There’s a gender gap in ski coaching, but the Women Ski Coaches Association (WSCA) and other entities, including Bridger Ski Foundation are working to change that. It’s about more than just hiring women coaches; it’s also about creating more opportunities for them to learn, develop, and advance in their profession.
Last month, Nordic coaches Julia Hayes, Kaelyn Woods, and SJ McCandless all attended the 2023 Women in Coaching Summit in Park City, Utah. “Conversations revolved around coaching, communication, and U.S. skiing in general,” said Julia. “We learned a lot about mental wellness and big picture things associated with coaching. Notable speakers were Dr. Nicole LaVoi and Betsy Butterick.”
BSF Nordic Comp Team Coach Julia Hayes has earned several opportunities in the last few years to gain international coaching experience through trips with the National Nordic Foundation and the U.S. Ski Team. Last winter, she coached at the Junior World Championships in Canada. For this coming season, Julia is one of 8 coaches named as Trail to Gold Coaching Fellows. She’ll get the opportunity to spend up to two weeks with the US Ski Team on the World Cup, with a hands-on professional development program that will allow her to take part in all aspects of World Cup coaching, including waxing, logistics, and race preparation with US Ski Team athletes.
The National Nordic Foundation (NNF), in conjunction with the Women Ski Coaches Association (WSCA), and Olympic Women’s Cross-Country Book Project, selected the recipients from “an exceptional applicant pool that represented all levels of the US skiing development system.” Former BSF coach Bernie Nelson was also named to the list.
According to a press release from NNF, “The US Ski Team coaching staff is looking forward to welcoming this class of Trail to Gold coaches, with Head Coach Matt Whitcomb stating, ‘US skiing experienced a boost last season on the World Cup resulting from the success of the inaugural Trail to Gold coaching grant. We are excited to develop this year-two class of coaches this season, and look forward to widening our advantage over the nations who are stuck in the past. It won’t be long before this initiative is replicated elsewhere, and we’re proud to have started it with the Trail to Gold.’”
