Welcome to International Snow Sports Coaching Association

When I was at Burke, I had the idea of starting a program that primarily to teaches and motivate 13 to 17-year-olds to become future instructors, ski patrol and coaches of tomorrow. At the same time allowing them to remain an integral part of the team. 

They will learn how to develop an eye being able to watch and improve the movement patterns of both free ski skiing / boarding and racing to help bring both young people and adults to the next level of today’s techniques. They will also learn basic first aid. 

As Skiing changes so much we. It’s hard for kids growing up today to find ways of fitting in. A mentoring program facilitates the development of bonds with peers and with adults. These bonds are based on their shared goals and a desire to not just succeed but to excel in the fabulous sport of ski skiing. 

The most fundamental and idealistic reason for existence is to bring pleasure and excitement to a wide audience and make it fun and easy to enjoy.

These are the kids from the race club and Mountain employees and are already accomplished skiers / riders. We found where they were quitting the race club and the race programs. Competing with the ski academy kids became difficult because they weren’t on Snow 6 days a week. They went from winning to barely placing. 

This program utilizes their skills being accomplished skiers / boarders to help Ski School, Ski Patrol and Race during clutch periods as well as throughout the year. 

This allows them to experience all three different departments on the mountain and remain in a team environment.  Most importantly they are being kept safe by being in that environment.  They can now go into the Trees, Glades and the Terrain Parks supervised. 

Mom and dad will usually tell the kids. “Hey meet us at the bar or meet us in the condo at four”. Where do the kids go? To the Trees, Terrain Parks and Glades. I just got sick of seeing them get hurt. 

So with the help of a few friends from Burke, Jay, Killington ,Brenton Wood‘s and Bristol. started a program where they’d become the instructors coaches and ski patrol of tomorrow working all three departments. They would rotate through all three departments a new idea never implemented before. Not a junior Ski instructor, not a Junior Ski Patrol and not a Junior Coach but as a team member helping control classes, diverting traffic and chalking gates. By rotating through all 3 departments they can decide where they wanna be in the future adding to a base of trained potential employees. 

In 2005 We implemented the program at Burke. We expanded to Jay, Killington ,Brenton Wood‘s and Bristol. 

I am so glad that we able to do something for this age group because this age group is limited unless they remain in a club. There are few programs that cater to their needs. Ski Wee for the little kids and Adult Private lessons are much more prevalent. unfortunately the adolescent group is just kind of left out unless they remain in the clubs with a focus on competition. Skiing is all about being safe and having fun!  

This strategically thought out innovative program has never before been implemented involving all 3 departments. This worked very well in Vermont we had a few kids go through it. I feel this is a positive for any mountain regardless of location! It provides safety, fun and learning at every location in the world. That’s why it is named The International Snow Sports Coaching Association.