Charles Broomhall

When Charles Broomhall started skiing uphill transport was self provided. Skiers simply climbed the hill to ski down or launch themselves off a jump. The third of eight brothers and four sisters, Broomhall had to share the crude wood skis of the day with his brothers as they skied across the road from the family farm on Spruce Street at the Rumford Winter Playground. His first jumping skis were discards from Paris Manufacturing Co. and his first boots were used for all types of skiing.

The family competition developed skills that Broomhall used to become an outstanding winter athlete at Stephens High in Rumford in the early thirties. In those days winter sports included speed skating, cross country skiing and jumping. Charles lettered all four years as a speed skater and jumper. Following high school he joined his brother Chummy (Class of 2003) to train for cross country. They also worked on alpine technique in a regimen that included skiing the Auto Road on Mount Washington and in 1940 both passed the USEASA Class C downhill time trials at Pleasant Mountain in Bridgton.

The brothers entered as many competitions as they could get to through the late thirties and early forties. In Nodic combined competition, Chummy usually won the cross country and Charles the jumping to capture the combined title. From 1937 to 1950 the brothers were among the leading Nordic racers in America, both competing in qualifying races during 1939 for the 1940 Olympics but were not selected at that time. In 1940 they were chosen to train in Europe for the games which were cancelled due to the war.

In 1943 Charles joined the Army and was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division. He rose to the rank of staff sergeant and was shipped to Italy in 1945. Participating in a major battle in February he was seriously wounded and was returned to the US for recovery. The injuries resulted in loss of an eye and some hearing loss.

After recovering Charles entered the University of Maine on the GI Bill where he competed for the ski team that elected him captain in 1947 and 1949. Through college he was a winner in both collegiate and open competitions and compiled a record of wins and high finishes in cross country and jumping through 1953.

Following graduation he taught and coached at Hartland Academy and Kents Hill, during which time he completed his Masters in Education at Maine. That led him to Kennett High School in Conway, NH where he taught biology and coached skiing.

His work at Kennett resulted in three state championships and numerous skiers who went on to greater success including Terry and Tyler Palmer and David Currier who skied in the 1972 Olympics. He focused on junior skiers throughout his career serving various organizations involved with high school skiing and coaching. As a member of the United States Ski Association he served on the Junior Ski Committee, as Coaches’ Committee Chairman and as an official in the 1960 Olympics. This service was recognized in 1964 when he was awarded the Russell Wilder Memorial Trophy, recognizing his contribution to junior skiing. This lifetime of devotion to skiing has earned Charles Broomhall a place in the Maine Ski Hall of Fame