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 where coaching and community converge to shape the next generation of freestyle skiers and riders.
Built in 2012 as an on-campus bag jump and dry slope training venue, Phil’s Hill was designed to give athletes a safe, repeatable space to practice aerials and progress through skill sequences that are difficult to isolate on a full mountain. Covered with a snow-like plastic surface, the long in-runs and giant airbag allow precise repetitions in a single day, dramatically reducing risk compared with water or unpadded landings. Camps, clinics, and daily skill sessions all rely on the hill, and WVABBTS credits it with helping build a proven pipeline to national teams and podiums.
Phil’s Hill is a living memorial. Named in honor of Philip Holmes and his family, its construction and ongoing upgrades have been driven by coaches, alumni, and supporters who see the value in a training tool that accelerates athlete progression while anchoring Waterville Valley’s historical identity in freestyle. Investments in the hill are framed as critical to athlete safety and program excellence, ensuring that WVABBTS remains a leader in innovation and stewardship.
Phil’s Hill fits into the longer story of Waterville Valley as an eastern center for snowsports excellence. The valley has always been a hub of innovation, and Phil’s Hill is a crucial chapter in that legacy. By offering year round training, it supports Academy and camp athletes, reinforcing Waterville Valley’s role as an industry leader in snow sports education.
If you or your kids benefited from Phil’s Hill or you would like to be part of the upgrade and renovation of the next iteration of Phil’s Hill, please consider donating through the WVABBTS Freestyle Fund.
