MEET OUR GRANBASSADORS
GBA's Granbassador team is made up of athletes who excel, influence and promote the sport of backcountry skiing and have a connection to Maine and New Hampshire. Each Granbassador supports the GBA mission to develop backcountry skiing opportunities across Maine and New Hampshire and provides GBA with critical content, insight, industry contacts and general support. These athletes are leaders in the backcountry community and we value their support!
Caite Zeliff
FREESKIER | Jackson Hole, WY
Born in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Caite developed a love for the sport of skiing by enjoying the variable nature of NH skiing. Ski racing shaped her skiing style and allowed her to travel nationally and internationally on the FIS and Nor Am circuit through High School and College. Caite ski raced Division 1 at the University of New Hampshire before heading to Jackson, WY to chase her dream of competing on the Freeride World Tour which is an International Big Mountain Skiing Circuit. On the FWT, Caite had considerable success with many podiums achieved. Most recently, Caite is the two-time reigning "Queen" of the King & Queens of Corbet's at Jackson Hole, WY, a rowdy freeski competition and stars in Warren Miller Entertainment’s “TIMELESS” for 2020.
Sponsors: Blizzard/Tecnica, The North Face, Shred Optics, Boot Soul, Tenyao salsa, Kulkea, Warren Miller Entertainment
Donny Pelletier
BACKSEAT SKIER | Moxieville, ME
Donny is wicked obsessed with making turns and will go to any length to find something to ski. Check out Donny’s “Glade Day with Donny” to see what we mean. Donny’s a true Mainah!
Sponsors: Moxie, Baxter Brewing, Dickies, Reny’s (all of the above are unconfirmed and complete speculation)
Andrew Drummond
SKI MOUNTAINEER | Madison, NH
Andrew grew up in the White Mountains, ski racing through high school and got his first taste of the backcountry by tomahawking the Tuckerman Ravine Headwall at age 12. Through college he ski patrolled on the weekends at Attitash and ultimately fell in love with alpine touring after a few trips to Alaska. Andrew can still be found chasing sticks at the local beer leagues or more likely lapping the headwall with his dog Squall.
Sponsors: Fischer Alpine Sports, Clif Bar, Craft USA
Hilary McCloy
BACKCOUNTRY SKIER | Madison, NH
Hilary returned to the White Mountains in 2014 after a seven year hiatus in California where she received her doctorate in physical therapy (and realized surfing is really hard). Hilary is a former U.S. Ski Team member for five years but now spends more time in the woods searching for powder or hunting for steep lines in the Whites. Spreading the backcountry message and magic of a day of skinning in the woods are what aligns her with GBA. Hilary is a podium-caliber trail runner (winning several notable ultras) and works as a Physical Therapist in Conway, NH. She is co-founder of Backcountry Bliss Retreats. She is also employee #2 of Ski the Whites.
Ben Leoni
BACKCOUNTRY SKIER | Boulder, CO
Ben grew up ski racing in New Hampshire until finally venturing into the backcountry as a sophomore at Bates College in Maine. After Bates, he spent several years out west developing his love and respect for backcountry skiing. Ben has featured in four east coast ski films by Meathead Films and is the creator of Ski the East's Working for the Weekend web series. When not on the hill, Ben is a lawyer in Boulder, CO where he specializes in resolving land use disputes.
Sponsors: Flylow Gear, Scarpa, Liberty Skis
Cait Bourgault
OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHER | Norway, ME
Cait Fitzgerald grew up in Maine and fell in love with backcountry skiing in 2017. She is a professional photographer specializing in outdoor adventure and lifestyle photography. As a newcomer to skiing, she is a big supporter of women in the backcountry and loves working with Backcountry Babes and the Alpine Women Collective. Cait spends as much time as she can getting out into the wilderness with her husband and 4 dogs. When not on skis, Cait loves being at home on the farm, running or helping rescue dogs find a home.
