After a decade of makeshift homes, the Blair Academy ski team finally has a facility that matches their ambition and drive. Nestled on Park Street, the newly renovated ski center offers more than just a place to store equipment—it’s a hub for training, team bonding and chasing future championships. At the end of a blistering cold day of carving the slopes, the Blair ski team has a permanent place to hang their skis and unwind.

“As head coach this year, I am so excited to be driving this initiative, as well as creating a memorable, supportive and competitive environment for our student-athletes,” Haley Chrobock-Palanca ’15 shares. “The renovated Ski Center will help us not only become closer as a team, but also provide a place for our team to become stronger ski racers.”

The ski team has enjoyed much success since Ms. Chrobock-Palanca’s time as a skier herself, when she was the 2012 giant slalom state champion, a member of the 2014 state championship team, and ranked second best female skier in 2014 and 2015 by the New Jersey Interscholastic Ski Racing Association. More recently, the boys’ ski team secured an impressive third-place finish overall in 2023, while the girls’ team placed second in giant slalom states. Morgan Celley ’25 added to the team’s accolades, winning the girls’ state champion title in 2023. With the addition of a new center, the team looks forward to continuing their winning streak and attracting future champions to the sport they love.

“Having a beautiful and organized space to keep our equipment will be huge for team morale and put everyone in the right mindset about the sport,” skier Ansel Hamlin ’26 says. “This facility will also help protect the team’s equipment, leaving us better prepared for competitions.”

Aside from a place to call home, the ski center will offer the team a place to store equipment, tune skis, watch race footage and gather as one. The Blair Academy ski team has always had a rich history full of tradition, camaraderie and success, and the renovations will continue to help them grow.