Background
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Caldwell grew up in Somerset, Pennsylvania and moved to Putney, Vermont with his parents in 1941.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Caldwell grew up in Somerset, Pennsylvania and moved to Putney, Vermont with his parents in 1941.
He graduated from Dartmouth College In 1950.
He wrote a series of books that helped popularize and develop understanding of recreational cross-country skiing in the United States. Consequently, Caldwell has been called the "father" and "guru" of Nordic skiing in North America. According to his reminiscences, Caldwell"s early skiing career began while he was at Dartmouth College when he had an opportunity to participate in the World Nordic Championships in Nordic Combined skiing (both cross-country and ski-jumping).
He entered the United States. Navy through Dartmouth Reserve Officers Training Corps and was detailed to continue his skiing career.
Having placed well in Olympic tryouts, he qualified for the 1952 Olympic Nordic Combined Team. Caldwell competed in the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, finishing 22nd in the nordic combined event and 73rd in the 18 km cross-country skiing event.
Caldwell coached the United States. cross-country team at the Winter Olympics in 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, and 1984. He also coached at the Putney School from the mid-1950s until his 1989 retirement.
Caldwell"s book, The Cross-Country Ski Book, was published in eight editions from 1964 to 1987 and with a half-million copies became one of the most widely distributed skiing books, published in the United States.
Caldwell"s progeny continued the tradition of cross-country skiing. He was inducted into the United States. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 1983.