Cardigan Mountain School A boarding and day school for boys in grades 6 through 9

Alpine Skiing Program

Cardigan slalom racer in a red suit races at Proctor

Cardigan Mountain School provides the focused training environment of a ski academy while remaining dedicated to academic enrichment, character development, and athletic growth through participation in other sports during the fall and spring.

Unlike "winter term" programs available to boys this age, Cardigan utilizes a dynamic curriculum and an academic support system to set our boys up for success academically and athletically. Cardigan skiers train on-snow five days a week with no disruption to their academic development. 

Athletically, we prepare the boys with dry-land training for speed, flexibility, power, and strength. On-snow, we utilize the latest techniques and progressions for technical skill development and reinforce that through video analysis. 

Watch: Cardigan Skiing

Training Venues

Located in the heart of New England ski country, Cardigan has access to several ski areas and premiere alpine training sites, including those also used by highly competitive college programs. Cardigan skiers benefit from a diversity of training terrain and variety of full-length slalom, giant slalom, and Super G venues.

Dry-land Facilities

Cardigan student-athletes take advantage of the Johnson-Wakely Fitness Center, our fully-equipped, on-campus athletic training facility. Many of our skiers are also members of our Mountain Bike Team and benefit from our own, school-owned and maintained trail network.

A view of the Johnson-Wakely Fitness Center's weights and exercise equipment

Built in 2013, the beautiful Johnson-Wakely Fitness Center is a modern athletic training facility featuring the latest technology in fitness equipment, cardiovascular training equipment, and free weights.

Coaching Staff

In addition to Ms. Ford, our program also features several experienced assistant coaches, allowing us to keep our coach to athlete ratio very low, which is critical to athletic development at this age. Many of the coaches are also faculty members, advisors, and dorm parents. They get to know our students as individuals and care about their development, success, and well-being both on and off the mountain.

Competition

We compete in both U.S. Ski & Snowboard events sanctioned by the New Hampshire Alpine Racing Association (NHARA) as well as New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) events.

Rendering of Cardigan's proposed new Snow and Bike Center

Cardigan Snow and Bike Sports Center

Opened in September 2022, this new facility provides a modern space for two of Cardigan’s growing athletic programs. The Snow & Bike Sports Center addresses several identified needs, including dedicated space for video review, ski and bike tuning, team changing rooms, and equipment storage.

“We can provide student-athletes a balance that promotes skill development in skiing and doesn’t compromise academic development or opportunities to participate in other activities.”

Head of School Christopher Day P'12,'13

Julia Ford

Julia Ford

Director of Alpine Skiing

Ms. Ford is a former member of the U.S. Ski Team, with whom she competed in 40 F.I.S. World Cup races and the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. She is a two- time U.S. National Downhill Champion. Before joining the U.S. Ski Team, she was a multi-sport athlete at Holderness School.

Contact Coach Ford

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