Timothy Henry “Tim” Brennwald, a former World Cup ski technician and longtime leader in the ski and mountain resort industry, died suddenly on August 13, 2026. He was 62.
Brennwald’s career touched many corners of the sport, from the World Cup circuit and ski equipment industry to resort operations and leadership. At the time of his death, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of POWDR, where he had spent 17 years helping guide the company and advocate for the outdoor industry.
For those who knew him through ski racing, however, Brennwald’s connection to the sport stretched back much further.
From Ski Racer to the World Cup
Born December 23, 1963, in Zurich, Switzerland, Brennwald later moved with his family to the United States. He attended Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, Vermont, before continuing his education and ski racing career at the University of Maine at Farmington.
At UMF, Brennwald raced under legendary coach Tom Reynolds while studying in the university’s Ski Industries Program. He graduated in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in business, building a foundation in the management and operational side of the ski industry that would shape the decades ahead.
His next stop took him directly to the highest level of ski racing.
Following graduation, Brennwald became an international technician for Marker Ski Bindings. For five years, he traveled the World Cup circuit, supporting athletes across both speed and technical disciplines throughout Europe.
He eventually went on to lead Marker’s Race Program and worldwide product management, establishing himself as a respected figure within the equipment side of the sport.
A Career Built in the Mountains
Brennwald’s professional career would eventually expand beyond ski racing into real estate and mountain resort operations, but the mountains remained at the center of his life.
He joined POWDR and spent 17 years with the company, ultimately serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Those who worked alongside Brennwald knew a leader who rarely needed to be the loudest person in the room. He was described as calm, humble and steady, with an ability to bring humor and sarcasm into even the most challenging situations.
He also had a reputation for being remarkably good at nearly everything he attempted.
Friends joked about the Swiss side of Brennwald that embraced procedures and processes, but that attention to detail became one of the qualities that served him throughout a career spanning ski racing, product development and resort operations.
Behind it all was a quiet confidence and character that earned the respect and friendship of people throughout the ski industry.
A Life Connected by Ski Racing
Ski racing also brought Brennwald something far more important than a career.
He met his future wife, three-time Olympian Heidi Voelker, while the two were on the World Cup circuit.
Their relationship would span 37 years, built around a shared love of the mountains, common interests and a sense of humor that remained an important part of their life together.
Brennwald and Voelker raised two sons, Lucas and Stefan, who were the center of his world.
Whether he was watching their lacrosse games and ski races, chasing them down the mountain or competing against them on the golf course, Brennwald treasured the time he spent with his sons. In the final year of his life, he took particular pride in helping Lucas and Stefan obtain Swiss citizenship, connecting another generation of the Brennwald family to his Swiss roots.
For all that he accomplished professionally, his family remained his greatest source of pride.
Remembering Tim Brennwald
Brennwald is survived by his wife, Heidi; sons, Lucas and Stefan; parents, Heinz and Marion (Tauber) Brennwald; brother and sister-in-law, Daniel Brennwald and Lindsey Whitaker; aunt and uncle, Hank and Sally Tauber; cousins Kristina and David Tauber; and many nieces and nephews.
He also leaves behind a wide circle of friends and colleagues across the ski world.
Brennwald will be remembered for a career that connected several generations and different sides of the sport, from athletes and technicians on the World Cup to equipment companies and mountain resorts. More than his professional accomplishments, however, those closest to him remember the way he carried himself: with humility, humor, loyalty and a quiet strength.
As his family wrote in announcing his passing:
“Sail on, Noodle!”
A celebration of Tim Brennwald’s life will be held at the Cliff Lodge at Snowbird Ski Resort on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 3 p.m. MT.
In lieu of flowers, his family shared a request that feels particularly fitting for a life spent in the mountains: pray for snow and strong winds in the summer.
Donations in Brennwald’s memory may also be made to Park City Ski & Snowboard.
About the Author: SR Staff Report
