Empowering Student-Athletes: Accelerating Racers in Academies, Clubs, and Programs On and Off the Slopes

Featured Picture: Coach and athlete interplay. Credit score: PV Alpine

At excessive ranges of competitors in most sports activities, student-athletes face challenges of discovering the steadiness between athletic success and educational achievement. Alpine ski racers are year-round athletes with rigorous coaching and competitors schedules, which have been on the forefront of creating distinctive faculties tailor-made to supporting student-athletes. The necessity for academic flexibility has brought on an uptick in alpine academies, multi-sports faculties, and ski golf equipment mixed with faculties.

Athletes mustn’t have to surrender on their athletic desires to excel academically or vice-versa. So, how are you aware what faculty, membership or academy is greatest for you? We’ve got your again! Here’s a listing of packages to select from that help student-athletes. All are listed geographically and in alphabetical order.

Burke Mountain Academy

The place is it situated: Burke, Vermont

Is there boarding: YES

Is it a college only for Snowboarding: YES

Is there a tuition: YES

Burke Mountain Academy was based in 1970 and has made it their mission to be “all-in on ski racing.” The academy is on the base of Burke Mountain, which affords the racers easy accessibility to a productive northeastern coaching facility. The academy has been trusted by many profitable athletes for over 50 years and is devoted to supporting the event of teachers, coaching and group. The academy is an annual college-preparatory faculty that has developed a curriculum that enhances college students’ athletic schedules.

Burke emphasizes long-term planning and steps to succeed on the “highest degree over a short-term, outcome-driven technique.” 

Northwood College with New York Ski Schooling Basis

The place is it situated: Lake Placid, New York

Is there boarding: YES

Is it a college only for Snowboarding: NO

Is there a tuition: YES

The Northwood College strives to create an environment for athletes that “balances time on snow and within the classroom.”  The varsity affords a personal faculty training with a complicated curriculum and place-based studying. The campus is near Whiteface Mountain and Mt. Van Hoevenberg, which supplies the athletes a wide range of coaching venues.

The academy is an all-sports faculty, so numerous different high-performance athletes will accompany the alpine racer. For ski racers, they provide a Winter Time period Program and an annual program. They’ve a long-standing relationship with the New York Ski Schooling Basis, which U.S. Ski and Snowboard acknowledges as a ‘Gold Licensed Membership.’ The on-snow coaching takes place at Whiteface Mountain and the athletes are supplied a number of coaching camps.

Okemo Mountain College

The place is it situated: Ludlow, Vermont

Is there boarding: NO

Is it a college only for Snowboarding: NO

Is there a tuition: YES

Okemo Mountain College is a Winter Time period ski and snowboard academy “devoted to delivering rigorous educational curriculum, whereas offering an intense on-snow coaching schedule.” They need their student-athletes to understand their athletic desires with out compromising their educational targets. 

In contrast to many annual snow sports activities academies, Okemo Mountain College solely focuses on Winter Time period participation. The academy encourages athletes to enroll in Winter Time period full-time, however offers shorter packages known as Goal Phrases. Goal Phrases will be eight weeks to a few months lengthy and are supplied as A, B, or C Phrases. Goal A Time period is three months and works greatest for U16 athletes. The Goal B Time period can be three months and works greatest for U14 and U12 athletes. The Goal C Time period is just eight weeks lengthy and has been created for youthful athletes.

Proctor Academy

The place is it situated: Andover, New Hampshire

Is there boarding: YES

Is it a college only for Snowboarding: NO

Is there a tuition: YES

Proctor Academy is a personal faculty preparatory faculty the place they attempt to supply an environment that helps college students’ freedom “to discover, create and outline themselves.” The Proctor on-snow program has entry to the Proctor Ski Space, which is privately owned and operated. 

