Through the years and before Werner's tenure as Alpine Director of the Loon Race Team, Werner's dedication touched many lives in the areas of teaching the sport of skiing, instilling the fundamentals, as well as mentoring young people. A coach once said, "In one year of coaching alongside Werner, I learned more about how to reach and teach a child to ski than any number of books and clinics could do in a lifetime."

It may surprise many that Werner was very much a part of the birth of freestyle. In the early 1970's, the "Pioneers of Freestyle" were among his staff when he was at the helm at the Waterville Valley Ski School. Although the spotlight did not shine on the role he played in the launch of freestyle, true to Werner's integrity, "doing it" was the purpose, reward, and what always mattered. Werner inspired several generations of skiers to find the strength within to achieve goals they never thought possible.

Carla Zwahlen, Werner's wife, has read that humility, dependability, integrity and courage describe a true mountaineer. These characteristics became even more evident in Werner when cancer tested his courage, strength and will to survive.

In January 2003, Werner received news that his cancer was incurable and he entered a palliative care program. During his last months as Alpine Director, he never missed a day on the hill. All the layers of his ski clothing belied the physical ravages of cancer's aggressive assault.

Courage to Werner meant that quitting was not an option. Physically compromised, faith in God underpinned his strength. He refused to do anything less than what he asked the other team members of his team to do. All of this, coupled with his dedication to the sport of skiing and mentoring young people, inspired the mission of the Werner Zwahlen Ski Education Foundation, now in its second decade of awarding scholarships to exceptional young people.