As the sun settled into a spectacular winter sunset west of the Proctor Ski Area last Saturday evening, it marked the end of two intense days of racing that showcased not just athletic excellence but the remarkable power of community in action. The FIS and USSA Open Slalom events on January 3rd and 4th brought approximately 450 athletes to our slopes, transforming the ski area into a hub of activity. For decades, this venue has been a catalyst for community building around shared values of the importance of outdoor activity and passion for snow sports. Just as public spaces like libraries and parks serve as the infrastructure for civic life, Proctor’s "mighty little hill" provides the essential infrastructure for meaningful connection through sport and competition.
Earlier that morning, arriving at the ski area, I was struck by the convergence of energy. The parking lot overflowed with vehicles, extending in a line of parallel-parked cars along the road to Lawrence Street. The logistical feat of hosting that many skiers, coaches, volunteers, and spectators truly exemplifies the adage, "It takes a village.” Alpine Director Jason "Moot" Nelson and his coaching staff masterfully balanced supporting Proctor athletes while hosting teams from across the region and ensuring course safety, working alongside the Race Administrator Scott Wilkinson, other officials, and an army of volunteers. Parents volunteered in multiple areas – staffing the snack bar, cheering at the finish line, and hosting athletes until the dorms reopened.
Perhaps most striking were the countless yet small acts of dedication that I witnessed during just a few hours at the ski area, and that we notice from the Village of Andover many nights when we see the lights of the snowcat and hear the hum of the snow guns. Like faculty members who make time for one-on-one guidance beyond scheduled extra help hours or members of our housekeeping staff who transform dorm spaces during breaks with meticulous cleaning and thoughtful organization, the dedication of the Ski Area Team under Steele Henderson's leadership and all of the U16, FIS Women, and FIS Men coaches illustrates how individual and team commitment elevates our entire community. The ski area staff’s tireless work to create one of the finest snow surfaces in the East and recent upgrades and investment in snowmaking equipment enabled earlier top-to-bottom coverage than last year, ensuring our facility remains a beacon for snow sports enthusiasts throughout New Hampshire, the region, and beyond.
Even as the weekend’s races were concluding, local teams arrived to train at the Bill Paine '52 Nordic Center, while teams from as far as Rocky/Central prepared on the Blackwater Trail for the upcoming U16 National Performance Series at Burke. Each meticulously prepared run, every encouraging word from a coach, and all the unseen work by volunteers, though they may seem like isolated and small contributions, collectively establish the foundation of any community.
Read reflections below on the season and team culture from the Eastern Alpine coaching staff: Alpine Director Jason “Moot” Nelson, FIS U19 Men’s Head Coach, Justin Sperry, and Coach Ryan Hunter, and FIS U19 Women’s Head Coach, Craig Leaman!
Jason “Moot” Nelson, Alpine Director
"We're at a crucial transition point, moving from our preparation phase into competition. The three camps we've conducted have been extremely beneficial in building both technical skills and team chemistry. Having strong training opportunities at home between these camps has really contributed to our success across all age groups. Our Christmas camp was particularly productive, utilizing campus facilities for comprehensive training, including film review, equipment preparation, and double sessions. The support from our school community, including local families hosting athletes, has been invaluable."
“Our ski area crew deserves tremendous credit - they've been instrumental in maximizing our early-season training opportunities. The recent snowmaking upgrades have really shown their value, and the crew's expertise in maintaining such a high-quality racing surface, especially with these hard snow conditions we've been seeing, has been crucial. Their ability to host not just our programs but teams like Dartmouth, Boston College, and elite regional groups speaks to the professional level of work they're doing.”
FIS/U19 Women’s Update - Head Coach, Craig Leaman
“The FIS Women had a five-day training camp that began shortly after Christmas which included their first home FIS SL opener on January 3rd. The team was greeted by various types of weather and snow conditions, and the girls accepted the challenge that mother nature was throwing at us each and every day. As the weather warmed up, salt was thrown by the coaches on the late December thaw, and from there, the temps plummeted, and the surface became a ski coach's dream. The collective team, athletes included, worked hard to make sure that after each session, tracks and ruts were filled and the entire race trail was smoothed and flattened for the next day. Along with the help of Steele and the mountain staff, we were able to piece together fun and productive sessions."
"As much as ski racing is an individual sport, a lot of what we do includes each team member. Every individual plays an important role in how a safe, supportive, impactful environment is created daily, what meaningful relationships mean and are built on, but most of all, what it means to push and be pushed to their limits by their teammates in the most fun and competitive way possible. Coach Eric Bonewald and I strongly believe that most gains on and off the hill are made by a mental foundation and a set of skills that are worked on and developed each day by the individual. Ski racing is a tough sport, and success/progress may seem bleak at times for some, if not all, athletes. This group does a fantastic job reminding themselves that mental consistency and discipline play a role in the smallest gains that lead to big picture type successes down the road."
"The FIS women have been competitive against a strong peer athlete pool around the northeast that includes athletes from all of the eastern ski academies and Division I colleges. They continue to push the ceiling each day!"
FIS/U19 Men’s Updates
Head Coach, Justin Sperry
"We've been really proud of our FIS Boy's group this year and the team culture we have been building. They are competitive and pushing hard but very supportive, and we have had several coaches from other programs comment on the positive environment the boys create and how they interact with each other."
"Our preparation period camps in Chile and Panorama were very productive, and we were able to get some really quality training to help propel us into the race season. Now that we are back home, I'm incredibly thankful for the efforts of Steele and the rest of the team over at the ski hill. We have had world-class training through December and into January and hosted some incredible races. Scott Wilkinson, our RA, a huge number of volunteers (mostly parents), and our professional coaching staff put on a couple of excellent events."
"We're kicking off the season with some strong runs and results. We've got a young group this year, mostly first-year U18s, and I am very excited for them to show off their hard work moving forward."
Ryan Hunter, FIS/U19 Men’s Coach
"Our coaching staff is truly exceptional - they're not just dedicated to developing high-level skiers, but they're committed to the complete process. We're equally focused on molding these athletes into good humans as we are on their technical development on the slopes."
"How amazing is the Proctor Ski Area? I was fortunate enough to train here 20+ years ago, and the place is just magnificent. The history is rich, and it is the little ski hill in our backyard that sets us above the Epic Vails and IKONic mountains of the US. The number of high-quality training runs, being on your skis for the entire practice each day we are on the hill via surface lifts, and the dedicated staff led by Steele Henderson. This ski area crew is outstanding at supporting our ski team and allowing us to put on high-quality ski races like we just did the past two days. They even bring our gates up the hill for us so we don’t have to take them up the T-bar! Our ski surface is absolutely perfect right now, and it is due to the ski area staff's hard work and long hours day in and day out. Small but mighty would certainly apply to this fantastic crew, the Proctor Ski Area, and the Proctor coaching staff led by Moot. It also helps to have one of the best Race Administrators in the county working for us, Scott Wilkinson."
Follow Proctor's Eastern Alpine Ski Team on Instagram!
- Athletics
- Proctor on Snow