František (Frank) Příhoda (1921–2022)

“Adventures. Don’t be afraid to take risky situations, go through them and try and do it for yourself. If you sit on your back and don’t do these things you will short change yourself and miss out on life experiences.” – Frank Prihoda

Frank Příhoda’s story begins with his daring escape from communist Czechoslovakia in 1949. Frank, along with his older sister, Olympic skier Alexandra “Saša” Nekvapilová (1919–2014), his brother-in-law Karel Nekvapil, and their friend Tony Šponar, crossed a frozen lake into Austria, where they installed and operated the first-ever ski tow at Saint Christoph am Arlberg. This spirit of adventure and resilience defined his life.

Arriving in Australia in 1950, Frank quickly made his mark. Not only did he contribute to the early skiing community at Mount Buller, but he also represented Australia in the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. His achievements hastened his naturalization as a true-blue Aussie and cemented his place in Australia's sporting history.

In 1974, Frank made Thredbo his home, where he lived for 43 of his 67 years in Australia. He and his sister Sasha played pivotal roles in the community, with Frank running a beloved souvenir shop for 27 years. His contributions to Thredbo were celebrated during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games when he carried the torch through the village.

Having passed away in 2022 at the age of 101, Frank Prihoda was Australia's oldest living Olympian at the time. There are many enduring landmarks that honour Thredbo’s Czech legends, such as Sponar’s T-Bar, Sasha’s Schuss, and Karel’s T-Bar. But Frank was in raptures when ‘The Tor’s’ run (next door to sister Sasha’s, ‘Sasha’s Schuss) was re-named ‘Frank’s Face’ at Thredbo in 2020, as Frank celebrated his 99th birthday.

The Project:

As part of the Faces of Thredbo Public Art Project, a life-size sculpture of Frank Prihoda, designed by Brad Spalding and cast by Phillip Doggett-Williams, will be installed in Thredbo. This sculpture will serve as a lasting tribute to Frank’s adventurous spirit and his significant contributions to the community.

How You Can Help:

We invite you to contribute to the production and installation costs of Frank Prihoda’s sculpture. Your donations will help celebrate the legacy of this extraordinary individual and ensure his story continues to inspire future generations. All donations are tax-deductible.

To raise awareness, travelling maquettes of Frank’s sculpture will be on display.

Support the project and celebrate Frank's legacy.

- Donate to Public Art
- Purchase a Memorial Plaque
- Purchase a Bench Seat

For more information, visit the websites of One Thredbo.

Thank you for your support!