MASTERS
BreakerIce
Getting to know the
newest additions to
the masters racing
scene BY BILL MCCOLLOM
Quick: What do a retired plastics engineer, his sports-addicted wife, a venture capitalist and a computer wizard have in common? They are among the many new
masters athletes who have tried their hand at ski racing this season. New racers come in all shapes and
sizes, as well as levels of experience and age. There
are few common denominators among the newbies
(other than a desire to improve their skills and try their
hand at competition). Their initial presence might inspire a bit of “Psst, who’s that?” Shortly after that, they
will be on first-name basis with their classmates, and
within a few races they’ll be known by all. Ski racing is
a tight community, and anonymity is not an option.
Walter Beinecke
Walter Beinecke has been racing in the New England
Masters Series since the beginning of the season, but
he became much better known after his big day at
the Middlebury Snow Bowl slalom event on Jan. 14.
Yes, he skied well to place third in his Class 5, but he
quickly became the envy of the field when he won the
pair of Head race skis that were raffled-off at the post-
race awards party.
After starting five successful businesses, Beinecke
now runs his own venture capital firm, Brook Venture
Partners, in Manchester, Mass. His work includes in-
