It is profoundly difficult to write a tribute to a man of Chummy Broomhall’s character and contributions in one page, but the following is a sincere effort to do so.
The town of Rumford has one of the longest and richest histories in American skiing. Since 1917, the people of Rumford and the Chisholm Ski Club built jumps, cross country and alpine trails, built lifts and held winter carnivals. Through the years they have demonstrated a relentless commitment to all-things-skiing. When problems come up they find ways around, over, or through them. It has been that way for over a century and for over 70 of those years the face of that persistence, initiative and ingenuity was Wendall “Chummy” Broomhall.
Chummy was an outstanding skier as a junior, joined the famed 10th Mountain Division during World War II, came back from the war and went on to compete in the 1948 and 1952 Winter Olympics. He also helped bring the 1950 FIS Nordic World Championships from Lake Placid to Rumford. He designed the trails and was the chief-of-course for the nordic events at the 1960 Winter Olympic Games in Squaw Valley, California and the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid. It is hard to imagine, but before mechanized grooming, competitors were required to “ski-in” the tracks, making the course far more uneven and typically creating distinct advantages for those skiers starting later in the race. Chummy forever revolutionized the entire ski industry by introducing machine grooming at the 1960 Squaw Valley Games. He could have retired after the 1960 Games as one of the most successful athletes and well-respected race organizers and innovators in US Skiing history, but Chummy was just getting started.
By donating the land to create Black Mountain of Maine in 1960, Chummy guaranteed the growth of Rumford’s skiing tradition for the at least the last 6o years. Over that time, Black Mountain has introduced thousands of children to the skiing lifestyle and sent them on to become a part of the storied Rumford skiing heritage. Chummy has been recognized by almost every international, national, regional and state skiing Hall of Fame. Maine’s collegiate nordic ski championships—called “The Chummy Cup”—have been hosted by the Chisholm Ski Club and Black Mountain every year since 2006, but even these awards seem hollow when used to define the man’s body of work.
Over the last 70+ years Chummy tirelessly dedicated himself to making a difference—in Rumford, on the Chisholm Ski Club and in the world of nordic skiing. He also made a difference in my life and the lives of countless others who love skiing or are inspired to be around someone who lives his life daily with integrity, humility and a strong sense of purpose. If we are to be judged by the friends we keep, then all those lucky enough to have had Chummy in our lives will ask to be so judged.
– Andy Shepard
2025 Fund Recipients: U.S Junior Nationals
Fund Details:
Eligibility
· Must be a Maine resident, although the athlete can be residing elsewhere for schooling or training.
· Between the ages of 14 and 25.
· Athletes can apply for concurrent years, although there is no guarantee an athlete who was awarded a grant will continue to receive that grant.
· Applications must be submitted by March 1 to be considered for the following season.
· Criteria: (The following are being considered, but we’ll also conduct interviews with athletes who have aspired to be Olympians to see what criteria would have been motivating to them.)
CROSS COUNTRY
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- Must have competed at U-16 Eastern Championships and finished an individual race in the top half of the field.
- Or New England High School Championships within the last year and finished an individual race in the top-35.
- Made the JN team within the last three years
- Qualified for NCAA Championships
- A U.S. Ski & Snowboard ranking in the top 100 of your current region
- Get a recommendation from coach to confirm your continued interest in competing.
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BIATHLON
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- Must have competed at U-16 Eastern Championships and finished an individual race in the top half of the field.
- Or New England High School Championships within the last year and finished an individual race in the top-35.
- Made the JN team within the last three years
- A U.S. Ski & Snowboard ranking of 100, or your current region
- Qualified for NCAA Championships
- Achieved at least one result of 80% at Junior World trials by the age of 18, or 85% by the age of 20.
- Or 90% at US Nationals
- Get a recommendation from coach to confirm your continued interest in competing.
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Eligibility
· Must be a Maine resident, although the athlete can be residing elsewhere for schooling or training.
Athlete Responsibility
· It is expected the Fund recipient will comport him/herself in a way that brings honor to the Broomhall family and to past and future recipients.
