WVBBTS announces new hires Tom Sell, Craig Antonides, Sam Higgins

WVBBTS is pleased to announce the hiring of three new staff members for the 2020-21 season. Tom Sell joins as FIS Men’s coach, Craig Antonides as Head U10 Coach and Sam Higgins as Director of Mountain Operations.

Tom Sell comes to WVBBTS with over 30 years of coaching experience including most recently as the Alpine Director at Killington Mountain School where he oversaw all aspects of the alpine program. Before taking the position at KMS, Sell was a coach for the U.S. Ski Team from 2005 to 2009. His coaching roles with the U.S. Ski Team included the Head Men’s Europa Cup Tech Coach developing future World Cup racers. Sell has also been the chair of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Eastern region development committee for the last four years, which aims to create a system that will help Eastern athletes be competitive at the national and international levels.

WVA Director of FIS Program Andrew Gannon says, “I am so excited to have Tom on board as a men’s FIS coach. Tom brings years of experience to Waterville Valley Academy as a coach and former director. He has worked at nearly every layer of this sport—from USST Coach, to the ‘grassroots.’ For me, being able to collaborate with him is going to have a real impact not only on the men’s FIS program, but the entire organization”

Craig Antonides has been hired as the club’s head U10 coach. Antonides comes to WVBBTS after 36 years of experience coaching at Holderness School, and is very excited to start this new chapter of his coaching career.

Craig grew up in Aspen, CO, and Waterville Valley, N.H. He started his racing career at WVBBTS, and then competed for Holderness School, Middlebury College, and on the Peugeot Pro Ski Tour. He was also a four-time New England NASTAR Pacesetting Champion and earned a silver medal in the GS at the 1992 Masters Nationals. Craig began his coaching career at BBTS while competing on the pro tour. He started coaching at Holderness in 1984, and in the years since has coached countless high-level skiers; became a USSA Level 400 certified coach, Level 4 Referee, and Level 4 Competition Official, and served 20 years as chairman of the NH Alpine Competition Committee. In 2002, Craig was named the New Hampshire Alpine Racing Association Coach of the Year.

Justin Sperry, Director of Weekend Youth Programs, is excited to bring Craig into the Youth Program, saying, “I’m thrilled to have Craig join the team here at WVBBTS. His demonstrated teaching ability, wealth of experience, impressive organization skills, and passion for the sport of ski racing will be a huge benefit for our athletes, as well as the rest of our staff.”

Lastly, Sam Higgins joins the staff as the Director of Mountain Operations. In this role, Higgins will support all competitions, manage volunteers, and act as the liaison with Waterville Valley Resort. Sam grew up in Stratham New Hampshire on the seacoast where he works in the maritime industry as boat captain during the summers. He spent ten plus years as a ski racer at WVBBTS and New Hampton, where he graduated from in 2007. His passion for applying his skills on the sea has created a template allowing him to be versatile while also being fun in a rather high pace environment.

Release courtesy of WVBBTS.