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Interested in a PG year? You’ll want to read this. Guide to Post-grad Programs
Choosing the Right Path Forward
At this time of year, many ski racers are weighing their options for training and racing in the upcoming season. Typically, high school graduates rely on hearsay and phone calls to gather information about programs. After going through the process myself, I know there is a long list of factors to consider.
To help young skiers sort through their options, I have created a list of programs across the country and a few international teams. The list may not be exhaustive, but it comes close. Rather than providing every detail—since each program has its own nuances that a short article cannot fully capture—the goal is to offer a clear, bird’s-eye view of the landscape.
Considering a Gap Year: Advice from a Leader
First, though, deciding whether or not to take a gap year deserves serious consideration.
I recently had a conversation with Aldo Radamus, whom I consider a sort of godfather to the U.S. alpine development system. (He was inducted into the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame for a 45-year-long coaching career that involved coaching at every level of the U.S. Ski Team and leading multiple ski clubs, including the Ski & Snowboard Club Vail for 14 years.)
Radamus is currently the alpine director at Team Summit Colorado, and he does not usually accept PG skiers who did not come up through the program. He also has tough conversations with the athletes in his club who want to take a gap year:
“If you look at it from the perspective of athletic outcomes [ones most PGs are looking for], those are extremely rare,” he said.” The vast majority are not going to achieve those athletic outcomes.”
Balancing Skiing and Life Outside Training
Ultimately, Radamus believes a gap year can be the right choice for a few select athletes. Still, he emphasized the importance of a part-time job or an academic course to foster personal development and take the pressure off of skiing:
“What are you going to do with the other nine hours of the day that you’re not training?” he asks.
He believes clear, attainable goals are especially important for people with real financial burdens. He has seen families remortgage their homes or live without health insurance for the winter, measures that he does not believe are justified.
Understanding the Financial Realities
A note about cost: The numbers below can feel understandably daunting.
However, many clubs offer need and performance-based scholarships. Organizations like the World Cup Dreams Foundation and the SYNC Athlete Fund can also help fund a PG year.
Beyond NCAA: Other Competition Options
For skiers not recruited to NCAA Division I, II or III programs, which offer relatively few spots and require competing against skiers from around the world for those valuable roster positions, there are more than 100 USCSA ski teams—including many at top academic institutions—to choose from.
NCAA competition does not have to be the make-or-break goal in an athlete’s ski career.
What To Look For in a Program
Finally, three things are most important when choosing a performance program: experienced coaches who genuinely care about their athletes, consistently high-quality training conditions, and athletes who are faster than you, sometimes referred to as “pace.” Identifying programs that are a good fit for individual athletes will likely involve emails, phone calls and research beyond the scope of this list.
East vs. West: Additional Factors to Consider
There are many other considerations.
For example, programs in the West might provide longer ski seasons at their home resorts (typically November through April or May). Still, the cost of housing can be prohibitive unless you can find a host family.
Several programs in the East provide housing but only have snow consistently from December to April, requiring costly pre-season travel.
Gratitude and Final Thoughts
I want to extend a big thank you to the many coaches who filled out my survey. I tried to represent each club as accurately as possible. And to the young, hungry skiers with big goals and unrelenting passion for the sport and their parents, I sincerely wish you the very best.
Taking a gap year can truly be an incredible and fun opportunity.
I also want to acknowledge Sheri Hall’s significant contributions—this guide would not have been possible without her help—and thank Nick von der Wense for his valuable support with the research.
EASTERN PROGRAMS:
Green Mountain Valley School (GMVS)
Location: Sugarbush Mountain Resort, Waitsfield, Vermont
Base cost: $27,050 without housing and $39,915 with housing and three meals a day. Both options include coaching, coaching costs at races, a strength and conditioning program, ski and boot work, athletic training, mental training, and nutrition workshops.
Year-long travel and training expenses: $7,000 to $9,000
Off-season camps: Four or more camps totaling more than $20,000
PG team distinct from club: Yes
Scholarships offered: Need- and performance-based
Summary: GMVS focuses on “the whole athlete from strength and conditioning to on-snow preparation, tuning, and equipment management, sports psychology, nutrition education, and more,” said Nicole Dyhrman, Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
The program benefits from strong relationships between coaches and collegiate programs, as well as with the U.S. Ski Team, Dyhrman said. The school’s home base in Central Vermont maximizes athletes’ exposure to high-level racing. GMVS has two dedicated training trails with two T-bar lifts and a snow cat that is school-owned and operated.
