In the first two posts of our Athletic Development Series, we explored the WVABBTS philosophy and the importance of building a broad athletic foundation. In this third post, we are looking at one of the most important, and sometimes misunderstood, parts of athlete development: free skiing and riding. It can be tempting to view time in gates, mogul courses, terrain …
In the first post of our Athletic Development Series, we introduced the WVABBTS philosophy and its focus on developing the whole athlete. Now, we are taking a closer look at the foundation of that philosophy: general athleticism. The WVABBTS athletic staff views development as an ordered pyramid consisting of physical conditioning, technical and tactical skiing skills, and mental preparation. Before …
More Than Results: How WVABBTS Defines Athlete Development – Post 1 Every parent wants to see their child succeed. In ski racing, however, success is not always easy to measure. A finish result provides one data point, but it does not tell the full story of an athlete’s development. This post begins a series exploring the WVABBTS Athletic Philosophy and …
At Waterville Valley Academy, growth is not just measured in podiums and results, although we are committed to achievement. It is measured in consistency, resilience, learning to push through setbacks, supporting teammates, and finding ways to get a little bit better every day. The 2025/26 season for the WVA FIS Men’s team was a powerful example of exactly that. On …
Press Release: Hometown standout Grace Henderson has earned a spot on Team USA and will represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan–Cortina this February. Grace, 24, has been chasing her Olympic dream since childhood. She began skiing at a young age and has been a member of the U.S. Freeski Team since just 15 years old. …
This past week, the world returned to a place that has shaped the very soul of freestyle skiing: Waterville Valley. It was a homecoming. A reminder that the roots of this sport run deep here, in a valley that has always attracted the bold, the creative, and the fearless. In 1971, the mountain hosted the first Professional Freestyle Skiing Competition, …
The Pat Harty & Sosman Memorial Races This past weekend marked an exciting and meaningful chapter for our program as the Pat Harty Memorial and Sosman Memorial races were hosted on the newly homologated High Country race course at Waterville Valley. These U16+ events served as a strong early-season competitive opportunity and a celebration of the people and history that …
Phil’s Hill is a cornerstone of WVABBTS Academy campus in Waterville Valley, where the past and future of freestyle skiing meet. Waterville Valley is celebrated as the birthplace of freestyle, having launched the nation’s first instruction program in 1969 and hosted the early championships that defined the sport. Phil’s Hill continues that legacy as a cornerstone of athlete development, a place …
There’s something magical about the glaciers in Austria – the crisp mountain air, the endless rock formations, the first deep-blue shadows stretching across the glaciers. This year’s WVABBTS adventures abroad once again lived up to that magic, giving our athletes, families, and coaches an unforgettable blend of world-class training, cultural exploration, and community bonding. Our Stubai experience offered two entirely …
And Why It Matters for the Season Ahead Every November WVABBTS U12 through FIS Academy student-athletes travel to Austria for early season glacier training. The decision is practical, strategic, and deeply rooted in our long standing relationships with the communities of Hintertux and Stubai. These two glaciers provide reliable early season snow, long uninterrupted terrain, and the controlled training environments …
