Class of 2011

2011 Hall of Fame Program PDF

Werner Rothbacher

     Rothbacher brought the Austrian Wedeln technique to Sugarloaf in the fifties 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 PSIA. Unfortunately, Werner died just a week after his election.

David Farrar

     Farrar was part of the Masters Program at Pleasant Mountain that produced so many champions in Freestyle and that 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.

Chip Crothers

     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 to back the program at Sunday River and today thousands of people with varying disabilities have benefited from this program which has spread to several Maine ski areas.

Carla Marcus

     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.

Horace Chapman

     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 Ski Club.

John Greene

     As a four event skier at Edward Little, John Greene was named to the National junior Nordic Team in his senior year and went on to excel at St. Lawrence University earning Skimeister honors at many carnivals. His impressive competitive record was followed by even greater contributions to skiing when he joined Bass Sports and developed an injection molded XC boot to fit the Eie binding. His film “Quiet Skis” dramatized the sport of cross country skiing.      

Owen Wells

     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. Later he embraced the idea of cross country skiing and biathlon being able to provide an economic boost to Aroostook County. 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 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.