies and World Cup racing, Anton has continued to improve each season, with the highlight of his career coming in December 2012, where he made the first World Cup podium of his career, a bronze medal performance in Nakiska, Canada. The 2012/13 season was an outstanding breakthrough for him. He finished the season ranked 12th due to bronze at the Nakiska World Cup in December 2012, a seventh at the 2013 World Championships and eighth at the Sochi Test Event/World Cup.
Heading into the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, Anton was full of confidence to deliver a leading performance in his Olympic debut.
Personal Best Ski Cross Results:
World Championships - 7th, Voss, NOR, 2013
World Cup - 3rd, Nakiska, CAN, 2012
Education
Primary - Merrijig Primary School (Merrijig, VIC)
Secondary - Melbourne Grammar School (South Yarra, VIC)
Tertiary – University of Melbourne. Bachelor of Commerce (completed 2012).
Master of Engineering (2nd year – 2014)
Childhood Ambition: Pilot
Favourite Food: Sushi, coffee
Favourite Music: John Butler, Beautiful Girls and City & Colour
Participation in other sports: Alpine skiing & rowing
When not training/competing he: Studies, plays guitar, listens to music & drinks coffee.
Testimonials
“I would just like to say thank you - your customers do appreciate professional and caring service. Your staff need to be congratulated..” A.Voight