Bruce Colon, former Alpine Skiing Program Director at Northwood School feared he was going to lose the ski program. Student-athletes were leaving to pursue their dreams of becoming snowsport superstars elsewhere. Ski academies began sprouting up all over New England and began recruiting from New York State. These ski academies received dedicated hill space and coaching staff (unavailable to Northwood at the time).

While more kids were getting into the sport, there was an ‘age change.’ This created many more age groups leaving Northwood/New York State with little coaching staff for travel and one on one athlete development.

In 1973, Bruce reached out to Faris Taylor, the former Chair of New York State Ski Racing Association (NYSSRA). Faris knew exactly who to contact to help, Senator Larry Lane. With both Faris and Larry’s support, Bruce presented at the Environmental Conservation Meeting in Albany to Northwood Head of School, Board Members of NYSSRA, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and available Congressmen.

At the DEC Meeting on June 5, 1973.

Pictured Left to Right (Seated): Commissioner Henry L. Diamond, Senator Larry Lane, Ron MacKenzie, Gerry Buyce, W. John Freidlander. (Standing): Frank Spann, Faris Taylor, Robert Norton, Bruce Colon, Robert Truckenbrod. 

After the presentation, Bruce was granted funds to start the Whiteface Alpine Training Center. With this funding, Bruce and his team hired a Director (who was the liaison to the DEC/State), 3 dedicated coaches and built a small training center at the base of Whiteface.

Knowing the funding would not last, Bruce, Faris and NYSSRA board member, Dick Denninger, began the process to create a 501(c) (3).  

In 1975, the DEC could not fund the Whiteface Alpine Training Center.

Faris and Dick worked with the State to get permission to continue to operate as a 501 (c ) (3) and the details on taking over the Whiteface Alpine Training Center.

The former Whiteface Training Alpine Center has now become the New York Ski Educational Foundation (NYSEF). NYSEF has since grown to include 7 disciplines, 5 training venues and over 500 athletes, some of whom have competed in the Winter Olympic Games.