RIP Ex Pro Ski Racer Paul Carson

SIN is saddend to hear of the passing of former pro ski racer Paul Carson. 

Paul started his career as a member of the Canadian National Ski Team at age 17 and was the Canadian National Slalom Champion before turning pro at age 21 and racing on the World Pro Skiing circuit for another 8 years. At the height of his pro career he was ranked 3rd in the world. After retiring he started the Professional Ski Racer Association and ran the Pro Ski International Tour with the help of and support of fellow pro racers.

Carson joined the Canadian Ski Team when he was 17. He climbed the racing ladder, competing in World Cups, claiming the title of Canadian National Slalom Champion in 1973 and then turned pro at a race in Australia before his 21st birthday.  His good friend Doug Woodcock turned pro a year before him, as he was a year older.“I followed him, and we traveled the world together for eight years,” he said.

From 1973 until 1981, Carson competed on the World Pro Skiing circuit, traveling internationally, ranking as high as third in the world, and planting the roots for his life to come. He loved the pro format found on the WPS Tour. “Dual format is awesome because it’s man against man … first one to cross the finish line.”

Paul met his wife Kathy, a professional tennis player at the time and now President of Carson International while he was still ski racing. Together they helped build the sport of beach volleyball from humble beginnings to Olympic status creating and running the $750,000 Cuervo Gold Crown Series. During that time Paul worked in the financial business (13 years as Senior VP Sales first with Dean Witter and later with UBS Paine Webber before starting his own Hedge Fund. When Carson International started the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge, Paul left the financial business to focus full time on CII events and television business.

In a statement the company said:

Paul Carson, CEO of Carson International, Inc., passed away at his home in Ketchum, Idaho in the sunshine, surrounded by the mountains he loved. His positive energy was a constant, radiant, beam of light in our lives, and we know that he will always be with us.

As a businessman, Paul took tremendous pride in the goals he achieved and the business we created. Paul loved his work. Creating, building and executing great events was our dream. His joy was to make others happy through the events and television production of Carson International, Inc. He loved working with our beloved Carson team, our partners, all the competitors and athletes, and of course the dogs. Beyond his work, he never stopped his passion for skiing, mountain biking, golfing, and living life to the fullest every day.

He was a force in so many people’s lives, here and around the world and we are humbled by the outpouring of love and the wonderful stories people have shared about Paul and how he has impacted so many lives.

We will love and honor Paul always, and continue his legacy of building and creating happiness and joy through the business that he loved so much!

Carson International Inc. was started in 1981  to create a company that builds innovative and world-class events to provide athletes and sponsors with a stage to share their sport and brands with the world on the highest level. Inspired by their athletic background and travels around the world at different sporting venues, the Carsons have created unique projects with their clients that speak to brand loyalty and have received incredible media attention. The Carson Events team is built on hard work and a love of what they do and they are experts in every aspect of the business.

Past Events:

• Cuervo Ultimate Tour
• The Cuervo Gold Grown Pro Beach Volleyball Series
• Pro Ski International Ski Racing Tour – Europe & USA
• Smirnoff “Home is where you find it” events
• Gordons “Pour the Boar” Women’s Pool Series
• Jose Cuervo Board 2 Board Snowboarding and Wakeboard Team Competition
• Cuervo Beach City Tour Pro Beach Volleyball in 10 US city venues with Olympic/Pro Beach Volleyball Stars
• Snowboarding in the Caribbean, Cuervo Island. Carson created “snow” and built a snowboard race course for a 4-hour media and PR promotion using US Olympic Athletes.
• Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge
• 1998 – present. Man’s best friend in canine Olympic style competition at venues across the country. Televised consecutively for 20 years.
  Purina Dog Chow Game Offs CD Rom. Competitions for kids at venues across the country with first CD Roms and PPPIDC competitors.