NEWBURY —Alan Ritchie is the recipient of the 2018 John W. McCrillis Award.
He is being honored at an award banquet sponsored by the Mount Sunapee Area Ski Club at the Sunapee Lodge at Mount Sunapee Resort on Saturday March 24th.
The award was started in 1995 by McCrillis’ six grandchildren who wanted to honor their grandfather for his contributions to skiing.
John McCrillis was a ski pioneer in the early to mid-20thcentury who encouraged and enabled people to take up the lifelong sport of skiing. He was elected to the U.S Ski Hall of Fame in 1966. The John W. McCrillis Award recognizes people in the greater Newport/Sunapee to Upper Valley Region who have made a significant contribution to skiing. The McCrillis grandchildren have partnered with the Mt. Sunapee Area Ski Club to present the award annually to deserving recipients.
Ritchie grew up at the base of Mt. Sunapee and within sight of the access road. His parents took advantage of this location and started Alan on skis at age 3. This was the start of a lifelong passion and adventure with skiing that led to a career in the ski industry. Interestingly, Alan’s father, Warren, worked at Mt. Sunapee for 37 years and retired as the Assistant Mountain Manager.
Alan followed in his father’s footsteps and began his career in the ski industry in 1971, working as a Ski Patroller at Mt. Sunapee. In 1976 Alan went to King Ridge where he worked at the Laurids Lauridsen Ski School as a freestyle ballet instructor, the race program director, and finally the Ski School Director.
After seven years at King Ridge Alan returned to Mt. Sunapee where he and his wife owned and operated the Ski School. In addition to the Ski School, Alan ran the NASTAR race program. In the 1990’s Alan coached the alpine racers for the Mt. Sunapee Area Ski Club. Alan was continually involved over these years with improving the skills of skiers and racers of all abilities.
Following Alan’s Ski School Directing and race coaching, he started as a full time groomer at Mt. Sunapee. From here he became the Groomer Supervisor. Following this Alan was promoted to Assistant Operations Manager and finally Mountain Operations Manager, a position he has held for the past 10 years.
As Operations Manager, some of the departments Alan manages are Lifts, Grooming, Vehicle Maintenance, and Patrol Safety. He has also overseen many off season projects such as the development and construction of a miniature golf course, a disc golf course, archery course, an aerial challenge course, downhill mountain biking trails, and a zip-line canopy tour.
Alan’s whole life has revolved around skiing and working in the ski industry. His lifetime of dedication has contributed immensely to making Mt. Sunapee, King Ridge, and the Mt. Sunapee Resort better ski areas for families, skiers, and boarders of all ages! It is amazing that Alan is now in his 45th winter of working in the ski industry and continues to make a positive impact each and every day!
The Mt. Sunapee Area Ski Club is extremely pleased to be hosting the 24thannual John W. McCrillis Award Banquet to honor Alan Ritchie’s dedication and contribution to skiing.
Reservations can be made by calling the Mt. Sunapee Resort at (603) 763-3500 by Tuesday March 20th. A reception starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Sunapee Lodge to be followed by dinner and the award presentation. The cost for the dinner is $27 for adults and $14 for children under 12. Coat and tie or equivalent wear are requested.
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