Completely different packages are supplied for numerous ages at Proctor. The year-round program, Proctor’s Japanese Ski Group, is curated for athletes to “pursue elite-level snowboarding and power conditioning whereas partaking in strong educational programs.” The coaches and athletes have a personal, on-snow facility that permits for optimum coaching periods. Additionally, the staff works in 5 completely different preseason coaching journeys and most winter afternoons are spent on snow. The varsity additionally has a varsity and newbie snowboarding program that gives introductory and aggressive snowboarding for all ranges of athletes.

Stratton Mountain College 

The place is it situated: Stratton, Vermont

Is there boarding: YES

Is it a college only for Snowboarding: NO

Is there a tuition: YES

Stratton Mountain College is an impartial day and boarding faculty that gives faculty preparatory training and aggressive winter sports activities. Situated on the backside of Stratton Mountain Resort, the varsity has accelerated their student-athletes to the best degree of competitors. 

The Alpine Program emphasizes the entire growth of their athletes. They concentrate on the best requirements for coaches, athletic administration, governance and security for ages U14-U21. Their program extends into three choices for ski racers: a Full Time period Program, Winter Time period Program and Postgraduate Program. Academically, Stratton Mountain College strives to problem their student-athletes “intellectually” in and outdoors of the classroom. They help their student-athletes in balancing their rigorous schedules with excessive expectations. 

Waterville Valley Academy

The place is it situated: Waterville Valley, New Hampshire

Is there boarding: YES

Is it a college only for Snowboarding: YES

Is there a tuition: YES

The Waterville Valley Academy has a deep historical past and their legacy lives on via the title and their traditions. Since then, the academy has continued to develop and provide secure, high-quality alpine coaching and racing experiences. Their major purpose is to supply their athletes with “the time of their lives.” They attempt to supply devoted studying amenities, glorious coaches and a secure place for younger adults to satisfy lifelong associates. The academy affords full-time packages, boarding and weekend developmental packages. 

The complete-time Waterville Valley Academy trains athletes from U12 to their Submit-Graduate 12 months. The staff trains at Waterville Valley Resort, situated of their yard. This system is curated to satisfy the completely different particular person wants of their athletes via “first-rate teaching, private consideration, bodily conditioning, help, and psychological well-being.”

West Mountain Racing

The place is it situated: Queensbury, New York

Is there boarding: YES

Is it a college only for Snowboarding: YES

Is there a tuition: YES

West Mountain Racing packages embrace,  FIS Academy Program, Junior Academy Program, Junior Membership Program, and Intro to Racing Program. These packages are curated to swimsuit the wants of our athletes and their households at their numerous ages and levels of growth. West Mountain Racing works intently with the West Mountain Ski Resort and the native Queensbury College District offering athletes with an inexpensive top-level education/ski racing possibility. 

They’ve a extremely aggressive FIS Program below Head FIS Coach Thomas Vonn (US Olympian and famend World Cup and Olympic coach). The Junior Academy and USSA Membership packages provide top-tier racing, coaching, and on-snow time (100-120 days yearly) for U8 to U18. The united states Membership packages are led by Alpine Race Director, Stephen Lathrop, a earlier World Cup Racer and US Ski Group member. Their FIS Academy offers a number of choices for lodging and meal plans throughout the Winter Time period. 

Rowmark Ski Academy at Rowland Corridor 

The place is it situated: Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah

Is there boarding: YES

Is it a college only for Snowboarding: NO

Is there a tuition: YES

Established in 1982, Rowmark Ski Academy at Rowland Corridor is a full-time educational program that goals to “foster progress and resilience inside the student-athletes.” Their training is dedicated to evidence-based greatest practices and investments in college and packages.

The scholar-athletes prepare at the Utah Olympic Park and Park Metropolis Mountain Resort. Rowmark Ski Academy has a Junior Program and an Academy Program devoted to “fostering a lifelong appreciation of alpine snowboarding and racing.” A Junior Program athlete has a unique variety of days on snow relying on their degree, whereas the Academy Program has a year-round coaching schedule. They concentrate on creating student-athletes devoted to teachers, athletics, method, techniques, sports activities psychology, conditioning, teamwork and good citizenship.

