The Proctor Ski Area buzzed with energy on New Year's Eve as our annual holiday race brought together athletes, coaches, families, and volunteers, first under sunny winter skies, then under the lights for the women's race. Watching the day unfold, with podium finishes from Enzo '28 and Ridge '28 sweeping the top spots in U-16 Boys, Piper '28 earning second in U-16 Girls, and Riley '26 claiming the overall women's title, what stood out wasn't simply the individual results, impressive as they were, but the larger program foundation and decades-long effort that made them possible.
That program ecosystem is what makes Proctor's Eastern Alpine program distinctive. Elite ski racing is integrated within an authentic community where young people are known and challenged to grow in multiple dimensions. Unlike pure ski academies where athletics drives institutional identity, Proctor offers something unique and special – a private, FIS-homologated training facility on campus, world-class coaching, and rigorous athletic development alongside 135+ college prep and advanced academic courses, robust arts programming, and experiential off-campus opportunities that define the Proctor model. Our athletes aren't just skiers; they are students, community members, and whole individuals first. And they are posting impressive results this season, earning their way onto podiums across the region.
As one parent captured perfectly on Instagram:
"What a victorious day for an amazing ski community... the kids, the coaches, the snowmakers, sandwich-makers, everyone who makes things run, the volunteers... that's what a thriving community looks like!"
Recent Program Successes
Proctor's Eastern Alpine U16s recently completed their Regional Performance Series at Stowe's famous "Main Street" venue. Six athletes – Piper Christopher '28, Emma Wagaman '28, Enzo Vannini '28, Jack Maljanian '29, and Ridge Nelson '28 – competed in slalom and giant slalom against the Eastern Region's best U16 racers.
Congratulations to Emma Wagaman '28, Enzo Vannini '28, and Ridge Nelson '28, who performed at a high level and qualified for the National Performance Series at Burke Mountain next week, January 19 - 23, where they will race against the top U16s in the nation. These three were the only athletes from New Hampshire to advance to the next level!
Proctor Student-Athletes Reflect on the Program
Hailey '26, U19 Women’s Team: "As a sophomore, I came to Proctor for ski racing; however, three years later, I've grown into so much more. I've taken challenging classes, engaged in Proctor's off-campus experience in Segovia, participated in the Academic Concentration Program, played tennis, and contributed to dorm life. Proctor has helped me develop into not just a competitive athlete, but also a curious student and an involved community member."
“Proctor's Eastern Alpine program was the right fit for me because it allowed me to train and compete at the highest level while still engaging in rigorous academics and being fully involved in the Proctor community. During my time at Proctor, I've pursued my ski racing goals seriously while also participating in challenging classes, other sports, dorm life, and clubs – experiences that have given me a genuine high school experience.”
Avery '27, U19 Women’s Team: "Proctor's Eastern program has a balance of competitiveness and intensity with support and a sense of family. Since my first year here, I've been pushed and challenged within the racing program, but also always had a great support system. The coaches truly care about not only your progression in ski racing but also your love for the sport itself, making sure that stays at the top of the list."
Bode ’26, U19 Men’s Team: "The community that we are able to build as a team is what stands out. Training and having a great time together – I love being able to have my team there for me while also having many friends beyond the team."
Silja '27, U19 Women’s Team: "Proctor provides an amazing atmosphere between all the athletes. Everyone supports their teammates, especially at the start of races and in training. The coaches give really supportive advice. My highlights have been the two amazing training camps and the races. I really enjoy spending time with teammates and making new memories."
From Addy '29, U16 Coed Team: "Proctor offers more than just skiing, and we still compete! My highlight was our trip to Chile – it was the best experience of my life."
Coco '28, U19 Women’s Team: "What made Proctor's Eastern Ski Team the right fit for me was the amazing coaches who push us to be our best selves every day. Not only are you on a kind, supportive team, you're part of a family."
Brooke '27, U19 Women’s Team: "Proctor's FIS Women's Team is the best team I have ever had. The support from our coaches Craig and Bones is unmatched! It's so fun to travel and be part of a family with all the girls. One highlight was our trip to Sunday River – we made dinner together and watched Christmas movies. After a fun and tiring day of skiing, we just got to hang out and relax. Coming back from Ocean Classroom in the fall and jumping straight into skiing was challenging, but I wouldn't have been able to do it without the support of my coaches. They let me ease into the season however I wanted—it was awesome jumping back in surrounded by such a motivated and energetic team."\
FIS/U19 Men's Team Update
Head Coach Justin Sperry and Coach Caity Regrut
This year's FIS Men's team is the most promising we've had since I took on the head coaching role. Caity and I have been focusing on team culture – controlling our environment and committing to our process. Ski racing is an individual sport once you step in the gate, but it takes a team to prepare you to compete at your best.