For more information, visit GMVS Post-Graduate Programs.
Killington Mountain School (KMS)
Location: Killington, Vermont
Base cost: $22,950, including coaching, travel to races, coaching costs at races, and a strength and conditioning program
Year-long travel and training expenses: $10,000 or more
Off-season camps: Four camps totaling $15,000 to $20,000
PG team distinct from club: Depends on numbers
Scholarships offered: Need- and performance-based
Summary: Killington’s approach aims to “meet athletes where they are and provide what they need to reach their goals,” Head of School Claire Kershko said.
Skiers have access to a variety of venues in addition to Killington Mountain, including Pico, Saskadena Six, Middlebury Snow Bowl, and Okemo. The program emphasizes year-round physical conditioning and includes sports psychology support. PGs also have access to academic enrichment courses.
For more information, visit the Killington Mountain School website.
Mount Mansfield Academy (MMA)
Location: Stowe, Vermont
Base cost: $30,000, including coaching, a strength and conditioning program, sports psychology, and day-trip travel
Year-long travel and training expenses: $10,000 to $19,000
Off-season camps: Four or more camps totaling $16,000 to $20,000
PG team distinct from club: Yes
Scholarships offered: Need- and performance-based
Summary: MMA takes a holistic approach to a PG year.
“Goals for many athletes entering a PG program are multifaceted,” said Mike Anthony, Mount Mansfield’s director of strategy and development and former captain of the U.S. Army Ski Team.
“Athletes desire to grow athletically, academically and personally. The MMA program is designed to touch all of these areas.
We work with each individual to formulate a plan to help them achieve all of their goals, whether athletic or academic.”
The program is limited to six racers, and PGs can enroll in academic courses for an extra fee. MMA’s training venue is regarded as one of the best in the world.
For more information, visit Mount Mansfield Academy Post-Graduate Programs.
New York Ski Educational Foundation (NYSEF)
Location: Whiteface Mountain, Lake Placid, New York
Base cost: $18,500, including coaching, travel to races, season pass, strength and conditioning program, jacket and speed suit
Year-long travel and training expenses: $3,000 or more, depending on skill level and not including entry fees
Off-season camps: Four camps totaling $12,000, plus airfare
PG team distinct from club: No
Scholarships offered: No
Summary: Alpine Men’s Head Coach Seppi Stiegler,, a three-time NCAA All-American and individual national champion at the University of Denver, leads with a process-based approach to coaching.
“I emphasize hard work and dedication to personal achievement,” he said.
“This sounds difficult until a skier learns to love a process-based approach. If you can find enjoyment in the daily tasks of athlete development, it no longer feels like work.
When you become obsessed with all the domains of sport, then you wake up with a purpose.
Work feels like play and your productivity soars.
You can’t stop or beat someone on this path because the results don’t matter to them.
It’s only the process that matters, and those who figure this out find the most success in the end.”
For more information, visit NYSEF Post-Graduate Program.
Waterville Valley Academy
Location: Waterville Valley, New Hampshire
Base cost: $25,250, including coaching, housing and food, coaching costs at races, a strength and conditioning program, day-trip travel, and advanced placement classes
Year-long travel and training expenses: $8,000 to $10,000, including race entry fees
Off-season camps: Three camps totaling up to $10,500, plus airfare
PG team distinct from club: No
Scholarships offered: Need- and performance-based
Summary: Executive Director Tom Sell, a former U.S. Ski Team coach and chair of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Eastern Region Development Committee, seeks athletes with strong motivation and work ethic.
“We are a small program with a mission of developing not only great athletes, but also excellent community members, preparing them for the challenges of life beyond skiing,” he said.
For more information, visit Waterville Valley Academy Athletics.
West Mountain Racing
Location: Glens Falls, New York
Base cost: $18,000, including coaching, travel to races, coaching costs at races, jacket and speed suit, season pass at West Mountain, a strength and conditioning program, and equipment work. Lodging and meals can be added for an additional fee.
