Tyler Gates Gooding
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Debbie Gooding
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Steamboat Today - June 1, 2004
Steamboat resident Gooding dies at 54
Tyler Gates Gooding inherited more than a surname steeped in Routt County history; he also shared his relatives’ passion for the mountains of Northwest Colorado and its world-class skiing traditions.
“He was a skier through and through,” said Debbie Gooding, Tyler’s ex-wife. “He just loved everything about skiing.”
Gooding, a former four-way skiing standout and 30-year ski instructor, passed away unexpectedly Monday, less than two weeks after undergoing knee replacement surgery. He was 54.
Born to influential, community-minded parents Gates and Doris Harwig Gooding on Dec. 12, 1949, Gooding grew up on skis and spent time exploring the Mount Zirkel Wilderness with his grandfather, Addison M. Gooding, a well-known Routt County lawyer, district judge and community leader.
Gooding developed into a talented four-way skiing competitor in the disciplines of giant slalom, slalom, ski jumping and cross country skiing. He was a top junior racer in high school and went on to compete at Western State College.
After graduation, he purchased and operated the Steinkeller restaurant on Lincoln Avenue with his brother, Addison. They sold the restaurant in the early 1970s.
An avid climber and mountaineer, Gooding traveled the world for a year, even summitting a Himalayan peak before returning to Steamboat and becoming a ski instructor at the Steamboat Ski Area in 1974. In 1984, he was named the supervisor of instructors for private and group lessons.
“He was one of the top instructors at the ski school, a very sought-after instructor,” said Rick DeVos, who taught at the school with Gooding.
Gooding also worked as a carpenter before becoming a Realtor and opening his own firm, Gooding and Associates, in the early 1990s. He continued to teach skiing at the ski resort, and this spring he was given a 30-year service award.
“He’s probably someone that everyone looked up to in terms of his technical and historical knowledge of skiing,” said Jim Schneider, vice president of skier services at Steamboat Ski Area. “He’s an icon up here.”
Gooding, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, also had a long history of involvement with the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. He was the club’s Nordic coach for a couple of years and a dedicated volunteer during Nordic combined World Cup events.
“He’s always had a strong relationship with the club,” said Roy Powell, former SSWSC executive director. “He was always a hearty volunteer and a willing participant for whatever task could be asked of him. Tyler was one of those people you could always depend on.”
Gooding passed on his love of and talent in skiing to his two sons, Gates and Addison Marsh Gooding. He was a former president of the Steamboat Springs Board of Realtors, a board member for the Tread of Pioneers Museum, a board member for Nordic combined World Cup events, a member of the Kiwanis club and a lifelong member of the Winter Sports Club.
Family and friends will remember him for his good humor, outgoing personality and easily recognizable laugh.
Friends and acquaintances are invited to attend a memorial gathering for Gooding from noon to 2 p.m. Friday at Olympian Hall. All are welcome to share memories and stories. For more information, call the Yampa Valley Funeral Home at 879-1494.