Sky Tavern Academy

The place is it situated: Reno, Nevada

Is there boarding: NO

Is it a college only for Snowboarding: YES

Is there a tuition: NO (Program Charges Apply for START)

Sky Tavern’s nonprofit junior ski program has a deep historical past that started with native faculty instructor and feminine athlete Marce Herz in 1948. She approached the personal resort proprietor on the time, Keston Ramsey, and requested if she might deliver a small group of youngsters as much as be taught to ski at a reduced charge. That was the start of the nation’s largest nonprofit volunteer-run ski program. Since then, the group has taught over 125,000 youth tips on how to ski or snowboard.

In 2023, Sky Tavern expanded its personal Alpine Race Program by welcoming degree 500 coach Mike Savage to develop the Sky Tavern Alpine Race Group, generally known as START. The START staff at Sky Tavern is a 5, three, or two day coaching program from October via March or longer if the season/competitions enable. Sky Tavern believes in Marce Herz’s imaginative and prescient, “Sports activities are good for everybody.” 

Steamboat Mountain College with Steamboat Springs Winter Sports activities Membership

The place is it situated: Steamboat Springs, Colorado 

Is there boarding: YES

Is it a college only for Snowboarding: NO

Is there a tuition: YES

The Steamboat Mountain College is a personal faculty preparatory, day and boarding faculty that gives a spot for “college students to develop right now, tomorrow and day-after-day after that.” It has college students from kindergarten via twelfth grade with numerous pursuits. Steamboat Mountain College works with Steamboat Springs Winter Sports activities Membership to supply an all-encompassing faculty and ski program.

The alpine staff from Steamboat Springs Winter Sports activities Membership has excellent entry to Steamboat Ski Resort, Howelsen Hill Ski Space, and the prolonged Colorado winter seasons. The dedication to the game is supported by the tutorial program supplied on the faculty. The alpine program has packages for all teams and for the older ages they imagine “the mileage out and in of gates turns into the muse for all future growth and success.” 

Solar Valley Ski Academy

The place is it situated: Solar Valley, Idaho

Is there boarding: YES

Is it a college only for Snowboarding: NO

Is there a tuition: YES

The Solar Valley Ski Academy is devoted to balancing on snow and within the classroom. The academy is a day and boarding faculty that joins with the Solar Valley Neighborhood College to supply a university preparatory curriculum. The scholar-athletes are supported with versatile schedules to allow them to get a high-quality training that doesn’t influence their ardour for competitors. 

The academy delivers an “unparalleled alternative” for ski racers to “excel in school whereas accelerating on the slopes.” Their college understands the rigorous schedules of high-level athletes and accommodates them with travel-friendly packages. The racers at Solar Valley Ski Academy principally prepare at Greenback Mountain and Bald Mountain, which each provide a wide range of terrain.

The Peak College with Group Summit

The place is it situated: Frisco, Colorado 

Is there boarding: NO

Is it a college only for Snowboarding: NO

Is there a tuition: YES

The Peak College is a university preparatory, non-profit establishment in Frisco, Colorado. It’s a progressive faculty dedicated to college students who can be energetic and keen about participation throughout their expertise. The Peak College works with Group Summit to supply an all-inclusive program for high-performing athletes.  

Group Summit has its major amenities on the base of Copper Mountain, however the athletes on the staff prepare throughout Summit County and Colorado. The staff has packages for all ages, from introductory ranges to post-graduate. Group Summit is a ‘Gold Licensed Membership’ that gives age and ability-appropriate coaching periods to advance disciplines and pursue podium achievements.

Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy with Ski and Snowboard Membership Vail

The place is it situated: Vail and Minturn, Colorado

Is there boarding: NO

Is it a college only for Snowboarding: NO

Is there a tuition: NO

Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy works with Ski and Snowboard Membership Vail to create an all-encompassing academic program that works with athletes’ rigorous schedules. This academy was the primary within the nation that offered a public faculty academic atmosphere for severe winter athletes. It has been “particularly tailor-made to ship its curriculum to a pupil physique that may be unfold throughout the globe.” 