Year-long travel and training expenses: Dependent on each athlete’s level and goals
Off-season camps: Two camps totaling $8,000
PG team distinct from club: Yes
Scholarships offered: Need- and performance-based
Summary: Former U.S. World Cup racer and Olympian Thomas Vonn founded an FIS program at West Mountain in Upstate New York in 2022.
“We are focused on performance,” Vonn said.
“That means we shoot video of every run, the timer is set up every day, and we put a lot of effort into ensuringoptimize each athlete’s performance by systematically assessing and that our race and training venue surfaces are world-class.
We focus on optimizing each athlete’s performance by systematically assessing and then addressing their strengths and weaknesses.
We are looking for anyone who is serious about improving.”
For more information, visit West Mountain Racing FIS Academy Program.
WESTERN PROGRAMS:
Park City Ski & Snowboard Team (PCSS)
Location: Park City, Utah
Base cost: $16,500, including coaching fees, a strength and conditioning program, and season tickets to Deer Valley Resort
Year-long travel and training expenses: Dependent on athlete level
Off-season camps: Three camps totaling up to $9,000
PG team distinct from club: No
Scholarships offered: Need- and performance-based
Summary: PCSS is one of the largest winter sports clubs in North America, with more than 1,000 athletes across a wide range of disciplines.
Their alpine PG program is run as part of their larger FIS program.
“Our PG programming and race schedule is dependent on the athletes’ levels and goals,” FIS Women’s Head Coach Whitney Gardner said.
PCSS emphasizes racing and stands out as one of two programs on this list that start 55 or more races.
For more information, visit Park City Ski & Snowboard.
Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (SSWSC)
Location: Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Base cost: $20,000, including coaching and a strength and conditioning program
Year-long travel and training expenses: Dependent on race schedule
Off-season camps: N/A
PG team distinct from club: No
Scholarships offered: Need- and performance-based
Summary: SSWSC’s PG skiers train alongside the team’s other FIS athletes.
“Our PG program is designed to be flexible,” Alpine Program Director Tyler Shepherd said.
“Our PG athletes move between both programs depending on season goals, plan and other factors.”
At different points in his career, Shepherd was an athlete and coach with the U.S. Ski Team.
He also coached at the University of Denver, where he was named RMISA Coach of the Year in 2018.
His philosophy is for athletes “to focus on the things you can control and execute those things well.”
Steamboat is known to water its training hills, especially Howelsen Hill, the slalom venue.
Two athletes from the club met U.S. National Team qualification criteria this season.
For more information, contact Tyler Shepard at tshepherd@sswsc.org
Sugar Bowl Academy PG Program
Location: Sugar Bowl Resort, Norden, California
Base cost: $20,000, including coaching, coaching costs at races, season passes, a strength and conditioning program and gear support
Year-long travel and training expenses: Dependent on the race schedule
Off-season camps: Four or more camps totaling $15,000 to $23,000
PG team distinct from club: Yes
Scholarships offered: Need- and performance-based
Summary: Sugar Bowl Academy’s PG program is by invitation only and has a limited capacity.
It offers an individualized approach with training and racing sites based in both Europe and the U.S.
The program has two coaches with World Cup experience and provides a low athlete-to-coach ratio, with one coach for every three to four athletes.
For more information, visit Sugar Bowl Academy PG Program or contact msola@sbacademy.org and bzagar@sbacademy.org.
Aspen Valley Ski Club
Location: Aspen, Colorado
Base cost: $25,000, including coaching, coaching costs at races, season pass, and a strength and conditioning program
Year-long travel and training expenses: $12,500
Off-season camps: Three camps totaling $10,200
PG team distinct from club: Yes
Scholarships offered: Need- and performance-based
Summary: Program Director Jeff Lackie, a former U.S. Ski Team coach who worked with Mikaela Shiffrin, emphasizes core values of teamwork, integrity and commitment. “Our goal is to have athletes that are relentlessly committed to the process of getting better and contributing to the incredible team culture we have at AVSC,” he said.
The program offers subsidized housing for two female and two male athletes. Aspen provides one of the longest home training seasons on this list.
For more information, visit Aspen Valley Ski Club Programs.
