At Waterville Valley Academy (WVA) is a living legacy. It is a place where Olympic dreams take shape and where every athlete becomes part of a story that spans generations. Whether in Alpine racing, Freeski, Moguls, or Snowboarding, our programs are fueled by world-class coaching, elite facilities, and a deep commitment to developing the whole athlete. WVA athletes are known, challenged, supported, and celebrated. They learn from legends, and become part of a community that values legacy as much as results.
Our Path to the Podium equips athletes with the coaching, facilities, and mindset needed to reach the highest levels, all while staying rooted in GRIT—Growth, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork. With over twenty Olympians and seventy-plus National Team athletes, our legacy speaks for itself.
The WVA Difference: Across Alpine, Freeski, Moguls, and Snowboarding, one truth unites all our programs, we develop champions in sport and life. With a tradition rich in Olympians, national team members, and lifelong leaders, WVA stands apart as a community rooted in legacy, excellence, and a commitment to shaping champions for tomorrow.
WVA’s Alpine program thrives on passion, precision, and purpose. Training focuses on technical mastery, mental strength, and the competitive fire needed to excel. Personalized plans, year-round conditioning, and race-day preparation ensure athletes develop the skills to compete at every level—from Eastern Cups to NCAA, NorAms, and National Team contention.
Just steps from campus, Waterville Valley Resort offers championship terrain like High Country, World Cup, and True Grit, along with dedicated lanes, snowmaking, and world-class course preparation. This environment has produced national champions and Olympians.
WVA alumni include Tyler Palmer, one of America’s first alpine stars who reached World Cup podiums in the 1970s; Kristin Krone, a two-time Olympian for the U.S. Ski Team; Felix McGrath, one of the most successful American slalom skiers of the 1980s; Alex Heath, South Africa’s first Winter Olympian; and Chemmy Alcott, Britain’s most decorated alpine skier with four Olympics and a top-ten world ranking. Today, rising talents like Zoe Zimmerman carry the legacy forward.
Freeskiing at WVA is a tradition, not just a sport. From pioneering moguls to launching Olympic freeski stars, WVA has been a proven pathway to the podium for decades. Athletes compete in slopestyle, big air, halfpipe, rail jams, and moguls, supported by world-class coaching and progressive development. WVA Freeski alumni like John Strenio and Dan Kissel have pushed boundaries at the X Games, Dew Tour, Rev Tour, and World Cups, while starring in films from Level 1, Poor Boyz, Teton Gravity Research, and STEPT. Their creativity continues to inspire the next generation of freeskiers.
Training includes daily sessions at Waterville Valley Resort with terrain parks, mogul courses, and custom features, along with year-round camps at Mt. Hood and Mt. Sima in the Yukon. On-campus facilities like the Thomas Barbeau Training Center and Phil’s Hill airbag ensure safe and effective training. WVA Freeski athletes, including Hunter and Grace Henderson and Julia Krass, continue to represent the program at the highest levels.
WVA is proud to be recognized as the birthplace of freestyle skiing in the U.S., and our Mogul Program carries that legacy forward. Designed for athletes with bold ambition, our program fosters technical mastery, aerial progression, athletic conditioning, and mental resilience for success both on snow and in life.
Training includes winter sessions on custom mogul courses like True Grit and Lower Bobby’s Run, summer development at Mt. Hood and Austria, and acrobatic training at the Barbeau Training Center and Phil’s Hill airbag.
WVA Moguls athletes aim for Junior Nationals, U.S. Championships, the FIS NorAm Tour, and Junior Worlds. WVA’s legacy includes Olympic gold medalist Hannah Kearney, a dominant mogul skier and one of the sport’s most successful athletes
Snowboarding at WVA is about progression, innovation, and excellence. Athletes train in slopestyle, big air, halfpipe, and rail jam events on local, national, and international stages. Legends like Pat Moore, one of Red Bull’s most celebrated riders, and Olympian Michelle Gorgone began their careers here, proving WVA’s strength in the sport.
Training takes place on evolving terrain parks at Waterville Valley Resort, designed in partnership with WVA staff, with summer development at Mt. Hood. Strength and acrobatic training at the Barbeau Center and Phil’s Hill airbag ensure athletes are prepared for competition.
WVA snowboarders advance to U.S. Snowboard Team pipelines, Rev Tour, NorAm, and FIS circuits, with many moving on to professional careers and Olympic competition.
