Conway, New Hampshire — One of the USA’s best backcountry trail alliances has a new leader.
Yesterday, the Granite Backcountry Alliance announced that the board chose Paul “Coz” Teplitz as its new executive director. Coz succeeds GBA founder Tyler Ray, who has been the executive director for the past eight years.
“I am excited to have Coz join our team and lead GBA into our next chapter,” said Drew Zimber, GBA Board President. “Coz’s broad experience in the nonprofit sector and his passion for human-powered outdoor recreation is exactly what we were looking for in the next Executive Director. I look forward to introducing Coz to the GBA community this fall.”
Coz got his start in downhill skiing as a racer. For seven years, he led the North Carolina Outward Bound School. After leaving the Outward Bound School, he began backcountry skiing.
“My first backcountry skiing adventures—skiing the CCC trails on Mt. Cardigan, exploring Tuckerman Ravine, and venturing into the Adirondacks—ignited my passion for winter in the Northeast,” said Coz. “The beautiful settings, dynamic conditions, and camaraderie left a lasting impact. When I learned about GBA, I immediately recognized its value in opening accessible terrain and supporting mountain economies. I’m thrilled to now be a part of this important legacy.”
He went on to lead the outdoor programs at Harvard and Dartmouth College. According to the Granite Backcountry Alliance, his career has helped him develop “a reputation for deliberate action, consensus-building, and a belief in the transformative power of time spent outdoors.”
This Fall, GBA will host various Tour dates in its glades, where they clear out the runs for backcountry skiers for this upcoming winter. Coz will be at these tour dates and meet with volunteers. The scheduled tour dates are September 21 at the Gulf of Slides and John Sherburne Ski Trails (Gorham, NH), October 5 at Maple Villa (Intervale, NH), October 19 at the Pike Glades (Pike, NH), and November 2 at Burnt Meadow (Brownfield, ME).
The Granite Backcountry Alliance develops and maintains various backcountry terrain networks across New Hampshire and Western Maine. GBA has created 45,000 vertical feet of terrain. In addition, they have helped maintain and restore 10,000 vertical feet of historic ski trails. This new hire aims to help the Alliance enter a new area to continue growing its trail network, fundraising, and participating in environmental efforts.
“GBA has done amazing work over the last eight years to open new terrain for backcountry skiing and riding across the White Mountains while building a robust community around human-powered skiing,” said Coz. “Thanks to the efforts of Tyler, the board, and hundreds of volunteers, the organization is in a strong place to tackle the challenges ahead of us, including burgeoning demand and climate change.”
Click here to learn more about the Granite Backcountry Alliance.
Image Credits: Granite Backcountry Alliance
