Franz Weber likes to ski fast. Real fast. He is a six time consecutive World Speed Skiing Champion and former world speed record holder. How fast did he ski? Franz flew down the slopes at a mind boggling 140 miles per hour. He dominated the sport of speed skiing in the early eighties winning over 80% of the races he entered. Franz retired from active competition in 1985 as the reigning World Speed Skiing Champion and world record holder.
Weber is one of the “Magnificent 7” inductees to the Reno Tahoe Winter Games Coalition International Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, November 18 at Reno’s Atlantis Casino Resort Spa.
In 1992, Franz came out of retirement and competed in the downhill in the Winter Olympics at Albertville, France. At those games, he set his personal speed record. Feeling as though he had achieved his speed skiing goals, Franz retired permanently from the sport following the Olympics.
A native of Innsbruck, Austria, Franz and his wife Janett now make their home in the Reno-Tahoe area. The father of three says, “My most satisfying accomplishment is my family.” Active in the community, he has produced events that have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities such as the Washoe County Senior Services Meals on Wheels and The Children’s Cabinet, Inc.
In 1984 Franz founded Franz Weber, Inc. His company focuses on sports management, event production and client hospitality, primarily developing and hosting corporate outings. The company has access to many celebrities, world champions, Olympians and “athlete heroes,” which team up to host guests in an experience of a lifetime in sports such as skiing, golfing, cycling, hiking and many other outdoor activities.
Franz Weber, Inc. also produces various “Franz & Friends” fantasy adventures that include celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dustin Hoffman, Buzz Aldrin and Wolfgang Puck among others. The consulting division of his company has international ski area and resort development clients and was instrumental in the creation and development of the Franz Klammer Lodge located in Telluride, Colorado, as well as the Club Regent at The Canyons in Park City, Utah. During the 90’s, Franz Weber consulted on sports, tourism and business development for the government of Kazakhstan. Franz’s well-developed business sense and knowledge of five languages, combined with his entrepreneurial spirit and extensive worldwide contacts, have enabled him to play a vital role in corporate funding and investing. Franz and his wife like to support companies that offer unique products and services.
Projects currently in progress include the acquisition of various Lake Tahoe resorts and Franz’s vision of interconnecting them into one world-class destination resort. Franz Weber is also developing several high-end real estate ventures including ski-in, ski-out properties in Squaw Valley and Homewood at Lake Tahoe, California.
On the prospect of the Winter Olympics returning to the region, Franz has this to say, “Although I was born and raised in Innsbruck, Austria, host to the 1964 and 1976 Olympics, I am thrilled at the possibility of the 2022 Olympics returning to the Reno-Lake Tahoe area – my “adopted home. I believe the Reno-Tahoe area is equal to Innsbruck, if not more suitable, to host a successful Winter Olympics.”
