Jean Luce

Many may not know it, but almost every ski racer in Maine and many from the rest of the country from the sixties to the nineties has been touched by Jean Luce. They may have been registered by her at a local race or a National Championship, or raced through an organization she chaired or event founded. She is one of those behind the scenes people without whom no ski competition would take place.

Her activities date back to the sixties when she served as Secretary of the Sugarloaf Ski Club. After founding the ski area the club turned its focus to ski racing, one of the reasons the mountain was developed. Jean Luce expanded her involvement as a founder and director of the Maine Alpine Racing Association, writing the by-laws for the group that organizes Maine alpine racing.

The list of positions and organizations she has served would outline a full career, but it's only a part of Jean's. In addition to secretary at Sugarloaf she served as Chairman of US Eastern Amateur Ski Association 1969-/975, Chairman, USEASA Alpine Competition Committee, 1976-1981, President Sugarloaf Ski Educational Foundation, 1981-1990, Member United States Ski Association Board of Directors 1990-1996, President Eastern Amateur Ski Educational Foundation, 1990-1999, President Eastern Ski Association, 1991-1998, Member U.S. Ski Hall of Fame Selection Committee 1 992-present, Trustee of United States Ski Foundation, 1994-1998.

In addition Jean taught skiing at Sugarloaf from 1966 to 1975 and again from 1984 to 1986. From 1986 to 1993 she served as Administrator of the Sugarloaf Competition Center, in 1969 wrote the Eastern Freestyle Rule Book which became the first USSA Freestyle Rule Book. In 1979 she established and chaired the Eastern Ad Hoc Committee which restructured USSA and in 1980-81 helped found Carrabassett Valley Academy where she still serves as a trustee. From 1960 to 1999 Luce served as an alpine official, with a final rank of Level III Technical Delegate, and in 1988 brought the Maine Special Olympics to Sugarloaf chairing the organizing committee for what has become an annual event.

Jean has officiated at every level with a list of World Cup, World Championship, Olympic and FIS races to her credit. World Cup races include Timing and Calculation, Waterville Valley, 1969, Assistant Chairman of Organizing Committee and Race Secretary, Sugarloaf 1971, Timing and Calculation, Aspen, 1974, Chairman Race committee, Vail, 1974, Jackson Hole 1975, Sun Valley, 1975, Hunter Mt. 1976, Waterville Valley, 1978, Lake Placid 1979, and Waterville Valley Race Administrator 1980-1991. She served at Alpine World Championships at Vail in 1989 and 1999, and played a major role in the 1984 Junior World Championships at Sugarloaf and worked on the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics from 1978 to 1980.

Over four decades Jean Luce has served in organizing races, training and tracking volunteers and making sure that races come off smoothly under the rules. Her history of dedication and hard work has earned her a place in the Maine Ski Hall of Fame.