Kaelyn Woods found her way back to the world of skiing as head of the Bridger Ski Foundation (BSF) Nordic Kinder Program in 2021 before moving into a role as the Post-Grad (PG) Coach. Now, she’s part of a dedicated cohort of eight coaches from around the country headed for first-hand experience on the World Cup Circuit. 

“I’m not sure if it will really hit me until I’m on the plane to Finland,” Kaelyn said in early October. 

A collaboration between the U.S. Ski Team, the Women’s Ski Coaches Association, and the National Nordic Foundation, the Trail to Gold (T2G) Fellowship aims to support female coaches from around the U.S. as they build their expertise and develop into leaders in the world of sport. A former collegiate ski racer with ties to many previous T2G Fellowship recipients, Woods is excited to join their ranks–and their mission. 

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“I have had so many monumental female role models that made my development possible. Now, I get to be that person for young athletes.” From serving as a wax technician to testing skis and providing input on race-day logistics with the U.S. Ski Team, Woods will be stepping into a role that has seen only a handful of women building experience in over the course of the sport’s existence. The goal? Creating new connections, experiences, and “a space where all athletes feel like they can succeed.”

Woods’ stint with the U.S. Ski Team will run from November 18 through December 2 in Muonio and Ruka, Finland. And while the experiences and locations will be new, some of the faces won’t be. Bernie Nelson, a former BSF coach and a long-time mentor for Woods and an inaugural T2G Fellow, was recently named the first full-time, female wax technician for the U.S. Ski Team. If that weren’t enough, Erin Bianco, BSF Pro Team athlete and former college competitor, will overlap with Woods in Finland as she races Period 1 of this year’s World Cup. 

“There will be some familiar faces over there for sure,” Woods says, “which is part of what is exciting about this program–it’s a chance to get better together.”

At the end of her stint with the U.S. Team, Woods will be returning to Bozeman where she will be taking on larger roles with BSF’s Post Graduate and Pro Teams, sharing what she has learned and continuing to build on her expertise. There’s plenty of work to be done and an entire ski season left to be coached: “I’m excited to learn, challenge myself, and lean into the vision and importance of having female coaches at the highest level of skiing,” says Woods.