Basecamp podcast — Academic excellence and Alpine ambition: Exploring the unique world of ski academies

A glimpse at campus life -- off-mountain -- at Carrabassett Valley Academy. (CVA Photo)

Imagine having to add a new pair of bindings or helmet to the pencils, folders, and notebooks on any given student’s back-to-school shopping list. 

That could be the case if you attended any of the ski academies that call New England home. Each school delivers a unique blend of athletics and academics to its students in order that they may receive the instruction they need, both on and off the race course. 

Two heads of school, Kate Webber Punderson of Carrabassett Valley Academy in Carrabassett Valley, Maine, and Claire Butler of Killington Mountain School in Killington, Vt., recently joined the New England Ski Journal Basecamp podcast to discuss what ski academies can deliver to prospective students. 

Highlights from this edition of the Basecamp podcast: 

On how a a ski academy differs from a traditional school:

Kate Weber Punderson: We have one focus and everyone has a shared passion. When you have that shared passion, you can tweak your schedule to optimize training for skiing and snowboarding. All of your teachers at a ski academy are very supportive of the student athletes’ dreams on the athletic side. So they’re going to work closely with the coaches and the families to create an environment and a schedule where the students can reach their personal best.

Advice for parents of children thinking of a ski academy:

Butler: A lot of what we’re trying to do is break down those barriers and improve access through our grassroots programs. But my number one advice would be to sign up for a lot of different options from a camp perspective; certainly like an elite team camp or other on-snow opportunities related to a number of the programs out there that are operating these different camps and programs. But also once you’re kind of feeling you’ve got a home and a great set with either coaches or resorts or different proximity to your family, pick one and really see their development path through.

Listen: