Kingfield, ME – The Maine Ski Hall of Fame, located in Kingfield near Sugarloaf, has named its Class of 2011 that includes eight skiers whose contributions span a range of activities from ski instruction, officiating at national and international competitions, creating Maine Handicapped Skiing, creating a program that gets Maine kids outdoors in winter and building ski areas.
Named in the Class of 2011 are Werner Rothbacher, David Farrar, Chip Crothers, Carla Marcus, Horace Chapman, John Greene, Edmund MacDonald and Owen Wells.
Werner Rothbacher brought the Austrian Wedeln technique in the 1950s to Sugarloaf ski area, where he directed the ski school for ten years. He also coached the Colby College Ski Team, the Bowdoin Ski Team and directed the Lost Valley Ski School for 20 years, always developing successful skiers and instructors. He was certified by the Austrian ski instructors and Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA). Unfortunately, Rothbacher passed away just a week after his election to the Ski Hall of Fame and will be inducted posthumously.
David Farrar was part of the Masters Program at Pleasant Mountain, now Shawnee Peak, that produced so many champions in freestyle skiing and led to his becoming a judge in that discipline. He has just retired from an officiating career that saw him judging at every level from national to World Cup and Olympics.
Dr. Omar “Chip” Crothers was the driving force that led to formation of Maine Handicapped Skiing. When one of his patients suffering from Cerebral Palsy demonstrated the ability to ski after beginning with her parents, Crothers convinced Les Otten, then the owner of Sunday River, to back the program at his resort. Today thousands of people with varying disabilities have benefited from this program which has spread to several Maine ski areas.
Thanks to Carla Marcus, thousands of Maine school children are learning about life in the outdoors during winter. Winterkids is a program actually taught in schools exposing kids to the benefits of outdoor sports in winter and increasing the pool of potential skiers each winter.
At a time when skiing was hardly organized, Horace Chapman was involved in getting people into the sport and bringing that aspect to skiing. As one of the first skiers in the Bangor area he helped organize the Penobscot Valley Ski Club, led ski instruction efforts, helped cut trails at Bald Mountain and Sugarloaf, served on the Maine Ski Council, and was the first president of the Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Club.
As a four event skier at Edward Little, John Greene was named to the National Jjunior Nordic Team in his senior year and went on to excel at St. Lawrence University, earning Skimeister honors at many winter carnivals. His impressive competitive record was followed by even greater contributions to skiing when he joined Bass Sports and developed an injection molded cross country boot to fit the Eie binding. His film “Quiet Skis” dramatized the sport of cross country skiing.
For decades, Ed MacDonald covered every aspect of skiing for the Lewiston newspapers, always working to bring the complete picture of the competition to his readers, especially the story of the athletes. He gave the same level of devotion to high school athletes that he gave to college and Olympic skiers. He not only covered the sport for the Daily Sun, but he served as Chief of Press at the 1960 and 1980 Olympics, assisting other journalists with logistical support, while sending results and stories back to Maine.
Although few Maine skiers have heard of Owen Wells, every time they read about an international cross country competition or biathlon race in the state his behind-the-scenes work is on display. He started in the 90’s securing sponsors for athletes including Marcus Nash, Scott Loomis and Kirsten Clark. He later embraced the idea of cross country skiing and biathlon being able to provide an economic boost to Aroostook County in Maine’s far north. As President of the Libra Foundation he was responsible for investing millions of dollars in the Maine Winter Sports Center. His efforts have led to the rejuvenation of Black Mountain, Big Rock and Quoggy Jo alpine ski areas. His vision has resulted in numerous Maine athletes making Olympic Teams and getting close to 20,000 kids on cross country skis, while creating facilities that attract world class events.
The Hall of Fame was created in 2003 to honor Maine skiers who have made significant contributions to a sport that has become not only a way of life for many, but a vital industry in the state’s economy. The Class of 2011 will be inducted into the Maine Ski Hall of Fame at a ceremony to be held on October 28 at Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn. Each year a program book documents the achievements of each new member and their biographies constitute a written history of the sport in Maine. To reserve a seat at the induction event, fill out the PDF reservation form at www.skimuseumofmaine.com.
Werner Rothbacher
David Farrar
Chip Crothers
Carla Marcus
Horace Chapman
John Greene
Edmund MacDonald
Owen Wells