Team Palisades Tahoe (TPT)
Location: Palisades Tahoe, Olympic Valley, California
Base cost: Approximately $10,000, including coaching, travel to races, and a strength and conditioning program
Year-long travel and training expenses: $20,000 to $40,000, depending on level
Off-season camps: Three camps totaling $10,000 to $15,000
Scholarships offered: Need- and performance-based
Summary: Team Palisades Tahoe splits their time between American and European venues.
“TPT is striving to create a bridge for western athletes to go from high school to the next level, whether that is collegiate racing or the U.S. Ski Team,” FIS Coach Josh Transue said. ”We hope to take the gritty lessons learned in the west during our first years of FIS and apply them on assorted venues throughout Europe, North America, and the Southern Hemisphere to find the next gear.”
For more information, contact Josh Transue at Jtransue@palisadestahoe.com.
Mt. Spokane Ski Race Team
Location: Mt. Spokane, Washington
Base cost: $4,500, including coaching, season pass, and a strength and conditioning program
Year-long travel and training expenses: Dependent on each athlete’s goals
Off-season camps: One camp totaling $2,800
PG team distinct from club: No
Scholarships offered: No
Summary: Mt. Spokane Ski Race Team provides basic training to athletes at any level who aim to improve their skiing.
“We are focused on providing high-quality home training venues,” Coach Catherine Harnden said.“This includes classic western snow, pond ice, night ski mileage for slalom sets and custom terrain, including banked slalom and wave track.” Evening training under the lights is also offered.
For more information, visit the Mt. Spokane Ski Race Team.
Sun Peaks FIS
Location: Sun Peaks, British Columbia, Canada
Base cost: $7,500, including coaching, travel to races, training hill access, and pre- and post-season training
Year-long travel and training expenses: $18,000 to $20,000
Off-season camps: Two camps totaling $4,500
PG team distinct from club: No
Scholarships offered: No
Summary: Sun Peaks’ PG program focuses on proper technique, race-day mentality and athlete management.
Head FIS Coach Sami Piana grew up racing in the Italian Alps and has worked as a coach in Europe and North America.
The program aims to help PG athletes race at the highest possible level, eventually joining provincial and national teams or racing at the college level.
For more information, visit Sun Peaks Racers.
Winter Park Competition Center
Location: Winter Park, Colorado
Base cost: $7,600, including coaching salary, coach travel expenses, and van rides
Year-long travel and training expenses: $20,000 to $40,000, depending on ability
Off-season camps: Four camps totaling up to $12,000
PG team distinct from club: No
Scholarships offered: Need- and performance-based
Summary: Winter Park is not necessarily planning on having a PG program in the upcoming season, but Alpine Program Director Mike Bowman said he would consider it if enough athletes sign up.
“I believe in the complete athlete, and they should be able to do anything we ask them to do on skis,” Bowman said.
“That means they don’t need a watered or injected surface to get the most out of their skiing; they should be able to perform in any conditions.”
He also emphasized that athletes “need to want it for themselves.”
If you would like more information, you can contact Winter Park at Winter Park PG Program.
International Options for Post-Graduate Skiers:
Alta Badia Ski Racing
Location: Alta Badia, Italy
Base cost: €29,990 (includes coaching, housing, food, race travel, coaching costs at races, jacket, and strength & conditioning support)
PG team distinct from club: Yes
Snow days at home mountain: approx. 100
Snow days at other mountains: 50 to 60 (includes glacier training and Sweden trips)
Races per season: 40 to 50
Off-season camps: approx. 50 days in the period early June to early November
Winter travel and race fees: €2,000 to €3,000
Scholarships: Performance-based only
Men’s or Women’s team: Men’s only in Alta Badia, coed in Aprica
Summary:
Alta Badia Ski Racing offers a small, focused environment in one of the world’s most scenic ski regions. The program emphasizes the technical aspects of skiing and incorporates rest as an essential part of athletic development. With up to 160 days on snow and a robust race schedule, it targets athletes aiming for the U.S. Ski Team or high-level NCAA Division I competition. Athletes train across a variety of slopes in and around Alta Badia, providing excellent terrain variety and development opportunities. Training at the home mountain often involves competing alongside athletes from Europe and the World Cup circuit. This year, several of our athletes achieved personal bests on the Europe Cup circuit, qualified for the World Junior Championships, and earned medals at the National Championships.
