Peter Graves (Announcer)
Encyclopedia
Peter Graves is a noted television
sportscaster
and public address
announcer
specializing in Olympic
, lifestyle and action sports. He is also the cross-country ski
coach
for Harvard University
.
in Durango, Colorado
, graduating in 1975 with a degree in physical education
. He began his broadcast career as news director of KIUP Radio in Durango and a Colorado reporter for KOAT-TV
in Albuquerque. He worked from 1976-1981 as marketing director for a Norwegian
cross-country ski importer, NorTur, Inc. in Minneapolis.
His career as a stadium sports announcer began at international cross-country ski races at Telemark Resort in northern Wisconsin
in 1977. He went on to became synonymous as the voice of Nordic skiing at U.S. World Cup events and the international American Birkebeiner
cross-country ski race from 1977 to 1985.
Graves also gained notoriety as the stadium announcer for the Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, Wisconsin
, which was televised by ABC
's Wide World of Sports.
in Lake Placid
. He began as one of ESPN
's early skiing commentators in 1981 covering international ski events with Jim Simpson
. He worked as an expert commentator for ESPN's SportsCenter
for the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Winter Games.
During the 1990s, he was a regular expert commentator and host for coverage of domestic and international mountain bike
competition on ESPN, OLN, TSN
(Canada
), and EuroSport
(Europe
). He is a former VeloNews 'Announcer of the Year' award winner.
He was the primary television announcer for the U.S. Ski Team from 1986 to 1990.
in 1988. He was one of the announcers for the first UCI World Mountain Championships in 1991 in Durango, Colorado. He has been the stadium announcer for nearly every World Mountain Bike Championship since 1991.
, 1984
and 1988
Olympic Winter Games, he worked as a stadium announcer and producer. He worked as the stadium announcer for the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney
for mountain biking. At the 2002 Olympics
in Salt Lake City, he was an associate producer in the SLOC sport production department. He also served as the stadium announcer for the opening and closing ceremonies for both the Olympics and Paralympics in Salt Lake City, as well as stadium announcer for cross-country skiing and ski jumping
. He was the English-language announcer for all cycling events at the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens
.
Alpine Skiing World Cup
at Beaver Creek, Colorado
and the American Ski Classic at Vail, Colorado
. He has been the finish line announcer for Grandma's Marathon
in Duluth, Minnesota
since 1978 and is a member of their Hall of Fame.
Peter "Gravy Train" Graves recently proposed to the 2007 NCAA Champion Dartmouth ski team coach Cami Thompson at the 2009 Dartmouth Carnival. She said yes.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
and public address
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
announcer
Announcer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
specializing in Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, lifestyle and action sports. He is also the cross-country ski
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
for Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Early career
Graves was a collegiate skier at Fort Lewis CollegeFort Lewis College
Fort Lewis College is a public liberal arts college in Durango, Colorado.-History:Military FortThe original site of Fort Lewis College began southwest of its present location back in 1880. Set up originally as a Military Fort for the 22nd Regimental Infantry which occupied the land from...
in Durango, Colorado
Durango, Colorado
The City of Durango is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau said that the city population was 16,887 in 2010 census.-History:...
, graduating in 1975 with a degree in physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
. He began his broadcast career as news director of KIUP Radio in Durango and a Colorado reporter for KOAT-TV
KOAT-TV
KOAT-TV, channel 7, is an ABC network affiliated television station serving Albuquerque, New Mexico. Its transmitter is located on Sandia Crest, northeast of Albuquerque. Syndicated programming on KOAT includes: Entertainment Tonight, Ellen, The Dr...
in Albuquerque. He worked from 1976-1981 as marketing director for a Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
cross-country ski importer, NorTur, Inc. in Minneapolis.
His career as a stadium sports announcer began at international cross-country ski races at Telemark Resort in northern Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
in 1977. He went on to became synonymous as the voice of Nordic skiing at U.S. World Cup events and the international American Birkebeiner
American Birkebeiner
The American Birkebeiner is the largest, and one of the longest cross country ski races in North America. The two premier events are the classic and the freestyle race from Cable to Hayward, Wisconsin. The 2011 race will be held on February 26...
cross-country ski race from 1977 to 1985.
Graves also gained notoriety as the stadium announcer for the Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, Wisconsin
Hayward, Wisconsin
Hayward is a city in Sawyer County, Wisconsin, United States, next to the Namekagon River. The population was 2,129 at the 2000 census. The city is surrounded by the Town of Hayward.-Transportation:U.S...
