Middlebury College

Middlebury College located in Middlebury, VT has a long tradition of nordic skiing dating back to the 1930’s. Competing under the rules of a NCAA Div III school with no athletic scholarships, this relatively small liberal arts campus of approximately 2500 students continues to have one of the strongest nordic programs in the East. 

Some noted nordic coaches who have made an impact on the program include Bobo Sheehan, who took over the program after he returned from WWII in 1946 and continued until 1968. Bobo brought the collegiate ski team to new heights and was instrumental in designing and building the Middlebury College 50 meter ski jump and cross-country trails. John Bower (first American to win the Kings Cup for nordic combined at the Holmenkollen) took over after Sheehan’s retirement and continued until 1976. In 1977, Terry Aldrich took over as head nordic coach and continued until 2007. During his tenure, he produced 30 All-American skiers with the help of assistant coach Patty Ross who has been with the Middlebury program since 1987. 

Over the years, the program produced many Olympic nordic skiers including Vermont’s Andrew Johnson and Dennis Donahue. Johnson took over as the head nordic coach for Middlebury College in 2013. 

One of Middlebury College’s greatest contributions to nordic skiing in Vermont has been the Rikert Nordic Center. Operated by Middlebury College and located in the Green Mountain Nat’l Forest, the Rikert Nordic Center has been instrumental in hosting many cross-country ski races at different levels. Races include: 1 Bill Koch Championships, 1 Junior National Championship, 1 AIAW (Women's) Championship, 4 NCAA Championships, 50+ EISA Championships, and numerous Eastern ski Association Championships, Dannon Cup, and many citizen races. The Rikert Nordic Center installed one of the country’s most sophisticated snow making systems in 2012, to insure the hosting of elite level races.