Earlier this month Doug had the honor of being inducted into the Vermont Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame. Fellow inductees included John Brodhead, John “JG” Gerndt, Jeff Hastings and Ann “Nosedive Annie” Bonfoey Taylor.
Kelley and Doug, surrounded by family, friends and many old ski buddies from Vermont, enjoyed a fun evening of catching up with friends, talking about growing up in Vermont and listening to the inductees speak about Vermont and how it shaped their lives. In Doug’s speech he began by thanking the three pivotal people and places that meant so much to him as he began his ski racing journey on a small hill in mid-Vermont.
First he thanked his Mom, who as a ski instructor and athlete herself, drove him and his siblings up to the mountain every weekend so they could explore, play and race all over the mountain. Second, he thanked the Middlebury College Snow Bowl junior race club. The group of 50+ kids all pushing each other to learn, risk, race and have fun created an atmosphere where Doug fell in love with skiing and pushing his limits every day. Lastly, he thanked the teachers, coaches and teammates at the Green Mountain Valley school where, with their help, he transformed himself from a small kid with a dream, into a focused, skilled athlete who was committed 100% to pursuing his goals of being the best in the World.
Doug reflected on his roots in Vermont, “Growing up on the slopes of Vermont, surrounded by fellow racers and inspiring coaches, was the perfect place for me to fall in love with skiing, but also a place where I learned to love the struggle of chasing my dreams. I had so much fun skiing, training and racing with my Team, and that fun continued all the way to the Olympics.”
Although Doug had the honor of being inducting into the US National Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2007, he remarked that “This induction holds a special place in my heart. I was born and raised in Vermont. No matter where I am in the world, Vermont will always be home. Vermont runs through my blood. It is the place that shaped me into the person I am today and is the backdrop for all that I have accomplished.”
Congratulations Doug!
