Craftsbury Outdoor Center

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John Brodhead: VT Ski Hall of Fame, 2019

John cranks some tele turns in the early 80s.


Last Updated: 01.Sep.2019

Craftsbury's long time Nordic head, John Brodhead, will be recognized in the Vermont Ski and Snowboard museum for his contributions to Vermont's Nordic community. As the Craftsbury community knows, for 38 years, Nordic at Craftsbury was synonymous with John. Whether organizing events, clubs and programming, or trail work, John was instrumental in creating what Craftsbury is today. Congratulations John on this well-deserved recognition!

From the Ski and Snowboard museum's induction release:

"John Brodhead of Craftsbury will join the Class of 2019 as an inductee into Vermont Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame.

"At Vermont Academy (1962) John excelled at 4 events - slalom, downhill, cross country and jumping - under the tutelage of legendary Vermont coach Warren Chivers. When teaching at the Center for Northern Studies in Wolcott VT in 1979, he was asked by the then-owner of the Craftsbury Outdoor Center Russell Spring, to direct the COC’s Nordic ski program.

"He developed an extensive trail system in the Northeast Kingdom, started numerous ski programs for youth and adults, and in his spare time, organized and ran the very successful Craftsbury Marathon. Through tireless hours of improving the trails, working with landowners, marketing the event, he made the Marathon one of the most popular ski marathons in the country. The John Brodhead award is now given to the male and female winners of the Craftsbury Marathon.

"John founded the Craftsbury Nordic Ski Club in 1997, modeled on the Scandinavian multi-generational ski training design. He recruited five families from the area, whose children were racing in the Bill Koch program, and instituted a summer training program. For 38 years as Director of the COC, John touched the lives of countless skiers."

Find more about the induction, as well as tickets for the induction ceremony at VTSSM's website.