MWV Ski Team

 TEAM HISTORY

 

The Mount Washington Valley Alpine Education Foundation, a registered non-profit 501(c)3, was founded in 1982. For the past forty seasons, ski racing has been thriving within the ski areas of the Mount Washington Valley and beyond. As ski racing in the Eastern Region and New England continued to grow, it became apparent that the needs of U16 and U19 athletes was becoming increasingly difficult to be served by each local ski club’s resources alone. A group of forward thinking coaches, parents and ski area managers formulated a plan to restructure the Valley’s U16 and U19 athletes into one consolidated team. The concept provided an opportunity to form a true regional group, while leveraging the unique resources of the Mount Washington Valley, with its numerous ski areas located in close proximity to one another. 

Thus, a board of directors was formed, and the Mount Washington Valley Alpine Educational Foundation evolved into what it is today. The board was created to serve and represent all of the surrounding children’s programs, providing feedback for the evolving needs of the athletes, and to consistently work toward positive growth within the club.

Dave Gregory became the Program Director/Head Coach in the summer of 1986, where he confidently led the team into a period of success. Meanwhile, as Gregory ramped up the program, the local ski areas were going through a period of considerable growth in the 1990s. The expansion of Attitash Mountain Resort’s Bear Peak was a notable addition to the growth of MWVST, with their construction of premier race trails on the creative, new terrain. MWV has hosted hundreds of races on Illusion, a highly celebrated trail for most local skiers and racers alike. To this day, the MWVST remains one of the only opportunities in the United States for an athlete to have the ability to train at multiple venues.

With high performance training opportunities within the valley, the Mount Washington Valley Ski Team has continued to strive for excellence in providing educational partnerships that cater to all of the academic needs of the athletes, while chasing their athletic goals on the hill. 

Since its creation, MWVST has continued a unique partnership with A. Crosby Kennett High School in North Conway, where we continue to work together to deliver full-time on-snow training and racing for local students, as well as the loyal partnership with the high school ski team. Over the last 35 years, countless MWV athletes have competed for the KHS alpine program, contributing to many state championships in the school’s trophy case. 

Fryeburg Academy in Fryeburg Maine, is another academic alternative fulfilling the demand for student boarding at a highly reputable public private institution, while still participating in MWV’s full-time program. The Fryeburg partnership was reignited in 2013, and continues to broaden and provide ample opportunities to both local day students, as well as boarding students from all over New England, and throughout the world. 

Under Dave’s leadership, the 2000’s saw multiple MWV alumni become NCAA All-Americans, USCSA All-Americans, and US Ski Team members, among many other notable achievements - all of this contributed by Dave’s incredible coaching, and coaching staff, in addition to a strong group of local talent leading the way. 

In 2012, the Mount Washington Valley Ski Team was the proud recipient of the USSA Alpine Club of Year award, presented by MWV native and USSS former Board of Directors Chairman Dexter Paine, at an annual reception in Park City, UT. Dexter is a Mount Washington Valley Ski Team alumnus and his father Bill, was one of the team’s founders in 1982. An all encompassing, well deserved tribute to Dave Gregory’s legacy, hard work, and commitment to the athletes.

In 2016, The club welcomed in a new era, welcoming Michael LeBlanc, ten-year Head Coach of the Brown Alpine Ski Team, where he led the Bears to their first ever USCSA National Championship in 2012. A Plymouth, NH native looking to settle back into the White Mountains with his young family, Mike has cultivated his vision of a sustainable future for skiing and ski racing in the Mount Washington Valley, hiring new staff members, expanding training options, and adding countless resources to the team. In addition to the improvements within the U16/U19 program, the Mount Washington Valley Alpine Education Foundation now manages the Cranmore Race Team under the same not for profit designation. Though each team operates as a separate entity, MWV & CRT are now able to share resources when favorable for both programs, such as hill space coordination, and curriculum development. The end goal of this cooperative effort is to create a cohesive environment to foster ski racing development and opportunities here in the Mount Washington Valley. 

In 2017, former two-time Olympian, and MWV alum, Leanne Smith joined the program after a ten year career with the U.S. Ski Team. Leanne brought her World Cup experience back to the valley, generating new excitement and 25% growth in club membership. Additionally, Leanne has a dramatic impact on athlete performance and participation - MWVST is consistently among the top performing clubs in the state. She is currently the Head U16 Coach and Program Director for the Mount Washington Valley Ski Team.

Mount Washington Valley Alpine Education Foundation’s strength is found within its membership. The countless hours given by volunteers, families, and staff, and continued support by the valley’s local businesses has coalesced to create a unique environment that has led to all of the club’s success over the past several decades. The collective passion for the sport of ski racing that the club membership shares, allows the program to run Championship events, hire world class coaches and to provide financial support for families in need, as well as operate at a much reduced cost for all of the athletes. Half of MWVAEF’s operating budget is fundraised annually, which allows the program to provide exceptional opportunities to all of the club families. 

The Mount Washington Valley Ski Team’s goal is to provide a high performance environment where young athletes are able to develop their lifelong passion for skiing and ski racing, in the most reasonable and affordable way possible.