Gould On Snow Adds Ski Cross Program

Ski Cross Joins On Snow Program

We are pleased to announce the addition of ski cross to Gould’s On Snow competition program. The ski cross, or SX, program will support Gould athletes competing at the USASA and FIS levels. Current Alpine coach Bruce Johnston, who has worked at Gould since 2013 will head the program. 

Ski cross incorporates terrain features traditionally found in freestyle, as courses include big-air jumps and high-banked turns. What sets ski cross apart from other alpine skiing disciplines is that there is more than one skier racing down the course. 

Ski Cross in action. Photo: SB Coach April Stuart.

“We are very excited to add ski cross to our On Snow programming,” says Athletic Director Bob Harkins, a former U.S. Ski Team coach himself, “It’s an event that is growing in popularity since its introduction as an Olympic sport. We could not do this without the support of Sunday River, which provides a phenomenal training venue, boasting one of the few permanent BX/SX courses in the country. Athletes have access to great training opportunities on a daily basis.”

“We could not do this without the support of Sunday River, which provides a phenomenal training venue, boasting one of the few permanent BX/SX courses in the country. Athletes have access to great training opportunities on a daily basis.”

– ATHLETIC DIRECTOR BOB HARKINS P’14,’16

In the starting gate. Photo from April Stuart.

Why Gould?

Having a dedicated SX course at our home resort, Sunday River, makes Gould ideally suited to offering ski cross. Gould also owns two Alpine-Tree portable bluetooth synchronized start gates for early-season and travel training and a Settele World Cup start gate for the competition BX/SX course—one of a few such start gates being utilized in the U.S. The Gould Ski Cross team will train on this venue alongside the Snowboard Cross team.

“We are excited to be offering this program,” says Snowboard Program Director KC Gandee, “and even more excited that Bruce Johnston will be leading the way.”

“Adding a dedicated coach at this level will be a game-changer,” says Head of School Tao Smith, “in our ability to prepare the next generation of ski cross athletes for competition at a regional, national, and international level.”

Coach Johnston

Coach Brucie brings with him 30 years of experience coaching alpine racing at the USSS and FIS level and more recently, assisting in the development of ski cross athletes who have been training with the Snowboard Cross team.

“I am so excited to be asked to take on this role,” says Coach Brucie.  “Ski cross racing blends alpine racing with features and jumps of freestyle. Skiers race four at a time on the track and the action is awesome. I can’t wait to get my hands dirty and start designing training for this multi-discipline snow sport. The sky is the limit for this program.”