Some fun historical statistics about Rikert Outdoor Center with further linked reading:
1975: Ski touring began at Bread Loaf, head-quarter in the cow barn, and 4 groomed trails to ski on.
1978: Dave Larson and Ward Mann ran Rikert with fun stories of grooming and beyond to tell.
1980: Paul Caplan requested an Elementary Ski Program for Cornwall Elementary School.
1982: John Rubright became the director.
2010: Rikert was awarded the 2013 NCAA Championships. Read article by Faster Skier and learn more about the Tormondsen Family Race course from concept – actuality.
2011: Michael Hussey became the director.
2011: By this year, 13 Middlebury Nordic Team skiers had competed at the Olympics, including three who competed in multiple Olympics. Click to see full list of Middlebury College Olympians.
2012: Groomed trails had grown to 25.
2011/12: FIS certified 5km Homologated Tormondsen Family Race course was built. Click to read: Make it Snow, Make it Snow, Make it Snow
2013: 5km of snowmaking installed. Click to Read article.
2014: Dedicated snowshoeing and FatBiking trails were added.
2015: 55+ km of groomed trails. New trails added were Brandy Brook and Crooked Brook, as well as re-linking of S-turns.
2016: Continued trail improvement and repair work, extending snowmaking pipe, gentle re-routing of Outer Frost.
2017: Trail maintenance: Battell – finding the edges of the beloved trail and pushing growth back to original width; Frost – installing culverts to improve trail drainage.
2019: Barney Hodges became the Director.
2022: Robert Drake became the Director.
2022: New logo created to unify Middlebury Snowbowl and name switch to Rikert Outdoor Center.