Ron Bonnevie is on the lookout for some high school ski racers looking for a place to ski in college. As head of alpine coaches’ education at the University of Maine Farmington’s Ski Industries Program, Bonnevie needs strong high school skiers to fill out the club ski team at the school. With the expansion in recent years of high school ski teams and the high numbers of kids coming out of various racing programs he believes there are more good ski racers than slots at the traditional ski colleges. As a result a lot of good skiers are giving up competitive skiing when they hit college.

Bonnevie wants to change that. The UMF ski industries program has graduates in high positions throughout the ski industry. From my own experience I can relate the names of contacts vital to me, Jason Newell at Rossignol, Tim Brenwald at Marker and Barclay Laidman at Tecnica/Volkl. All came out of UMF and all have important jobs in skiing, and there are a lot more. They can be found at ski areas, in retail and with various manufacturers. The ski industry knows how well they understand the sport and the business and welcomes them, but Bonnevie sees a need they are not filling and that’s what he wants to change.

High school coaches and athletic directors ask him when he will send them some young coaches to fill the ever increasing slots being created by the expansion of ski teams at their level.

His response, “When are you going to send me the kids I need to train for you?”

Even as he asks the question Bonnevie knows the answer. In order to attract the kind of ski racer who will some day become a coach, UMF has to offer them a chance at high level racing, something lacking since the demise of the school’s varsity ski team some years ago. To correct that, he has introduced club racing to the school and is on his way to developing a team that could eventually compete on an intercollegiate varsity level.

For now the team members compete at USSA races, train with racers at Sunday River and CVA skiers at Sugarloaf. The skiers have their own training hill two afternoons a week when Titcomb is operated by the school. Tuesdays and Thursdays Bonnevie and students in the ski industries program control the hill. They can run gates, practice basic to advanced ski technique and attend training sessions in course setting and other race related disciplines. As an internationally (The highest level) certified coach with USSA, a level II PSIA certified instructor and a FIS technical delegate Bonnevie is well qualified to train ski racers and future coaches.

He feels he can offer skiers coming to UMF an ideal situation.

The schedule of training Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and racing USSA races weekends won’t intefere with the academic obilgations. Their expenses, dues, entry fees, travel, meals and lodging are covered by the school. Like most racers below top US team levels, the skiers provide their own equipment.

Skiers choosing UMF for skiing can enroll in the ski industry program or in any of the school’s degree programs. Many past ski industry students have majored in business and the combination of a business degree and a thorough knowledge of the ski industry has made the valuable to various segments of the industry. Know for its educational college, UMF can provide a unique background for skiers hoping to get into education and ski coaching.

One benefit any skier can appreciate is the opportunity to improve as skiers. Nearly all skiers would like to get better and high school graduates are at a perfect age to hone their skills.

There are also income opportunities for those who want to get started coaching while at school with plenty of weekend programs for the youngest racers, needing help. Especially needed are skiers schooled in the new techniques.

Bonnevie’s close association with the national coaches program also provides special opportunities for grads. His goal is to build a solid club ski team stocked with high school racers and out of them will come some of the next generation of coaches.

And it won’t be all alpine either.

Titcomb has 18 kilometers of cross country trails and Buzz Davis along with former Olympian Tom Upham have been leading a new nordic club. Bonnevie is ready to welcome any skiers graduating with an eye toward continuing their competitive skiing through college.

Titcomb also has the welcome mat out. According to manager Megan Roberts the community area hosts 160 middle school racers, has 200 kids taught by high school instructors Saturdays, another 80 in the “Nana” Webber program Wednesdays and another 70 in the race program.

The Mt. Blue High School team also utilizes the slopes for training.

The proximity to Titcomb five minutes from the campus makes UMF an ideal place for high school seniors to consider if skiing is part of their college plans. Where better to get involved than a hotbed of training for young skiers.

Bonnevie hopes he can get that message across to this year’s graduating skiers.

Dave Irons is a freelace writer who lives in Westbrook.