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WHO WE ARE

Green Mountain Academy is a premier snowboard and freeski training club in northern Vermont. We are a non-profit organization committed to developing a world class training environment for snowboard and freeski athletes age 7+. Our programs are designed to evolve with individual athlete's needs while teaching strong moral, social, and environmental values. Our skill-based training system provides a clear path for development under the watchful eye of our expert coaches. All GMA coaches are US Ski & Snowboard registered which requires background checks, CDC concussionSafesport, and CPR/AED certifications

Our mission is to empower the next generation of snowboard and freeski athletes to positively influence the community and culture of our sport; to foster physical and mental well-being; and to be stewards of the earth.

OUR COACHES

Coaches
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Jason Trask

Founder and President

Snowboard Program Manager

Years snowboarding: 32

Years skiing: 10

Years coaching: 2

Where: Smugglers' Notch Resort 1997 - 2013

GMA 2014 - present

Coaching certification: American Association of Snowboard Instructors Level 3

US Ski & Snowboard Association 300

Competition experience: Masters Men Nationals Boardercross 2nd place 2012

Masters Men Boardercross champion 2013

Specialty: long-term athlete/coach/club development, movement analysis, assessing potential

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Noah Labow

Executive Director

Freeskiing Head Coach

Years skiing: 39

Years coaching: 20

Where:

Smugglers' Notch Ski Club Freeski head coach, 2002/03 & 2004/05

Carrabassett Valley Academy Freeski competition coach, 2005-10

University of Vermont Freeski Team Head coach, 2010-18

Green Mountain Training Center Trampoline/Parkour coach 2010-19

Founder/ Coach @Elevate Movement Collective 2019-Present

Coaching certification:

USASA/US Ski & Snowboard Level 300 Freeskiing

Aerials/Moguls Level 200

IFSA Level 100

WFPF /USA Parkour Level 200

Competition experience:

USSA Alpine racing, 1992-98

NAC Div.III Soccer, 2000-2003

Moguls, Big Air, Halfpipe, and Extreme competitions, 1997-2006

USASA + USSA Halfpipe competitor, 2002-06

Season 5 American Ninja Warrior Competitor

Specialty: Air awareness, Trampoline, Parkour, Slopestyle, Halfpipe, Freeride

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Rachel Rose

Administrative & Academic Director

Snowboard Coach

Years snowboarding: 24

Years coaching: 11

Years teaching: 23

Where: Coaching: Smugglers' Notch Resort 2008 - 18

Teaching: Fayston Elementary School, VT 1999-2000

Jenkins Elementary School, VA 2000-04

St. Albans City School, VT 2004-06

The Schoolhouse Learning Center, VT 2006 - 10

Cambridge Elementary School, VT 2010 - 18

Growth Points Educational Services, VT 2018- present

Coaching certification: American Association of Snowboard Instructors Level 2

US Ski & Snowboard Association registered​

National Ski Patrol Level 1 Avalanche

Teaching certification: B.A. in Elementary Education

M.S. in Reading Education

VT Licensed Teacher K-6

Specialty: Fundamentals, Steeps, Trees, Teaching methods, Differentiation

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George Coultas

Snowboard Freestyle Head Coach

Years snowboarding: 23

Years coaching: 10

Where: Mount Mansfield Ski Club snowboard coach, 2011/12

Green Mountain Training Center trampoline coach 2011-18

Green Mountain Academy snowboard coach 2015-present

Founder/Coach Elevate Movement Collective 2019-present

Coaching certification: 

USASA/US Ski and Snowboard level 300

Specialty: Air awareness, Trampoline progression, Slopestyle, Rails, Halfpipe

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Noah Novotny

Backcountry/Freeride Head Ski Coach

Years skiing: 31

Years coaching: 9

Where: Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club 2010-17

Green Mountain Academy 2020 - present

Coaching certification: US Ski & Snowboard Association Level 100

IFSA Level 100

Specialty: Freeride, Backcountry skiing and touring, Mindfulness

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Mike Brainard

Freeride, Boardercross Head Coach

Years snowboarding: 18

Years coaching: 11

Where: Smugglers' Notch Resort 2012-present

Treble Cone, NZ summer 2015

GMA 2015 - present

Coaching certification: US Ski & Snowboard registered

American Association of Snowboard Instructors level 3

USASA snowboard level 200

Specialty: Children's fundamentals, SBX, GS, Slalom, Freeride

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Jeff Neagle

Freeski Coach

Years skiing: 34

Years coaching: 8

Where:  Ski Future 2011-13

GMA 2016-Present

Coaching certification: US Ski & Snowboard registered

USASA Ski Level 100

Competition experience: 10+ years of Slopestyle, Big Air, and Rail Jam comps
2009 USASA Northern Vermont Open Class Champion
AFP Ranked Slopestyle Skier in Gold and Platinum Level Events 2010-13

Specialty: Slopestyle, Rails

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Jacob Pratt

Freeski Coach

Years skiing: 18

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Years coaching: 4

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Where: Smugglers' Notch Ski Club

Green Mountain Training Center

Coaching certification: US Ski & Snowboard registered

USASA 100

IFSA L100

Competition experience: 5 time USASA Nationals

3rd overall 2017 USASA Nationals

6 years competition Ski The East

3 yrs IFSA western events

Specialty: Technique, Big mountain, Slopestyle

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Catherine Ferguson

Freeski Coach

Years skiing: 23

Years coaching: 6

Where: Gould Academy Competition Program 2015-2016 

Sugarbush Freestyle Team 2016-2017

Green Mountain Academy 2019-present

 

Coaching certification: United States Ski & Snowboard Association registered

 

Competition experience: 4 years USASA and 2 years USASA Nationals

2nd place rail jam at USASA Nationals 

2 years USCSA Nationals

4th place slopestyle at USCSA Nationals 

 

Specialty: Freeskiing, Slopestyle, Competition training

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Ian MacDonald

Freeski Coach

Years skiing: 28

Years coaching: 13

Where:  Burke Mountain Resort, VT Ski and Ride School (2009 - 2014) 

 Winter Park Resort, CO Ski and Ride School (2014 - 2021)

 Green Mountain Academy, Stowe, VT (present)

Coaching certification: Professional Ski Instructors Association Alpine Level 2

PSIA Childrens Specialist Level 2

PSIA Freestyle Level 1​

Specialty: Big mountain, Glades, Alpine, Control

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Steve Franklin

Snowboard Coach

Years snowboarding: 23

Years coaching: 11

Where: Stowe Mountain Resort

Green Mountain Academy 2018 - Present

Coaching certification: USASA 100

American Association of Snowboard Instructors Level 3

AASI Dev Team

Specialty: Fundamentals, Freestyle, Carving

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Ryan Norton

Snowboard Coach

Years snowboarding: 24

Years coaching: 14

Where: Monarch Mountain 2014/15

Stowe Mountain Resort  2008-13, 2016- Present

Coaching certification: American Association of Snowboard Instructors Level 2 

AASI Children’s Specialist 1

AASI Freestyle Specialist 1

Specialty:  Fundamentals, Progression, All Mountain

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Board of Directors

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Jason Trask

Noah Labow

Scott Reeves

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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