The Pat Harty & Sosman Memorial Races
This past weekend marked an exciting and meaningful chapter for our program as the Pat Harty Memorial and Sosman Memorial races were hosted on the newly homologated High Country race course at Waterville Valley. These U16+ events served as a strong early-season competitive opportunity and a celebration of the people and history that have shaped alpine racing at Waterville Valley.
Racing on a New, Proven Venue
Snow blew steadily throughout the day, but the High Country pitch skied exceptionally well. Thanks to excellent preparation and organization, the surface held up, the races moved quickly, and the event ran smoothly from start to finish. The efficient execution allowed athletes to focus on confident, aggressive slalom skiing.
Strong Performances on Home Snow
The competition was fast and spirited, with multiple awards presented across categories: top three U16 athletes, top three finishers in each race, and top three overall. Gunnar Guilbert, one of our FIS men’s athletes, earned first place in the Pat Harty Memorial and second place in the Sosman Memorial, securing first place overall. Jacob Wagner followed with a first-place finish in the Sosman Memorial and second place in the Harty, earning second overall.
Among the U16s, Owen Osterberg delivered a strong performance, finishing second in the Sosman and third in the Harty to lead the age group. First-year U16 Tommy Harrington posted impressive results with a sixth-place overall finish in the Harty and seventh overall in the Sosman, narrowly missing the U16 podium. Will Bradica rounded out the results with a solid ninth-place finish in the Harty.
Equally exciting was the strong showing from our WVABBTS weekend athletes, many of whom were racing on home terrain to kick off their season. Competing on familiar snow—supported by teammates, coaches, and families—made for an energizing and confidence-building start to the winter.
A few more photos from the race and WVABBTS at Waterville Valley, thanks to Beck Badger.
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Honoring the Pat Harty Legacy
The Pat Harty Memorial race honors Pat Harty, a respected ski writer for The Boston Globe who played an influential role in covering and promoting the sport. Following his passing, Waterville Valley established the Pat Harty Memorial Slalom as an annual early-season race, recognizing his lasting contributions to skiing and to the local ski community. The race reflects Harty’s passion for the sport and his commitment to telling the stories that shaped New England ski racing.
Honoring the Sosman Legacy
The Sosman Memorial carries deep significance within the Waterville Valley and WVABBTS community. It is named in honor of Dr. Leland Sosman, a longtime Waterville Valley community member and a cornerstone of WVABBTS and alpine skiing at both the national and international levels.
Affectionately known as “Doc Sosman” or “Sos,” Leland Sosman first came to the Valley in the late 1930s as an avid hiker, alpine skier, and Nordic skier. In the early to mid-1900s, he blazed many of the hiking and ski trails that helped define the Valley. Anyone who has hiked Mt. Tecumseh is familiar with the Sosman Trail near the summit—often without realizing the extraordinary individual behind its name.
Sosman’s service to the sport was extraordinary in both scope and longevity. Over the years, he served as a WVABBTS board member, two-term president, and race chairman for more than 20 years. His influence extended nationally and internationally through roles including USSA Alpine Officials Chairman, USSA Director and Alpine Vice President (multiple terms), USSA Honorary Director, and membership on the FIS Alpine Rules Committee and Technical Delegate Committee, where he is now an Honorary Member. He also served multiple terms on the NHARA Board and was a US Ski Education Foundation Trustee and Executive Committee member.
Sosman worked at many of the sport’s most prestigious events, including the 1964 and 1976 Olympics (Innsbruck), 1980 Olympics (Lake Placid), 1984 Olympics (Sarajevo – Jury), 1988 Olympics (Calgary), and 2002 Olympics (Salt Lake City), as well as numerous World Championships, including serving on the Jury at Crans-Montana. In recognition of his lifelong impact, Sosman was inducted into the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 1999.
Even late in life, Sosman’s passion for WVABBTS never wavered. He served as an Emeritus Trustee and made a lasting contribution by donating a parcel of land to WVABBTS.
Looking Ahead
Hosting the Pat Harty Memorial and Sosman Memorial races on High Country was a powerful reminder of the legacy behind our sport and the strength of our present-day program. With excellent racing, strong organization, and a field of motivated athletes, the weekend set a high standard for the season ahead, honoring the individuals who helped build the foundation we ski on today.
A strong start to winter, with many more turns to come.
