PO N S

Slope
Veteran

Larry Paul has devoted nearly
three decades to helping skiers
have a good, safe time.

STEVE STEIN

PECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

arry Paul's career on the
ski slopes is going every-
where but downhill.
At age 69, the ener-
getic West Bloomfield
resident is in his 27th
year as a member of
the National Ski
Patrol at Alpine Valley
Ski Resort in Waterford.
He's also an avid skier
who travels to the
Western United States
for a ski vacation each
winter.
While Paul might not
be the oldest of the esti-
mated 25,000 Ski Patrol
members in the United
States and Europe or
even the elder statesman
among the approximate-
ly 100 who watch the
slopes at Alpine Valley,
it would be difficult to
find one who is more
respected.
A fighter pilot during
World War II who flew
67 missions in Europe,
Paul has been skiing
since the late 1940s.
Many of his first ski
adventures took place in
Southfield at the hill on

Larry Paul: On patrol.

the former driving range
and golf course where
Congregation Shaarey
Zedek is now located.
"I'm at an age where
you worry about your
health, so I'm doing
something about it
instead of sitting in front
of the idiot box."
"I can't let myself slow
down," said Paul, a
native Detroiter and
1941 Central High
School graduate who
works out three days a
week at the Jewish
Community Center in
West Bloomfield, sails
and rides bikes.

This winter, Paul is
patrolling at Alpine
Valley for five hours
every Wednesday and
again for nine hours
every other Sunday.
He'll also fill in for some-
one at a moment's notice.
When he isn't skiing,
sailing, riding or doing
aerobics, Paul is a full-
time furniture refinish-
er. He's been doing that
work for 35 years, follow-
ing a short career as a
retail furniture sales-
man.
Paul has earned sever-
al honors for his Ski
Patrol activities, includ-

ing the highest achiev-
able award. In 1978, he
received the Badge of
Appointment for his abil-
ity, • leadership and
unselfish service. He's a
well-known instructor of
Ski Patrol candidates in
CPR, first aid, hill skiing
and toboggan handling.
After completing 20
years of Ski Patrol ser-
vice at Alpine Valley,
Paul was given a lifetime
membership to the resort
for himself and his wife
by the resort manage-
ment.
Besides policing ski
areas, a Ski Patrol mem-