· Any athlete who fails to live up to that standard could lose any funding not yet awarded and would be ineligible to apply in the future.
· It is the hope of the Broomhall family, and the Fund advisors, to grow the Fund, thus increasing the size of the gift in the future. We would ask athletes who receive the award to participate in any announcement ceremony and to look for opportunities to promote the Fund.
· See “Athlete Code”
The Award
· The grant will be announced the 15th of April, with funds distributed on May 15stand October 15th of each year.
Athlete Code
The Broomhall name – certainly the name Chummy Broomhall– carries a legacy of selflessness and commitment-to-community that all involved in this fund look to honor. Therefore, it is expected the Fund recipient will comport him/herself in a way that brings honor to the Broomhall family and to past and future recipients. Any athlete who fails to live up to that standard could lose any funding not yet awarded and would be ineligible to apply in the future. It is also the hope of the Broomhall family and the Fund advisors to grow the Fund, thus increasing the size of the gift in the future.
ATHLETE PLEDGE
I pledge to uphold the spirit of the Chummy Broomhall Olympic Fund (the “Fund), Code of Conduct (the “Code”), which offers a guide to my conduct as a recipient of the Chummy Broomhall Olympic Fund Grant (the “Grant”),
I have familiarized myself with the Code and understand that acceptance of its provisions is a condition of my acceptance of the Grant.
As a recipient of the Grant, I hereby promise and agree that I:
· Will abide by all published rules related to the Team selection procedures as approved by the Fund;
· Have acted and will act as a positive role model for the youth of Maine and in a sportsmanlike manner consistent with the spirit of fair play and responsible conduct;
· Will maintain a level of fitness and competitive readiness that will permit my performance to be at the maximum of my abilities.
· Will not commit a doping violation as defined by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) or the International Biathlon Union rules, or FIS rules;
· Am not currently serving a doping violation and/or do not have a pending or unresolved doping charge;
· Will not engage in any conduct that is criminal under any laws applicable to me, including, but not limited to laws governing the possession and use of drugs and alcohol and providing of drugs to any person and of alcohol to minors;
· Will not participate or assist in any gambling or betting activities associated with any event related to my sport or my participation;
· Should I be chosen for an international team that requires a passport, I am in possession of a valid USA passport, that will not expire prior to six months following the conclusion of the international competition;
· Will refrain from conduct detracting from my ability to attain peak performance;
· Will respect the property of others whether personal or public;
· Will respect members of my Team, other teams, spectators and officials, and engage in no form of discriminatory behavior or verbal, physical or sexual harassment or abuse;
· Will follow my Team’s written rules, including by way of example, written rules regarding curfew, required attendance at team meetings and prohibitions on the release of confidential team information;
· Am aware that CBOF provides critical support for me and is actively engaged in trying to grow the Fund, and in recognition of this fact, I will be a spokesperson for the Fund and participate in events intended to grow awareness of the fund, as is reasonable;
· Will abide by the rules of the USSA/USBA concerning allowable trademark identification on clothing and equipment worn or used in competition or on visible body tattoos.
· Agree to be filmed and photographed by official photographer(s) and network(s) under conditions authorized by CBOF and give event organizers and CBOF the right to use my name, picture, likeness, and biographical information before, during and after the period of my participation in these activities to promote the activity in which I participate or to promote either me or the Fund; in no event may CBOF or the event organizers use or authorize the use of my name, picture, likeness, voice and biographical information for the purpose of trade, including any use in a manner that would imply an endorsement of any company, product, or service, without my written permission;
· Understand that if I require legal representation because I am accused of a doping violation or am accused of criminal misconduct, or if for any other reasons I require the services of an attorney, I will be personally responsible for payment of such legal fees and expenses;
· Will act in a way that will bring respect and honor to myself, the Fund and the United States; and
· Will remember that at all times I am an ambassador for my sport, the Broomhall family, the Chummy Broomhall Olympic Fund, the people of Maine, my country and the Olympic Movement.
