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
Began snowboarding in 1991
Began skiing in 1981
Began coaching in 1997
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
Began skiing in 1984
Began coaching in 2002
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 Director
Snowboard Coach
Began snowboarding in 1998
Began coaching in 2008
Where: Coaching: Smugglers' Notch Resort 2008 - 18
Coaching certification: American Association of Snowboard Instructors Level 2
US Ski & Snowboard Association registered
National Ski Patrol Level 1 Avalanche
Additional certifications: 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
Began snowboarding in 1998
Began coaching in 2011
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 Snowboard Level 100 examiner
USASA Level 300
Specialty: Air awareness, Trampoline progression, Slopestyle, Rails, Halfpipe
Noah Novotny
Backcountry/Freeride Head Ski Coach
Began skiing in 1990
Began coaching in 2010
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
Began skiing in 1988
Began coaching in 2012
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: Green Mountain Academy, Elevate Movement Collective, 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
Big Mtn Ski 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
Sam DeBenedictis
Freeski Coach
Began skiing in 1991
Began snowboarding in 2002
Began coaching in 2022
Where: Green Mountain Academy, Ski Bradford, Wachusett, Bretton Woods
Coaching certification: US Ski & Snowboard registered; IFSA Level 1
Competition experience: racing age 6 - 15
Specialty: Big Mountain
Alison Kaminer
Jr Ripper Ski Coach
Began skiing in 1978
Began snowboarding in 2020
Began coaching in 2014
Where: Stowe, Sugarbush, Busters
Coaching certification: PSIA Level 3, Children’s Specialist 2, United States Ski & Snowboard Association registered
Competition experience: Alpine racing (high school and college), Slalom, GS, Super G, Downhill, (equestrian eventing and show jumping)
Related certifications and experience: USSA Alpine Referee
Specialty: Passionate about skiing with lots of experience teaching kids; Creating a positive and engaging atmosphere while finding the right balance of skill building and fun!; Building and strengthening foundational skills to support long term athletic growth
Willis Brown
Freestyle Ski Coach
Began skiing in 1991
Began snowboarding in 1997
Began coaching in 2023
Where: Green Mountain Academy
Coaching certification: USASA, United States Ski & Snowboard Association registered
Competition experience: X Games, Dew Tour, US Open, East Coast Open, VT Open, Freeride World Tour, USSA Nationals, Junior Olympics
Specialty: Slopestyle, Big Air
Casey Taylor
Jr Ripper Ski Coach
Began skiing in 2002
Began coaching in 2016
Where: Green Mountain Academy; The Riders Club at Titcomb Mountain, an after school nonprofit freestyle organization in Maine
Coaching certification: United States Ski & Snowboard Association
Competition experience: Rail jams all over northern New England
Slopestyle comps including the Gatorade Free Flow Tour
Favorite comp ever was the Downtown Showdown rail jam in Portland ME!
Specialty: Rails
Cooper Silverstein
Jr Ripper Ski Coach
Began skiing in 2006
Began coaching in 2019
Where: Green Mountain Academy, Winter Park, CO
Coaching certification: United States Ski & Snowboard Association
Competition experience: I competed moguls for 3 years sprinkling in some big mountain training before turning focus fully towards IFSA Rocky Mountain Region. I competed in multiple states at the regional and national level. Then transitioned to focusing on bikes competing in Category 1 UCI sanctioned events. But now I’m back skiing full time for the UVM Free Ski team focusing on IFSA qualifier series and working my way into hopefully USASA competitions in the next few years.
Specialty: I love skiing steep and technical lines of the West. I am working on trying to find them in the Northeast. I also have a project to ski all of the 5,000 plus foot peaks in the northeast. So I like skiing big lines fast and if your kids have had me. I am a huge stickler for proper hand position when skiing!
Emmanuel (Manny) Balascak
Jr Ripper Ski Coach
Began skiing in 2004
Began coaching in 2022
Where: Bolton Valley, Green Mountain Academy
Coaching certification: United States Ski & Snowboard Association
Specialty: Fundamentals, Trees, Steeps, Big Mountain
Steve Franklin
Snowboard Coach; Staff Trainer
Began snowboarding in 1999
Years coaching in 2013
Where: Stowe Mountain Resort
Green Mountain Academy 2018 - Present
Coaching certification: USASA 100
American Association of Snowboard Instructors Level 3
AASI East Examiner
Specialty: Fundamentals, Freestyle, Carving
Dani Berg
Snowboard Coach
Began snowboarding in 2003
Began coaching in 2013
Where: Smuggler’s Notch Resort, Green Mountain Academy, Stowe Mountain Resort
Coaching certification: AASI Level III, children’s specialist 2, freestyle specialist 1, AAIRE 1
Other experience: art teacher, librarian
Specialty: children, movement analysis & feedback
Kee Gillen
Snowboard Coach
Began snowboarding in 1993
Began coaching in 2006
Where: Green Mountain Academy, Stowe Ski School
Coaching certification: AASI Level 3
Specialty: Riding fundamentals, Steeps, Bumps, Woods/Backcountry
Les Wetmore
Snowboard Coach
Began Skiing in 1987
Began snowboarding in 1988
Began coaching in 2007
Where: Green Mountain Academy, Smuggler's Notch Snow Sports University
Coaching certification: AASI Level 3
Specialty: Fundamentals, Carving, Bumps, Trees, Halfpipe
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