Libby Martin
Video still. From the Rossland Memories Oral History Project. Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre Collection.
Elizabeth “Libby” Martin first tried skiing after emigrating to Canada from Britain in the 1960s. Landing first in Montreal where she taught high school science, her few ski trips to the Laurentians, Vermont and New York State, convinced her that she needed to move west to continue skiing.
She “relearned” to ski at Red Mountain, very quickly became proficient enough to teach skiing, while also teaching at the local high school. In 1968, Libby worked on the du Maurier International.
When her kids were old enough, they joined the Nancy Greene Ski League. Libby became involved with Red Mountain Racers as a volunteer parent. She ran the local Nancy Greene Ski League and the Bantams (formerly the Talent Squad). Soon she became involved at the Kootenay Zone level representing the Bantams regionally. This also involved meetings at the BC level.
As a parent race volunteer Libby soon found her niche as a starter, leading up to more responsibility as the Chief of Start on more than one of the many races held by the Red Mountain Racers. This included the start of the 1988 World Cup. When her children stopped racing she continued to help with races for a number of years, while at the same time volunteering as a snow host.