VARA recognizes athletes, coaches and educators / Rutland native Chuck Hughes honored

By Karen D. Lorentz

The Vermont Alpine Racing Association (VARA) honored a group of student athletes, dedicated coaches, educators, and volunteers at the 2024 Awards Gala on Oct. 26 at the K-1 Lodge in Killington. A special highlight was the induction of Rutland native Chuck Hughes into the VARA Hall of Fame.

Julie Woodworth, VARA executive director, recognized the athletes named to the 2025 VARA Team, emphasizing that VARA is about more than just competition, citing lifestyle, community, sportsmanship, dedication, and teamwork among other values. It’s an honor to be chosen and to represent VARA in their home programs, she said.

She also gave special recognition to Killington Resort President Mike Solimano and the Killington Resort Leadership Team, thanking them for hosting the VARA parade at World Cup events and for Killington’s “extraordinary support to VARA and Alpine ski racing.” 

Lori McClallen, director of the Pico Ski Club program and a Rutland High School coach, gave out special student merit awards to eight students.

Head of the Okemo Mountain School Mariel Meringolo, who is a VARA treasurer and committee member, praised VARA Volunteer of the Year recipient Marnie Roussel as a VARA “rock star.” She still volunteers with the Killington/Pico VARA programs even though her sons have grown, Meringolo said, noting her managing 900 VARA participants in World Cup parades and serving on the local World Cup committee. Roussel received a standing ovation from the 140 attendees.

The Alpine Official of the Year award was given to Mark Jacunski of Cochran’s; the Development Coach of the Year went to Matt Prendergast of Stratton Mountain School; and the Junior Development Coach of the Year was Terry DelliQuadri of Burke Mountain Academy. 

Hall of Fame Accolades

Chuck Hughes was chosen for induction to VARA’s Hall of Fame in recognition of his leadership across all levels of the sport of racing, from coaching to officiating. 

“His deep understanding of the sport and commitment to fair play have earned him worldwide respect and admiration. He has not only shaped the path for aspiring racers but also for officials, exemplifying a spirit of loyalty, care, and giving. His enthusiasm and dedication make him a true ambassador and an enthusiastic leader for the sport,” the selection committee said.

The induction also honored Hughes for his outstanding commitment to the betterment of VARA, its programs, officials, athletes, and their families.  

Hughes, received many accolades both from persons present and via video presentation. 

“You’re a myth, an institution,” said Tao Smith, former KMS Head of School.

Olympian Doug Lewis praised Hughes for impacting “my life as a J2” and “impacting so many.”

Mike Solimano thanked Hughes for being a “mainstay for the Killington community” and noted, “We couldn’t pull off the World Cup without you.”

Herwig Demschar, who was instrumental in bringing the World Cup to Killington in 2016, said, “You should be super proud,” saying the honor is “not a sign of getting old, it’s a sign of accomplishment.” Hughes “understood the World Cup idea” and “created a classic event,” Demschar added of Hughes having served as chief of course or chief of race for many of the past Killington World Cups.

Among other comments, there was a repeated theme of congratulations for “a well-deserved honor” and putting “a lot of heart and soul into ski racing” and having “trained thousands, including Olympians Doug Lewis and Diann Roffe.”

How it all started

Hughes, the revered ski coach, race official, and dedicated VARA supporter thanked the people for being there for him and the other award recipients.

He enjoyed recounting how he grew up in Rutland and began skiing at Pico at the age of 5 with his four older siblings. With his dad Paul Hughes managing Wilson Sports in Rutland, he began work there, vacuuming and cleaning the bathroom, he said, but eventually worked in its various departments.

Hughes took lessons in the Pico Junior Program and later raced out of the Pico Ski Club (PSC) and for Rutland High School. Calling himself an “OK” ski racer, he was enthusiastic in praising the coaches he had — Crandy Grant, Monk Martin, and Greg McClallen — noting in those days you did cross-country and jumping as well as Alpine ski racing. 

He also played football and baseball at Rutland High School for coaches Joe Teta, Rick Eaton, Bunzi Keefe, Jim Leamy, and Bob Dickman. “I had a lot of coaches who influenced me and led to my interest in coaching. They were all good coaches. I connected with them and worked hard,” Hughes said in an earlier interview, evincing respect and admiration for the teaching abilities of good coaches which he also shared with the VARA audience.

Hughes was set for a post graduate year at Vermont Academy when his father, who was opening a new sports store in West Rutland, needed his assistance. That led to a hiatus from schooling and the start of a ski teaching and coaching career.

He coached freshman and JV football at Mount Saint Joseph for three years and became an instructor in the Pico Ski School in 1975, crediting Wendy Hill and Marsha Fletcher for getting him coaching J3s and J4s. He managed the Pico Ski Club Hopefuls program, where he met his wife-to-be Betty. He attended the first USSA Coaches Academy in 1980 and became a USSS Alpine Level 300 certified coach that year. 

Finding teaching and coaching to his liking, he signed on at Burke Mountain Academy (BMA) where he learned from top coaches like Warren Witherell [BMA’s founder and proponent of the carve] and Finn Gundersen, he said.

During his four years at BMA, he got a bachelor of science degree in recreation with a concentration in ski area management from Lyndon State College (1983). 

 With a move to Killington in 1984, he and Betty raised three children who all raced and attended Killington Mountain School (KMS), where Betty was head of school for many years. As a KMS coach, Chuck took the first group of KMS athletes to train in Europe and continued to organize and manage European training camps for 15 years.

He taught and served as the director of academics and headmaster at KMS for 16 years and coached in the KSC/KMS program for over 20 years. Additionally, he manages KMS special events and helps with many of the Killington Mountain events.

Hughes supplemented his coaching/managing livelihood with officiating competitions. Having become an FIS Technical Delegate (TD) and a certified USSS Alpine official, he served as a TD for prestigious events, including the World Cup, Canadian Nationals, NorAm Cup, NCAA Championships, South American Cup, and USCSA Regional Championships. He continues to serve as a FIS TD and nationally ranked certified Alpine Official.

In addition to his coaching, Hughes served as a leader on a variety of boards and committees and has been recognized for his contributions with numerous accolades. Those contributions reflect a passion for the sport of racing, officiating, and supporting the organizations that make competition possible.  

Insights to those professional accomplishments and contributions came through when Hughes shared some final “positive thoughts:” 

“Smile. Say good morning. A positive person will perform better.

“Athletes, regardless of how well you are doing, you can do better; work harder, smarter. You have to to be successful.

“Coaches, practice what you preach. Be professional. 

“Parents, there is no rulebook. Be realistic. Don’t put expectations on . . .  be supportive. Make it fun—it’s all over so quickly,” he said, thanking people for listening to him. 

He was escorted from the podium with an enthusiastic standing ovation.