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University of New Hampshire Athletics
Photo by: Alex Miller
10/27/2026 1:25:00 PM | Skiing
Renovated facility provides dedicated team spaces and celebrates the rich history of UNH Skiing.
DURHAM, N.H. — The University of New Hampshire Ski program celebrated the opening of the Thomas and Barbara Putnam UNH SKIplex with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 18, welcoming approximately 125 donors, family members, alumni, and supporters.
"Babs and I have loved skiing our entire lives, and have spent countless days enjoying the mountains, trails, and traditions that make New Hampshire such a special place," shared Tom Putnam, donor and namesake of the SKIplex. "Supporting the SKIplex was an opportunity to invest in a sport that has given us so much and to help ensure future generations of UNH student-athletes have the resources they need to succeed.
"Seeing this vision become a reality is tremendously rewarding, and we are grateful to the many individuals whose dedication and generosity helped make it possible," Putnam continued. "We are extremely proud to support a project that will have such a lasting impact on UNH Skiing and its student-athletes for years to come."
The renovated facility provides dedicated spaces for the Wildcats' men's and women's Nordic and alpine ski teams, including a team lounge, fitness room, men's and women's locker rooms, and a ski room with equipment storage and waxing benches.
"The SKIplex is an incredible facility for our student-athletes. The upgrades to our locker rooms and waxing spaces truly give us some of the best team spaces in the country," said Shane MacDowell, director of skiing and Nordic head coach. "I am very excited to have such a nice home for our team that not only brings them all together but showcases the rich history of our program."
The project carries particular significance for Kathy Hall '66 and her late husband, Marty Hall '60, a UNH Skiing alumnus, pioneering Nordic coach and UNH Athletics Hall of Fame inductee who helped champion the SKIplex project.
"Years ago, Marty and I imagined what a facility like the SKIplex could mean for UNH Skiing. To see that dream realized is truly special. Marty believed deeply in this program and in the student-athletes who represent UNH," shared Hall, one of the project's lead donors. "The SKIplex reflects this commitment. While I wish he could be here to see it, I know he would be incredibly proud of what has been created, not only for the opportunities it will provide for Wildcats for many years to come but also because it honors the great UNH skiers of the past and the donors who made this possible."
Hall was joined at the ribbon cutting by Cory Schwartz, a UNH alumnus who served as the Wildcats' Nordic head coach for 42 years.
"When we started this effort back in 2017, we set out to build a home that reflected the unmatched academic and athletic excellence of the UNH Ski Team, and when we reached out to our alumni, parents and friends, they answered in a way that truly showed what it means to be a Wildcat," shared Schwartz. "From Tom and Barbara Putnam's transformational commitment to every individual donation, the SKIplex stands as a testament to the power of our community. I couldn't be prouder to welcome our team to their new home."
The SKIplex stands as a reflection of the dedication and generosity of the UNH Skiing community, whose support helped bring the project from vision to reality.
"The SKIplex is a remarkable example of what is possible when a passionate community rallies behind a shared goal. We are grateful to the alumni, donors, families, and friends of UNH Skiing whose generosity and commitment made this impressive facility a reality," said UNH Director of Athletics Ryan Colton. "It was a pleasure to celebrate this milestone and recognize the many individuals who played a key role in bringing this vision to life. The SKIplex will have a lasting impact by enhancing the student-athlete experience and providing our skiers with the resources they need to excel in competition, in the classroom, and beyond."
Follow the UNH Ski Team
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unhskiteam
X - https://x.com/unhskiing
"Babs and I have loved skiing our entire lives, and have spent countless days enjoying the mountains, trails, and traditions that make New Hampshire such a special place," shared Tom Putnam, donor and namesake of the SKIplex. "Supporting the SKIplex was an opportunity to invest in a sport that has given us so much and to help ensure future generations of UNH student-athletes have the resources they need to succeed.
"Seeing this vision become a reality is tremendously rewarding, and we are grateful to the many individuals whose dedication and generosity helped make it possible," Putnam continued. "We are extremely proud to support a project that will have such a lasting impact on UNH Skiing and its student-athletes for years to come."
The renovated facility provides dedicated spaces for the Wildcats' men's and women's Nordic and alpine ski teams, including a team lounge, fitness room, men's and women's locker rooms, and a ski room with equipment storage and waxing benches.
"The SKIplex is an incredible facility for our student-athletes. The upgrades to our locker rooms and waxing spaces truly give us some of the best team spaces in the country," said Shane MacDowell, director of skiing and Nordic head coach. "I am very excited to have such a nice home for our team that not only brings them all together but showcases the rich history of our program."
The project carries particular significance for Kathy Hall '66 and her late husband, Marty Hall '60, a UNH Skiing alumnus, pioneering Nordic coach and UNH Athletics Hall of Fame inductee who helped champion the SKIplex project.
"Years ago, Marty and I imagined what a facility like the SKIplex could mean for UNH Skiing. To see that dream realized is truly special. Marty believed deeply in this program and in the student-athletes who represent UNH," shared Hall, one of the project's lead donors. "The SKIplex reflects this commitment. While I wish he could be here to see it, I know he would be incredibly proud of what has been created, not only for the opportunities it will provide for Wildcats for many years to come but also because it honors the great UNH skiers of the past and the donors who made this possible."
Hall was joined at the ribbon cutting by Cory Schwartz, a UNH alumnus who served as the Wildcats' Nordic head coach for 42 years.
"When we started this effort back in 2017, we set out to build a home that reflected the unmatched academic and athletic excellence of the UNH Ski Team, and when we reached out to our alumni, parents and friends, they answered in a way that truly showed what it means to be a Wildcat," shared Schwartz. "From Tom and Barbara Putnam's transformational commitment to every individual donation, the SKIplex stands as a testament to the power of our community. I couldn't be prouder to welcome our team to their new home."
The SKIplex stands as a reflection of the dedication and generosity of the UNH Skiing community, whose support helped bring the project from vision to reality.
"The SKIplex is a remarkable example of what is possible when a passionate community rallies behind a shared goal. We are grateful to the alumni, donors, families, and friends of UNH Skiing whose generosity and commitment made this impressive facility a reality," said UNH Director of Athletics Ryan Colton. "It was a pleasure to celebrate this milestone and recognize the many individuals who played a key role in bringing this vision to life. The SKIplex will have a lasting impact by enhancing the student-athlete experience and providing our skiers with the resources they need to excel in competition, in the classroom, and beyond."
Follow the UNH Ski Team
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unhskiteam
X - https://x.com/unhskiing
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