** Editors note: This will be a weekly column highlighting our ski coaches from around the country… including elite coaches, college coaches, high school coaches, volunteer coaches, and learn-to-ski coaches. This is an effort to sample a diverse group of coaches and recognize the people who are the backbone of today’s skiers. If you would like to nominate a coach for an interview, please email robertwhitney99@hotmail.com. Please give coach’s name, email, phone, and a small paragraph describing the nominee. The more diverse, the better.
Walt is Head Coach of Jackson Hole High School (JHHS) in Jackson, Wyoming.
 or I could XC ski – so along came a 6 mile nordic ski, alpine skinig all day, followed by a 6 mile ski home. I was hooked and combined my loves – I put on the first ever Hate Your Body Pin Binding Gelande event – even got a 4 page spread in Powder ski magazine! I started racing and loving it. Upon getting tired of the ski bum life I ended switched to teaching special education at JHHS and just fell into coaching. I was lucky in the fact that our high school (HS) and Ski Club team was a joint effort and I have been lucky enough to work with many Club directors – and though I am dumb, I am not stupid! …… I listened and learned and continue to listen. I started coaching in 1985 and the years just click by! It was also a good time to start coaching as skating was just developing making for a more level playing field. I was the Nordic Director for the JHSC (2001-2003 ish) for three years – but really the Peter Principle became obvious – I couldn't coach HS, teach and be the JHSC Nordic Director. Ali Deines was hired and the club took off with her. Through coaching I have had some great times and met some really cool people. One of my best friendships was with Matts Kristiansson of Mora, Sweden. I met him when he was coaching a team at Spring Series. He came back a year later and lived with our family for a winter and helped coach our team. We then took our family and team to visit Mora. My wife and I also went back another year and skied the Vasa – it was an awesome day – blue skis – great kick. Before the race I asked him for some Swedish phrases like “on your left – passing, excuse me” and such. Since I had been in a few mass start events of 600 and heading into a race with 13,000 skiers , I knew I might need something stronger so I also asked him how to say a few “colorful†words, and he said that would work just fine! Never had to use it – had to stay mellow for 5 or so K's then it opened up. Matts stayed with me – nice as he usually got to start in the first wave – not back with me in the 3rd – and that took begging to get there as I was suppose to start in the 10th wave. Part way through he race at a check point the announcer said some gibberish – his name – he pointed to me – then I heard my name. I asked him what was said – basically the announcer was making fun of his performance – he pointed to me so they said he was escorting me — I finished about 3400 ish out of 13000 – I was happy but probably Matts’ worse performance ever – but he said it was his best Vasa ever!</p>
<p>My wife Bec nordic skis and we traveled last spring to the Dolomites and rodesome of the great passes on bikes. My eldest boy Nick is living in India forthree months and attends Univ of Oregon and likes alpine skiing. Anders my youngest, goes to Western Wash Univ, but is taking winter quarter off to snowboard. Both are good at what they do and have the same adrenal glands I did at their age.</p>
<p><B>Can you tell us about how JHHS is blended with the Jackson Ski Club and how it all works?</B><br />
We have what I feel is the best of both worlds here in Jackson: a very strong club program and high school skiing. Both offer kids different things. High school skiing is very team oriented, we get many beginners – often our senior class is our largest group. Many with the HS focus see nordic as only one of their many interests. Others start up and get very involved. A great example is Beau Baldock… he started skiing as a freshman skiing HS, as a sophomore he also started competing for the JHSC and by the time he was a senior he was a National Champion at JN's in the 10K skate. Our better skiers are almost always members of the Jackson Hole Ski Club where they get more specific training, and year round as well. They compete in the InterMountain Division USSA Qualifiers and race well under the watchful eye of Ali Deine’s direction. These kids also compete in the high school races. This would not work without the cooperation of Intermountain and High Plains coaches as our HS team is in the middle, ie, all but our home HS race is in High Plains region, but our kids ski USSA under Intermountain – stuck in the middle again! I would say they enjoy HS races for the team atmosphere, for some good race starts, and opportunities that don't come with the pressure of trying to qualify for Junior Nationals. USSA racing provides the opportunity to race the<br />
best – something very important for those who want to excel. On the other hand we have many kids who may never earn a point for our team in a race, but contribute hugely in spirit and effort.</p>
<p>We have a great coaching staff. As I stated before, Ali Deines is the Nordic Director for the club. She was a great find for Jackson – coming to Jackson from Sun Valley and Alaska where she grew up racing. She provides a great level of organization and technical expertise. Her side kick is Parke Cogswell – from Colorado – she has her own level of high energy and brings a huge spark to the team. On the high school side, I have three assistant coaches: David Bergart, our resident ‘nerd’ (skis ski-archery Biathlon) – just kidding David! Berg as we call him, skied for Bates and then was the head J1 coach for the Ski Club when I was director, and then he followed me to the high school scene. He has been coaching for our team for 6 years and is a favorite with the kids who like bad jokes. Brian Schilling (Schilldoggy Dog), who ran XC for Middlebury, has been coaching for 8 years. He’s is our brain – likes the technical side and comes up with great creative practices on game days. Jenny Bressler just started coaching for the HS – she skied for our team back in the old days, and competed for UNH, coached for our club and the Sun Valley program, and came back to her roots. We were very lucky to get her. As I get older, I look for my replacement, and as she is hoping to teach for our district – she would be a natural fit! </p>
<p>Obviously Ali and I have our roles as head coaches, but if you came to a practice or race you would be hard pressed to figure out who was boss — we work very well as a team – all contributing – it creates a great atmosphere for the kids and is so fun as a coach.</p>
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