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Brief History of Pats Peak Ski Club Established in 1969, the Pats Peak Ski Club (PPSC) is a non-profit, educational organization which is dedicated to the training and development of youngsters interested in alpine skiing and racing. A Brief History: Pats Peak first opened for the 1962-63 ski season. The first organized slalom event was held in 1964 and run by Doug Nelson of the Pats Peak Ski School. Doug began his efforts to start a ski club shortly thereafter with the help of Alan and Pheobe Chardon, Jim and Corilee Sanderson and Jack and Betty Krantz. The first ski club meeting was held at the mountain in 1965 with Jim Sanderson as president. Through the efforts of Jack and Betty Krantz a Federation Team began during the 1967-68 season. The first volunteer coaches included Victor Roy, Fast “Eddie”, Lisa Hustis, Doug McLeod and Steve Ludwig. In 1970 the club hired their first paid ski coach, Jim Wolf. Family memberships were $10 per year. That year Joe Patenaude made the current ATC room available for the club’s use. Members put in a lot of work to make it usable. Pats Peak had also built a start and a finish shack. The club voted to pay for the glass in the windows, and Jackie Krantz, Dickie Hanson and John Sanderson installed the glass, shelves, and helped run the timing wire between the shacks. Pats Peak bought electronic timing equipment and the club paid Pats Peak back for the timing eqUipment at $250 per year for 4 years. Jack Krantz Jr. was the first racer from the Peak to race in an Eastern race in January of 1969. The club ran its first sanctioned race the following season. Being very desirous of having a good course, the club had the head Cannon coach , Dave Boyle, set it. For the 71-72 season, the club hired Dave Boyle’s J3/4 coach Alan Watson as head coach. He was very instrumental in developing a strong coaching staff with Jeff Doctor, Debbie Flanders, Jim Aldrich, Jim Isabel, and Annie Corrock. Jack Krantz built a new start shack at the top of the hill that year. In the fall of 1973, Dick Hanson, who had become a Director of USEASA, won for the club the honor of running the 1974 US National Slalom Championships. Jack Krantz and everyone he could get to help got the race hill homologated to be FIS legal, ran new multi-wires to the top and rigged up telephone boxes every 5 or 6 gates, as well as Bogan outdoor speakers all the way up the course. The race was a big success and the club got coverage in the NY Times, Boston Globe, Ski Racing News and all the local papers. Over the years, many members contributed to the fun and accomplishments of the club. Of the Pats Peak Management, Bev Patenaude was often the race secretary as well as timer. Joe Patenaude gave the club free reign to do what they needed to do. Wayne Patenaude was often the official photographer at races. The club ran on a very meager budget. In the early years, Jack Krantz thought the kids needed helmets. The helmets cost $20 each, and through fundraising efforts the club found the money and bought ten helmets. The Program has changed over the years. Deb Flanders, current PPSC Program Director and 1972-73 Head Coach, envisioned with Wayne Patenaude a full time ski Academy using some buildings the Peak owned. The Pats Peak Academy became a reality under the Direction of Bruce Crane in the mid 70’s. The signs still hang on the buildings by the south end of the Parking Lot. Later Bud Burgess forged an alliance with Mt. Sunapee called the “Pats Peak/Sunapee Coop”. Dave Boyle directed the Pats Peak Program for several years until Paul Cremeno took over as Program Director in the early 90’s through 2003. Much talent has come through the club throughout the past 30 plus years, and the PPSC strives to continue the tradition of continuing affordable quality programs with excellent coaching and training. Pats Peak Ski Area makes it all possible through their continuing support of ski racing at all levels.
PPSC athletes learn the value of setting goals and working hard to achieve them. PPSC coaches believe that the lessons learned in competitive ski racing will be transferable to other sports as well as daily living situations. PPSC Program goals are to:
· Develop strong skiing fundamentals. · Teach the basic tactics of competitive ski racing. · Familiarize racers with the USSA system, rules and responsibilities · Teach the value, methods and importance of physical training and diet. · Teach good sportsmanship, citizenship and teamwork. · Introduce goal setting and achievement in a positive atmosphere. Develop a knowledge and love of the mountain
environment. The program begins early December and runs on weekends and school vacation days through the middle of March. Optional midweek evening training is available. Although there are typically in excess of 200 hours of racing and training during the course of the season, all schedules are flexible, and individuals are encouraged to tailor their participation to their own needs and aspirations. Athlete numbers continue to grow in
the program, with the J1/2 numbers increasing from 5 to 18 over the past two
years. In 2004-2005 25 PPSC athletes qualified to the BWL Championships, we had
a two gold medal winners in the women’s GS races at the J3 State Finals and at
the Piche Champs, and one racer was first alternate to the Eastern State Finals. |
