Special Guests.

Born and raised in New England, Mary Rand’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and unrelenting creativity. From early ski trips to Loon Mountain while growing up in Rhode Island, to becoming a standout in the Pacific Northwest's big-mountain backcountry, her evolution as an athlete has been remarkable.

A former winner of Transworld Snowboarding’s “Rookie of the Year” and “Reader’s Choice” awards, Mary first made waves with her Yawgoons crew, turning grassroots East Coast edits into global recognition. Her coastal upbringing brought a unique perspective to her snowboarding, blending the flow of surfing and skateboarding with her on-snow style.

After dominating the park and street scene, Mary’s hunger for bigger challenges led her westward. Now based near Mt. Baker, she’s traded handrails for towering peaks, carving a name for herself in the backcountry with a style that’s as fluid as it is fearless.

With each new season, Mary continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible, blending artistry and athleticism into every turn. Her story is a reminder to think outside the lines, and we’re beyond excited to welcome her as a featured guest at this year’s Mt. Washington Ski Festival.

Join us and experience the mountains with one of snowboarding’s most inspiring pioneers—Mary Rand!

Jamie Kennard is an adventurer, filmmaker, and storyteller whose decade-long pursuit to ski all 81 of New York’s “classic” High Peaks—the Adirondack 46ers and Catskill 35s—is chronicled in his film, VARIABLE. Together with his brother, Doug, Jamie became one of the few to complete this ambitious ski mountaineering quest, navigating rugged terrain, extreme weather, and personal hardship to achieve a feat that hadn’t been accomplished in nearly 30 years.

An avid skier, biker, and birder, Jamie spends his time exploring the mountains, documenting the stories of unique characters and landscapes across the Northeast. His work captures the spirit of adventure and the pressing realities of climate change’s impact on winter.

Join us on Friday night at the Mt. Washington Ski Festival as Jamie shares VARIABLE and reflects on his remarkable journey, the challenges of skiing remote peaks, and his passion for storytelling in wild places.

David Goodman is the author of Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast. “The Godfather of Northeastern backcountry skiing,” has inspired a generation of skiers to explore the best powder this side of the Rockies.

When he’s not dishing on skiing, Goodman writes about everything from politics to climate change for the New York Times, Outside, Mother Jones, Ski, Powder, Backcountry, and other national publications (see more at bestbackcountryskiing.com). He hosts a weekly radio show and podcast, The Vermont Conversation. He has won awards from the North American Ski Journalists Association and the International Ski History Association. He is the author of a dozen books, including four New York Times bestsellers.

Goodman has skied on five continents, but he says that his favorite place to explore is in his backyard, the mountains of the Northeast. He and his wife live in Waterbury Center, Vermont.