This academy offers an training that’s financially attainable to provide full-time athletes the possibility to attain their educational targets with out lacking out on athletic achievements. The scholar-athletes should be full-time athletes with Ski and Snowboard Membership Vail. The membership affords year-round coaching alternatives and the workers develops completely different plans for every athlete’s degree.Ski and Snowboard Membership Vail additionally companions with Vail Mountain College and Crimson Sandstone Elementary to make it doable for training and high-level athletics to coincide.

Winter Sports activities College

The place is it situated: Park Metropolis, Utah

Is there boarding: NO

Is it a college only for Snowboarding: NO

Is there a tuition: YES

The Winter Sports activities College is a university preparatory, public constitution faculty that gives a novel schedule for his or her athletes, making a steadiness of training and athletics. They encourage athletes to pursue their teachers and winter athletics to one of the best of their means and have enjoyable whereas pursuing their targets. 

Its academic system is constructed otherwise with a schedule that doesn’t have lessons throughout the winter months. They’ve developed a program that’s centered on training exterior of the heightened competitors season. The academy additionally permits their student-athletes to decide on the coaches and groups that greatest swimsuit their wants, so the academy doesn’t have a major staff.

Alta Badia Ski Racing

The place is it situated: Italian Alps- Two amenities

Is there boarding: YES

Is it a college only for Snowboarding: YES 

Is there a tuition: YES

Alta Badia Ski Racing is a world ski academy within the Italian Alps. They’ve two house bases in Milano-Cortina, one in Alta Badia-Cortina, Dolomites and Aprica, within the Bormio area. The academy takes a holistic method to ski racing and affords high quality and particular person consideration. 

The academy strives to supply an “enriching expertise each technically and personally.” They continue to be small in numbers to supply one of the best avenues for his or her athletes to achieve their long-term targets. The academy caters to FIS highschool and postgraduate athletes. The scholar-athletes are inspired to remain in this system year-round however are supplied three completely different choices: summer season, fall and winter. The academy recommends completely different on-line faculties for his or her athletes however affords the choice of attending the native highschool in Alta Badia.

APEX2100

The place is it situated: Tignes, France

Is there boarding: YES

Is it a college only for Snowboarding: NO 

Is there a tuition: YES

Apex2100 is a world ski academy famend for its distinctive mix of educational excellence, “world-leading” ski teaching and efficiency coaching. The packages concentrate on three key points: adaptability, long-term growth, and creating a spot the place athletes be taught via failures and successes.

They’ve curated 4 packages that accommodate numerous age teams together with, a growth program (U12 athletes), youth program (U14 to U16 athletes), FIS, and PG program. Every program has been developed to provide the age group what they must be profitable on and off the slopes. The teaching workers believes, “to be an alpine skier, you should be an all-around athlete,” so that they concentrate on preparation, power efficiency, restoration, and innovation. 

Ski Zenit Racing

The place is it situated: Saas-Price and Grimentz-Zinal, Switzerland

Is there boarding: YES

Is it a college only for Snowboarding: YES

Is there a tuition: YES

Ski Zenit prioritizes the success of younger athletes each on and off the snow with our annual packages particularly designed for FIS athletes. By partnerships with numerous faculties, we provide an distinctive ski program accompanied by top-notch training and housing amenities. Relying on the person wants of the athlete, we’ve got the flexibleness to supply a variety of choices, from ski coaching to a whole bundle inclusive of all facilities.

That’s why we’ve got partnered with a number of faculties accredited as Athlete- Pleasant Schooling Centres (AFEC) recognised by the World Academy of Sport. Versatile timetables for the IB Center Years Programme (MYP), IB Diploma Programme (DP), Cambridge IGCSE, and Maturité Suisse enable student-athletes to excel of their educational pursuits whereas additionally pursuing their athletic desires with intensive coaching schedules.