John Paul Hedbavny, professional ice carver from Lakeville, CT, created a wonderful freestyle skier for the Museum as part of 2006 Stowe Winter Carnival. Also during winter carnival the Museum hosted its last showing of Warren Miller?s Higher Ground. The first four nights, December 26-29, were again sell outs, a perfect cap to another successful Stowe Mountain Film Festival. During the six weeks of films, over 900 people visited the Museum. Special thanks to Ian Lamphere and Justin Reyher. Thanks to the sponsors High Angle Media, Backcountry Magazine, bestskiweather.com, SkierShop and Ascutney Mountain Resort and to the presenters Adam DesLauriers and Ian Lamphere, Steve Beattie and Sasha Dingle, Brian Mohr and Emily Johnson, Meathead Productions, and Brian Lindner. Below, Steve Beattie introduces his project Balance on Mt. Mansfield Winter Academy racer Sasha Dingle. The complete film will include this season, and will be finished for the 2006 Banff Film Festival and will be seen in its in entirety at the 2006 Stowe Mountain Film Festival

On December 3rd, the new exhibit Vermont's Nordic Traditions opened. Pictured above are John Caldwell, Tim Caldwell, and Bill Koch, all three 2005 inductees into the Vermont Ski Museum Hall of Fame and accomplished Nordic skiers. Also in attendance were 2005 Inductees Martha Rockwell and Warren Chivers, represented by his son. Special thanks to sponsors Trapp Family Lodge and the Putney School, Bright Star Systems, Brownington Foundation, Concept II, John and Julie Egenberg, Bob and Kim Gray, Green Mountain Fine Art Gallery, Peter Harrison, Hosmer Vineyards, David and Patty Jaqua, and the Putney Ski Club.

The Museum was the subject of Doug and Kelley Lewis?s television show on Sugarbush TV 12. Doug and Kelley spent a day at the Museum, looking at the exhibits and talking with Curator Meredith Scott. They also talked with 10th Mountain veteran Ted Lockwood and Nordic skier Rick Schaaf. To cap off the day, they took some runs on vintage equipment, complete with boots, bindings, and skis, supplied by Museum volunteer and ski collector Grant Reynolds of Tinmouth, VT.

The Vermont Ski Museum was named an Editors’ Choice in the Yankee Magazine 2004 Travel Guide to New England. The Editors’ Choice designation spotlights noteworthy destinations no traveler will want to miss. “We are delighted to select the Vermont Ski Museum as a Yankee Magazine 2004 Travel Guide to New England Editors’ Choice,” said Michael Carlton, editor of YANKEE Magazine. “New England offers the perfect destination for any traveler, regardless of how they define the perfect day trip, weekend getaway or vacation. Editors’ Choice destinations are particularly worth of a stop.”

The Vermont Ski Museum continues to improve the level of collections care. Thanks to a National Endowment for the Humanities grant, the Museum brought conservator Lori Van Handel back to the Museum for two days of goal setting and preservation projects. Julie Egenberg and Claire Shepherd cleaned silver trophies using a non-abrasive “slurry” and homemade cotton swabs. If you are looking for information on the best way to clean your own silver, call Meredith Scott, Vermont Ski Museum Curator.

Once again, the Vermont Ski Museum participated in the award winning History Expo, hosted by the Vermont Historical Society at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds, June 25-26th. Henry and Dorothy Ciocci, Dick Collins, Tom Hubbs, and Beverly Ostler represented the Museum and talked to hundreds of visitors to the booth. They helped unveil the new initiative on Vermont’s Lost Ski Areas. Dick Collins and Curator Meredith Scott contacted the local historical societies associated with the over 110 lost ski areas identified by the New England Lost Ski Areas Project (NELSAP). A photographic and textual history was created for Altow (Norwich), Dutch Hill (Heartwellville), Putney School tows (Putney), Ski Bowl (Bellows Falls), Richford Lions Club (Richford), Valley View (Barton), and 4 tows in Waterbury - Pinnacle Park Skiland, Waterbury Ski Tow, Sunset Hill, Harwood Union High School. More to come....

On May 6th, the Vermont Ski Museum unveiled a bronze plaque dedicated to the six Vermonters who lost their lives while fighting in Italy during World War II with the 10th Mountain Division. David Hubbell Colgate Dennis of Old Bennington died on April 16, 1945. The 21 year old’s remains were found two years later and were identified by his dog tags, eyeglass case, and Tiffany watch. Delmas “Demmy” John Devenger of Danville died during the 10th’s legendary attack on Mt. Belvedere; he was 22. Everett “Ev” Rodney Griffin of Barton died March 3, 1945 near Mt. Della Torraccia at age 20. Edwin “Bud” Allen Johnson died of wounds received in February on May 27, 1945 at age 23. Robert Joseph LaBombard of Vergennes died at 22 from a sniper shot to the head. Herbert Wilbur “Allen” Spaulding of Proctorsville Village left a family behind when he entered the War at age 30. During battle, he fought off the enemy alone for 20 minutes while covering the withdrawal of his comrades. James C. Muir was a student at Norwich University when he entered the War; he received special mention. The Museum extends special thanks to Governor Jim Douglas, Major-General Martha Rainville, representatives of Senator Patrick Leahy and Representative Bernie Sanders, John Duffy President of the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division, Sgt. Cain Caxton of the active10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York, Newc Eldredge and Dick Wilson from the New England Chapter of the 10th Mountain Division Association, and Brian Lindner who researched and organized this memorial. Their participation, along with the attendance of several other 10th Mountain Division veterans and members of each of the honorees’ families, made this historical event memorable and moving.

