LOCALadk Magazine

Winter 2020 LOCALadk Magazine 37 LOCALadk Olympic skier John Robert "Louie" Ehrensbeck traveled throughout the world rubbing elbows with the wealthy and well-known, but returned home to make a life in Old Forge because to him the Adirondacks were his only real home. "The town always supported me in all of my competitions," he said. "I wanted to come back and pay back to the commu- nity in one way or another. The Olympics were a goal of mine; after I conquered that I wanted to come home. I wanted to come back to Old Forge and just be me." Ehrensbeck took up skiing when he was young, and set a goal to compete in the Olympics. He remembers being in the fifth grade and drawing a ladder of goals. He listed them out on the steps of the ladder. "Make the junior team, the high school team, the sectionals, the nationals, and finally the Olympics." He worked hard, and credits his high school coach for consistent motivation and guidance. Participating in the 1968 Olympics was a truly memorable experience, he said. He competed in the biathlon. "It is something that can't be taken away. To see the dif- ferent parts of the world and to build relationships with the other athletes was incredible." After his work on the Olympic team concluded, Ehrensbeck spent a year in Lake George until he was offered a coaching position back at the local high school. He returned to Old Forge and he's been there ever since. Ehrensbeck leveraged his experience and expertise to help develop the ski programs at Town of Webb Union Free School and at McCauley Mountain. There, he took over the program from his own coach, the legendar y Joe Dunn. His philosophy when working with the youth was to help them achieve the goals they had set for themselves, whatev- er those goals were. He encouraged them to have fun while learning from their mistakes. "It's important to be yourself," Ehrensbeck said. "Don't pressure yourself. Don't get frustrated. Whether you win or lose, there is always another day. Don't worr y about it." The best part about working with the youth, he said, was seeing the satisfaction that came when they finally reached those goals. "Any time I saw the proud smiles on their faces made it worth it," he said. " We worked hard for those goals and it was exciting." Ehrensbeck coached four separate sports programs, but skiing was his specialty and passion. He knows first-hand: Old Forge breeds skiers, and the density of support for those ski- ers for a town that size is remarkable. "This town is a ski town," he said. " We've had great coach- es that have stayed. The school would sponsor the students for weekend trips. The parents would come and help. They would do anything we needed to help. The community comes together. There's pride here." For Ehrensbeck, it was not only about community, but fam- ily too. All five of his daughters— Katie, Kelli, Kerrin, Kayla, and Kristin— competed and excelled at skiing. Ehrensbeck has operated his shop, Louie's Olympic Touch, for 41 years and is still going strong. He offers tuning, weld- ing, waxing, sharpening, and general repairs for skis and snowboards. He's been tuning between 1,000 and 1,500 skis a year and sometimes even more. When Ehrensbeck traveled the state presenting to school groups, his message was one of inspiration. He wanted the youth to recognize their potential and not feel limited by their humble beginnings. "I came from a ver y small town," he said. "You can come from a small town and still do big things. Don't ever think that you can't do it. You can do it. Put your mind to it. Do not ever let anyone tell you that you can't. Think positive, have confidence, and don't be cocky." "Louie" is how generations of skiers have fondly referred to Ehrensbeck, but his given name is John. The nickname came about when he was five years old, dressed as the Lone Ranger playing in the streets of Old Forge. As he played, he often said to passersby, "Stick 'em up, Louie!" This led to the town doctor calling him Louie, and then ever yone else ad- opted it as well. Ehrensbeck thought the old nickname would fade when he joined the US Ski Team, but his hometown newspaper published an article referring to him as Louie, and the name stuck. "It's stuck for more than 70 years now," he said with a laugh. Ehrensbeck has made a point of enjoying what the Adiron- dacks can offer. Golf and kayaking are among his favorite hobbies. It's been important to Ehrensbeck to stay busy, but sometimes when he has free time, he likes to go to the top of McCauley Mountain, look at the view and reflect. "I just love being here," he said. "It's a beautiful place to live." Louie Ehrensbeck By Megan Plete Postol

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