Holderness School names Ben Drummond director of snow sports

Holderness School is pleased to announce that Ben Drummond has been named the director of snow sports. 

“I am extremely honored and excited to be the new snow sports director at Holderness School,” said Drummond. “The rich history in all phases of snow sports at Holderness is inspiring. I look forward to working with the talented staff to assist our student-athletes as they work to achieve their goals athletically and academically.”

Drummond is the founder of Proctor Academy Junior Ski Team, as well as the owner of Drummond Five Sales, a business representing winter sports and cycling brands in New England. Ben previously served as racing director and team manager for HEAD Wintersports USA. He was director of U.S. competition for Blizzard Sport USA/Tecnica USA and the national junior alpine race program director of Marker USA/Tecnica USA/Volkl Sport America.

“Ben impressed us with his passion, expertise, and ability to connect with a broad range of folks,” says Head of School Phil Peck, a former U.S. national team coach and captain of the Dartmouth College cross-country ski team. “Ben’s references spoke to his coaching ability, his experience in developing competitive skiers, and his humble confidence. Ben certainly feels like a Holderness match!”

A standout skier at the University of New Hampshire, Drummond captained the Wildcats mens’ team in 2004 and 2005, earned academic All-American honors, and was a five-time competitor in the U.S. National Alpine Championships.

Search Committee Chair and Franconia Ski Club Board Member Chip Martin said, “Ben has great energy and is committed to excellence. His experience as a former high-level racer, combined with his more recent ski brand and junior race program development, will serve him well as he leads Holderness snow sports forward.”

“Ben is a leader in the ski industry and has great relationships with coaches and athletes alike,” says Mattie Ford DiNapoli, a former two-time NCAA All-American and captain of the Middlebury College womens’ alpine team. “He has stood in the finish area with top athletes like Bode Miller and Ted Ligety, and he has created strong ski programs to develop youth racers. Ben will be an amazing addition to the Holderness community and will help build and grow the snow sports program.”

Drummond will oversee the alpine, cross country, and freeski/snowboard programs and joins Holderness School at an important moment in the program’s history. In addition to several breakout performances on regional, national, and international stages this season, the New Hampshire boarding school recently announced a transformational $6 million gift that will impact and enhance all snow sports disciplines. 

The gift will support the construction of the Mittersill Performance Center at Mittersill Slopes at Cannon Mountain. The gift will also jumpstart fundraising for the construction of a 5-kilometer homologated cross-country ski venue with snowmaking and lights and an impact-absorbing safety air bag for freeskiers and snowboarders. 

With these additions and enhancements, Drummond says, “The future of snow sports at Holderness is very bright.”

Ben will formally join the Holderness School community effective April 1, 2020.

Words courtesy of Holderness School.