Many Winners at the 2nd Annual Golf Across Vermont Tournament

The Vermont Ski Museum awarded over $5,000 in donated prizes at the 2nd Annual Golf Across Vermont fundraising tournament, played at Basin Harbor in West Ferrisburg on Saturday, June 12. On this near perfect day, nineteen foursomes from all over the state (word is getting out about this tournament!) headed out for the 1 PM shotgun scramble and met back at the 19th "hole" for a floating green -- 50 yards out in the Harbor -- competition. Since "close" didn't count, the 19th hole continues to be "untouchable." Awards were presented to the following teams: 1st Place - The Spanglers (Brian Irwin, Carl Bachman, Alan Dworshak, Jay Pilcer); 2nd Place - The Drillers (Chris Altadonna, Lew Parsons, Walt Towsleee, Barry Burnside); 3rd Place - Team Paradise (Shawn Sullivan, Michael Woods, Terry Kernan, Chris Austin); 4th Place - Burgess Construction (Charlie, Dave & Tom Burgesss, Steve Clark); and Last Place - The Ma-Be's (Andy & Eric Baringer, Margo Tormey, Bonnie Knight). Prizes were also awarded to Carol West Campbell (Longest Drive Women), Walt Towslee (Longest Drive Men), Jay Pilcer (Closest to the Pin on #5 - 4'6") and Dana Lamb (Closest to the Pin on #13 - 4'9"). Sponsored by Chuck & Jann Perkins and the Alpine Shop, the orchestration of the 2nd Annual Golf Across Vermont tournament is due in large measure to a handful of volunteers -- the VSM thanks Shawn Sullivan, Lynn Altadonna, Tom Burgess, Julie Egenberg, and Merna Decoveny. This tournament, according to Director of Museum Administration Sandy Devine, is purposely moving around the state to tie in with either an upcoming ski area exhibit or a Hall of Fame induction. According to Devine, "We see the Golf Across Vermont tournament as one more opportunity to bring the museum's mission to more communities in Vermont. As we make people aware of who and why we are, we become the recipients of their stories and their artifacts, thereby accomplishing a bit more of our mission to 'collect, preserve, and celebrate' the history of skiing in Vermont." This year's fundraising golf tournament, together with the sponsorship from the Perkins' and the Alpine Shop, will enable the VSM to create the next featured ski area exhibit -- The Cochran's Ski Area, The exhibit opening is planned for October 23. The Cochran's -- Mickey, Ginny, Barbara Ann, Lindy, Bobby, and Marilyn -- will also be inducted on the evening of October 23 into the Vermont Ski Museum Hall of Fame.

The Vermont Ski Museum announces the opening of the exhibit Ski Racing 2004.

The follow-up to the popular Ski Racing 2003, this exhibit takes a different look at the past racing season. Using historic posters, photographs, and objects from the Museum’s collection, the exhibit traces racing by age groups. Acknowledging the youngest racers through to the members of the US Team by name, the exhibit also makes connections between today’s racers and Vermont’s distinguished racing history. In addition to alpine races, the exhibit looks at snowboarding, freestyle, jumping, and Nordic skiing. Vermonters continue to make headlines not only on alpine skis but also in the halfpipe, on cross country courses, and in the air. The Vermont Ski Museum salutes all of the young athletes who make history every season.

On October 7, 2003, the VSM hosted its first Volunteer Appreciation Lunch ... we invited all of our active volunteers and then we plied them with pizza, Caesar salad, and cake ... and we thanked them again. It came as quite a wonderful surprise when we learned that Jim King of the Pizza Joint had donated the entire lunch! And so to all of our volunteers -- again --

Jan Reynolds, US Biathlon team member, adventurer, and author, visited the Museum October 10th and inspired audiences to reach for higher heights. After discussing her 1980 trip to China to teach young skiers and to climb in the Pamirs, Reynolds encouraged her audience to explore the limits of our understanding of ourselves through experiencing other cultures. John Fry, Ski Historian and President of the International Ski History Association, accompanied Jan on the 1980 expedition and also introduced her presentation at the Museum.

The Museum has a Float!
The talents in our volunteer pool are amazing. After a few brainstorming sessions, followed by hours of hard work, this group gave birth to the VSM's first parade float -- a diorama of a snow-covered, tree-bordered mountain, “accessed” by a chairlift, t-bar, and rope tow. The float debuted in the Akeley Memorial Building 100 year celebration on August 16, with a repeat performance in the Stowe Oktoberfest Parade on September 26. -- thanks everybody!

Skitch and Ruth Henderson, founding members of Club Ten at Sugarbush, donated sweaters and hats, knit for each member of their family by Stein Eriksen’s mother, to the Museum. The famous “Marius” sweater, hand knit in Norway, was imported to the US by Eriksen. During the exhibit opening, he explained how his mother entered into a contract with Bogner to match the sweaters to that year’s clothing. Thank you to Skitch and Ruth for the donation!

Another exciting archival donation came from Madelon Ottmon. Madelon and her husband ran Dutch Hill Ski Area in Heartwellville, Vermont. Madelon saved a copy of each year’s snow reports, brochures, publicity, and scrapbooks as well as photographs and tickets, all of which she donated to the Museum. Thanks to Dwight and Mary Baker for assisting with the travel and organization of the collection. These materials will be available to researchers and for use in exhibits.