, which was televised by ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's Wide World of Sports.
Television
In 1980 he was the expert commentator with ABC's Bill Fleming for cross-country skiing and biathlon at the Winter Olympic Games1980 Winter Olympics
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
in Lake Placid
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
. He began as one of ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's early skiing commentators in 1981 covering international ski events with Jim Simpson
Jim Simpson (sportscaster)
Jim Simpson is a retired American sportscaster, known for his smooth delivery as a play-by-play man and his versatility in covering many different sports. In 1997, he won the Sports Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2000 he was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters...
. He worked as an expert commentator for ESPN's SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
for the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Winter Games.
During the 1990s, he was a regular expert commentator and host for coverage of domestic and international mountain bike
Mountain bike
A mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...
competition on ESPN, OLN, TSN
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
(Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
), and EuroSport
Eurosport
Eurosport is a pan-European television sport network operated by French broadcaster TF1 Group. The network of channels are available in 59 countries, in 20 different languages providing viewers with European and international sporting events...
(Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
). He is a former VeloNews 'Announcer of the Year' award winner.
He was the primary television announcer for the U.S. Ski Team from 1986 to 1990.
Mountain Biking
Graves was one of the early stadium announcers for mountain biking beginning with the New England Mountain Bike Championships at Mount Snow, VermontMount Snow
Mount Snow is a mountain and ski area in southern Vermont located in the Green Mountains. It is Vermont's closest big mountain to many Northeast metropolitan areas. It was cohost of the first Extreme Games in 1995 and host of the Winter X-Games in 2000 and 2001...
in 1988. He was one of the announcers for the first UCI World Mountain Championships in 1991 in Durango, Colorado. He has been the stadium announcer for nearly every World Mountain Bike Championship since 1991.
Olympics
In addition to working with ABC Sports and ESPN for the 19801980 Winter Olympics
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
, 1984
1984 Winter Olympics
The 1984 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIV Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from 8–19 February 1984 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Other candidate cities were Sapporo, Japan; and Gothenburg, Sweden...
and 1988
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
Olympic Winter Games, he worked as a stadium announcer and producer. He worked as the stadium announcer for the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
for mountain biking. At the 2002 Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City, he was an associate producer in the SLOC sport production department. He also served as the stadium announcer for the opening and closing ceremonies for both the Olympics and Paralympics in Salt Lake City, as well as stadium announcer for cross-country skiing and ski jumping
Ski jumping
Ski jumping is a sport in which skiers go down a take-off ramp, jump and attempt to land as far as possible down the hill below. In addition to the length of the jump, judges give points for style. The skis used for ski jumping are wide and long...
. He was the English-language announcer for all cycling events at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
.
Recent career
Graves continues as an active stadium announcer at international mountain bike events and domestic World Cup ski events including the FISFIS
FIS may refer to:In English:* Faculty of Information Studies, now the University of Toronto Faculty of Information* Fairy Investigation Society* Far-Infrared Surveyor, an instrument on the AKARI space telescope* Federal Inspection Station of the U.S...
Alpine Skiing World Cup
Alpine skiing World Cup
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup is the top international circuit of alpine skiing competitions, launched in 1966 by a group of ski racing friends and experts which included French journalist Serge Lang and the alpine ski team directors from France and the USA...
at Beaver Creek, Colorado
Beaver Creek, Colorado
Beaver Creek is an unincorporated community in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. Beaver Creek is located immediately south of the town of Avon and encompasses the Beaver Creek Resort and adjacent business, lodging, and residential areas. The U.S...
and the American Ski Classic at Vail, Colorado
Vail, Colorado
The Town of Vail is a Home Rule Municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population of the town was 4,589 in 2005. The town was established and built as the base village to Vail Ski Resort, with which it was originally conceived...
. He has been the finish line announcer for Grandma's Marathon
Grandma's Marathon
Grandma's Marathon is an annual road race held each June in Duluth, Minnesota, in the United States. The course runs point-to-point from the town of Two Harbors on Scenic Route 61 and continues along Lake Superior into the city of Duluth...
in Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
since 1978 and is a member of their Hall of Fame.
Peter "Gravy Train" Graves recently proposed to the 2007 NCAA Champion Dartmouth ski team coach Cami Thompson at the 2009 Dartmouth Carnival. She said yes.