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 concussion, Safesport, 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
Jason Trask
Founder and President
Snowboard Program Manager
Years snowboarding: 32
Years skiing: 10
Years coaching: 2
Where: Smugglers' Notch Resort 1997 - 2013
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Jacob Pratt
Freeski Coach
Years skiing: 18
Years coaching: 4
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
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
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
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
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
Board of Directors
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Jason Trask
Noah Labow
Scott Reeves