Back on Skis

While I spent much of my childhood skiing with my family, it is a sport I have not made space for in more than twenty years. As I stepped into my new role at Proctor, I knew it was time to reintroduce something I once loved deeply back into my life.

It truly took the Proctor village to get me on the hill.

Annie made sure that I bought a pass to Ragged Mountain last spring, knowing that I would need an outlet outdoors in the winter. Cooper sent me to Skinners to get ski boots that would fit perfectly. Skinners did not disappoint, and while I was there, they told me how much they love working with Proctor students. Drew lent me some poles. Justin tracked down skis and fitted the bindings perfectly to my boots. Lynne raided Pippa’s closet and emerged with a Proctor ski jacket. Finally, on a snowy Wednesday afternoon, Annie and I headed over to Ragged.

I expected we would run into a few Proctor folks. What I didn’t expect, however, was how alive with Hornets Ragged would be. We pulled in just behind Hiapo and one of the Developmental Skiing and Snowboarding vans, sat together putting on our boots, and off we went. Skiing really is like riding a bike. It came right back to me, though my legs were definitely feeling the burn faster than they did twenty years ago. Annie let out a joyful “yahoo” as we descended our first trail, and it felt like coming home.

Almost immediately, we ran into dozens of members of the Proctor community, making the mountain feel like an extension of campus. The developmental skiers and riders were experiencing their own joyful afternoon, challenging themselves, ducking into the woods, and then sharing their excitement with us at the top of the mountain. Others had paused in the lodge, hands wrapped around mugs of tea, sharing fries and taking a mindful break to warm up and refuel before heading back out. We crossed paths with the developmental skiing and snowboarding coaches, skiing together, their shouts of joy echoing as they headed downhill.

Then I spotted our FIS skiers training downhill. These athletes have access to the Proctor Ski Area -- a world-class, FIS homologated facility within walking distance of campus -- and here they were, adding Ragged's terrain to their training program. The range of training options available is a real gift for our athletes. Annie and I slipped to the side of the trail and watched quietly. The precision, speed, and commitment of this group were extraordinary. The coaches matched that commitment, critiquing, cheering, and supporting every run. Annie looked at me and said, “Can you even believe that this is our school?”

The afternoon at Ragged was Proctor in motion, doing all the Proctor things at once: challenge, support, joy, and play all woven together in a way that felt effortless and deeply intentional.

Standing there on the side of the trail, watching it all unfold, I felt immense gratitude. Not just for getting back on skis, but for being part of a community that shows up fully for each other, for growth, and for the sheer joy of being outside together.

Read More from Head of School Amy Smucker