We have a young, tight-knit group of mostly first-year U18s making the jump to FIS racing. Moving to the next level of competition is always a challenge and an eye-opener, and this group is facing it head-on and stepping up to compete together. We've seen strong results and skiing from all of our athletes as we head into the heart of the season with a well-balanced January and February racing and training plan. The team is working hard to make their skiing confident, adaptable, and precise in the technical and speed racing to come.
We're incredibly thankful to Steele's team at the ski hill, as well as Ragged Mountain, for providing such great training opportunities, and to our program director, Moot, academic coordinator Kate Jones, and Kelly Griffin-Brown and her staff in the training room for their support.
FIS/U19 Women's Team Update
Head Coach Craig Leaman and Coach Eric Bonewald
The start of the 2025–2026 season marked more than just another year on snow, it marked a moment of growth, change, and possibility for our team. We welcomed six new additions, including five U16 athletes moving up from within our Eastern Team and, for the first time in our program's history, an international student-athlete from Germany.
Our season began in the breathtaking beauty of British Columbia. After incredible freeskiing at Lake Louise, we arrived at Panorama, where the real work began on steep, demanding terrain. Each morning, we were greeted by the snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies, their vastness serving as both a reminder of how small we are and how much potential lies ahead.
Eric and I consistently challenged the ladies to reflect intentionally on each day, not just on their skiing, but on their mindset. Early-season camps are about building skills, confidence, and trust in the process. Managing expectations is never easy, but this group embraced progress over perfection. The more challenging sessions became some of the most valuable, teaching athletes how to recognize and internalize emotions in the moment while staying calm, motivated, and confident. This group did exactly that, learning to adapt and grow with maturity well beyond their years.
As the season progressed, we’ve been fortunate to continue that momentum back home. Training opportunities at the Proctor Ski Area have been outstanding – a huge thanks to Steele and his crew – and we’ve also seen strong development through GS and SG training at Ragged Mountain. The athletes have competed across all levels of FIS, including ENL, NJR, Eastern Cups, and collegiate races. The Eastern Region of U.S. Ski & Snowboard has done an excellent job creating opportunities for athletes at every stage of development, and our team has truly taken advantage of the new calendar. Whether navigating their first year of FIS racing or working toward potential university competition, each athlete has risen to the challenge.
That effort has shown in the results: U18 podium performances, multiple top-10 and top-5 finishes, and first-place results. While results are never the sole measure of success, they reflect the hard work, discipline, and commitment these athletes have invested since the beginning of the year.
U16 Team Update
Head Coach Cooper McNealus, Coach Geoff Bonewald, and Coach Ryan Hunter
We've hit our stride. At the U16 level, and across the board, we are reaching the podium at FIS events and sending athletes to national projects (National Performance Series). We swept the podium at Sunday River, took first and second at the Proctor race, and placed first and third at Mittersill. That consistency reflects years of intentional work, and it's coming into fruition.
Our trajectory has been exciting. This year, we might have three national project athletes – the most we've ever had. A big part of that success comes from the Proctor Junior program pipeline. About a third of my athletes have moved up through Proctor Juniors, arriving with the same terminology, fundamentals, and technical framework. We've aligned all our coaches around four phases of the turn, so athletes can have high-level technical conversations from day one. That continuity matters.
What makes Proctor different? We're not a ski academy, and I love saying that. Our skiers are part of something larger – a full school community where they're teammates in other sports, classmates in rigorous courses, and members of a dorm family. There's so much more here than just skiing. We want our athletes to be multi-sport competitors, to give back to the community, and to understand that skiing is a privilege at an academics-first school. As Program Director Jason (Moot) Nelson says, “Happy kids ski faster.” When your roommate is a basketball player, you stay connected to life beyond skiing – and that balance makes you a better racer.
The respect we've earned regionally matters too. The ski academies genuinely enjoy working with us. Burke, Stratton Mountain School, GMVS, and others – we train together, share radios when coaches are stretched thin, and collaborate constantly. They're happy for our success because they respect not only what we do, but how we do it.
U16 Update: Training and Competition - Coach Ryan Hunter
Our skiers are performing well in the technical events of slalom and giant slalom. Slalom is our stronger discipline, as our home terrain favors it, though the Proctor Ski Area also provides solid GS training. Ragged Mountain offers additional variety – on Newfound, Middle, and Flying Yankee trails – and is just fifteen minutes from campus. Ragged has become our excellent SG and GS venue from mid-January through March.
The highlights have been many: our three-mountain training camp in British Columbia, where we skied Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise on a beautiful day with knee-to-thigh-deep fresh snow, and Panorama. At Sunday River, we swept the men's U16 podium and Emma '28 made the women's podium. At the Macomber Cup at Mittersill, we placed first, third, and fourth in women's U16 and second in boys.
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