Sponsors: Flowfold | REVO | LL Bean
David Lottmann
MOUNTAIN GUIDE | North Conway, NH
David has devoted his entire adult life to climbing and skiing – pushing his grade on recreational objectives and working as a professional mountain guide. After a stint in the United States Marine Corp, he was hired as a rock and ice instructor and since has expanded his repertoire to include alpine, skiing and avalanche education. David is an aspirant Rock Guide through the American Mountain Guide Association [AMGA], an Ortovox Team Athlete, an expert gear tester at the Gear Institute, an American Institute for Avalanche Awareness and Education [AIARE] Course Leader, holds a Wilderness First Responder [WFR] and is a volunteer member of Mountain Rescue Service [MRS] and Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue [AVSAR]. In his free time, you will find David blogging, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, skiing, sharing micro-brews with friends or in the kitchen working on a new recipe in his home town of Conway, New Hampshire. He resides there with his wife, Michelle, his son, Alex and daughter, Madalena.
Jeff Frigon
SPLITBOARDER | Rye, NH
Jeff learned to ski at Birchwood Ski area in Londonderry, NH, tried snowboarding in 1986 at King Ridge, and skied backcountry for the first time at Tuckerman Ravine in 1989. With the exception of a brief time of self-taught backcountry tele-skiing in Colorado after college (because he couldn't afford lift tickets), Jeff has been a dedicated knuckle dragger since 1992. Jeff started splitboarding in 2010 and spends most of his time in the MWV with his wife and primary backcountry partner, Steph (Tele-maven) and their Australian Shepherd, Salty. Jeff is an Adjunct Lecturer at UNH and is the Youth and Student Programs Coordinator at The Browne Center for Innovative Learning (UNH's Ropes Course and Teambuilding facility). Steph and Jeff live in Rye and spend as much time as possible surfing, skate skiing, SUPing and riding bikes (for a very long time).
Sponsors: Weston Snowboards, Karakoram
Jess Marion
SKIMO / ENDURANCE | Portland, Maine
It’s hard to beat Jess. Literally. From being the 5-time women’s Tuckerman Inferno “Tuckerwoman” to setting the fastest known time running the famed 31 mile “Pemi Loop” (sub-7 hr), Jess is in her element on the trails or skintrack. Hailing from Portland, Maine, Jess is a high school nordic skiing coach teaching the youth the secrets to success. Jess lives with her husband Lincoln and their adventure seaplane, 27 Popa.
Willis Brown
FREESKIER | Location: Nomad, USA
Raised on the northern beaches of Boston, Willis spent his childhood split between the ocean and the mountains. As both surfer and skier, it would often create overlapping missions but the passion for each was thoroughly instilled. Learning to both ski and snowboard, Willis and his family would travel to a variety of mountains in NH and ME exploring the different terrain each had to offer. He fell in love with freeskiing, winning big air and slopestyle contests around the US before ultimately being introduced to the backcountry. As he continues to explore new places and chase freeride contests, Willis is a regular advocate for accessible outdoor recreation and environmental awareness.
Sponsors: Faction, Stio, Tecnica, mountainFlow
Blake Keogh
SKI MOUNTAINEER | Portland, Maine
Blake grew up skiing community-oriented mountains like Butternut and Mowhawk in his native New England. After moving to Seattle, WA, he quickly found trusted friends and mentors who introduced him to the beautiful and seemingly endless skiing opportunities offered up by the northern Cascades. Many happy years were spent charging up mountains with skis on his back and skiing terrain that only years before would have seemed out of reach. After moving back East in 2010, Blake quickly found opportunities to share his love for backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering by teaching AIARE courses and ski guiding in the White Mountains. He currently works for Synnott Mountain Guides and teaches psychology at the Waynflete School in Portland, Maine. When he isn’t in the mountains, Blake is looking for waves to surf, clean rivers to fish, and trails to run. Although they are “from away,” he and his wife Kennesaw, along with their cat Lucy, appreciate the proximity of both ocean and mountains, and the variety of opportunities available to engage in the natural world.
Sponsors: DPS Skis, Revo, Terrain Gym
Photo Credit: Carl Zoch
Andy Gagne
Photographer | Norway, Maine
Andy Gagne is a professional photographer, backcountry sports enthusiast and registered Maine Guide who now calls Norway ME home. In 2010 he drove his van to Utah for a season of skiing and adventure. After five years of growing his passion for backcountry skiing in the Wasatch Mountains he returned to Maine to be greeted by a thriving and unique backcountry community. With nearly 15 years of experience working in the ski and recreation industry Andy has combined his love for outdoor sports with Photography. You can often find him backcountry skiing, whitewater kayaking and mountain biking with a camera in hand. HIs photography showcases adventure sports in the mountains of Maine and New Hampshire. He’s passionate about showing people what’s possible in their own backyard.
