Paul Throop

Paul “Boomer” Throop has had a long and diverse career in the ski industry as a racer, instructor, coach and an administrator. In the early 1970s, he served as the business manager for the revitalized Southern Ontario Cross Country ski team. He later became Program Manager for the national cross country committee. In 1976, Throop managed the National Cross Country Development Team and was one of the founding directors of the Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors. He also worked behind the scenes to prepare for the 1976 Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck and Lake Placid in 1980. In the early 2000s, Throop served a board member and then President of the Canadian Ski Marathon.

Throop’s most significant achievement is the “Ski at School” program, which he co-founded and has presided over since 2016. The program first provided skiing opportunities to less advantaged schools in the Outaouais region at no cost. The program later expanded throughout the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. Cross-country ambassadors are trained each season to deliver the highly successful program with an inventory of over 1,500 sets of skis.

Throop has been honoured with several awards for his work. In 2023, he was inducted into the Chelsea Wall of Fame as a Citizen Builder and also received a Volunteering Award from the Quebec Ministry of Community Affairs.

Paul Throop’s legacy is deeply rooted in his lifelong commitment to cross-country skiing and for his efforts to make the sport accessible to all. He has provided skiing opportunities to thousands of children, seniors and newcomers and has connected youth and families with Canadian winter culture. Throop’s personal journey, using skiing as an escape from a difficult childhood, demonstrates the transformative power of skiing and serves as an inspiration to others in the field.