For more information, visit: www.altabadiaskiacademy.com
APEX 2100 PG
Location: Tignes, France
Base cost: $31,000, including coaching, housing, food, travel to races, coaching costs at races, strength and conditioning program, season pass and some camps.
Year-long travel & training expenses: $55,000 including camps, race entries and all travel.
Off-season camps: 4 or more
Scholarships offered: No
Summary: Apex2100 is an international academy that opened in 2020. Alpine Performance Director Sasha Rearick joined the academy after 18 years with the U.S. Ski Team, including 10 as head men’s coach. The PG team spends roughly 50 days at their home resort and travels for the rest of the winter. One athlete in the men’s program met U.S. National Team qualification criteria this season.
More Info: www.apex2100.org
Burke Mountain Academy E-Team
Location: Sterzing, Italy
Base cost: $40,000, including coaching, housing and food, coaching costs at races, jacket and speed suit, season pass, strength and conditioning program and equipment preparation.
Year-long travel & training expenses: $15,000
Off-season camps: 2, plus early-season training in Europe
PG team distinct from club: Yes
Scholarships offered: Need- and performance-based
Summary: BMA’s E-Team limits its roster to just 12 athletes based in apartments in Sterzing, Italy from October to April.
“With elite athletes striving to make the national team criteria, it is most important to develop daily habits that support high performance,” Coach Kyle Darling explained. “On snow, it is all about becoming a better skier through consistent work on fundamentals and a faster skier by working on tactics. Off-snow is focused on conditioning, nutrition, recovery and equipment preparation.”
Darling said moving the program from Vermont to Europe “is a very important piece of the puzzle for bridging the gap from FIS racing to the NorAm, Europa Cup and World Cup levels.”
More Info: https://www.burkemtnacademy.org/
Team CLIF Racing Academy (TCRA)
Location: Remote with no home base
Base cost: Upon request; includes coaching and coaching expenses, housing, food, travel to races, jacket and speed suit, season pass and a strength and conditioning program
Year-long travel & training expenses: Included in the total cost of the program
Scholarships offered: Need- and performance-based
Summary: TCRA is a men’s team without a home base. It typically spends the summers in the Southern Hemisphere and the winters in Europe.
Athletes accumulate up to 200 days on snow and compete in 65 or more races.“We are looking for fully committed athletes to reach the next level,” Head Coach Guenther Birgmann said. “Preparing just for college racing is not our preference. We are seeking athletes committed to us for more than one season so they can excel to the next level.”
The team offers three tiers: World Junior Championship Team, Elite FIS/Europa Cup Team, and Europa Cup-Elite FIS Slalom Team for racers with fewer than 28 FIS points.
More Info: guentherbirgmann@mac.com
FLY Ski Racing
Location: Innsbruck, Austria
Base cost: $19,900, including coaching during training and racing, jacket and speed suit, and a strength and conditioning program
Year-long travel & training expenses: $20,000 to $26,000 for travel, race fees and camps
Off-season camps: 4 or more
Scholarships offered: No
Summary: Founded last year by former Irish racer Kieran Norris, FLY Ski Racing is a small team—with 8 to 15 athletes in total—based in Europe.
“Our training philosophy revolves around high-intensity, high-focus sessions, ensuring we get the most out of each run,” Norris said.
“This approach is largely athlete-led: When an athlete or coach feels the quality is dropping, we wrap for the day. Beyond that, we’re focused on building confidence and creating a supportive culture where athletes push each other and grow together.”
More Info: https://www.flyskiracing.com/
Team Go Anywhere
Location: Japan
Base cost: $20,000, including coaching, housing, food and coaching costs at races
Year-long travel & training expenses: $20,000
Off-season camps: 1 camp totaling $7,000 to $10,000
Scholarships offered: No
Summary: Team Go Anywhere is a men-only team based in Japan. Its athletes come from various countries, such as Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, and China.
Head Coach Taiga Young said the team’s priorities are “hard work, dedication, teamwork, problem solving and perseverance,” and “really trying to improve at our craft.”
More Info: @Tga.ski on Instagram
Final Note on Comparing Programs
The information above lacks a lot of nuance that a short survey cannot capture.
Please be sure to exercise caution when attempting apples-to-apples comparisons.
About the Author: Jimmy Krupka
