Welcome to July!

I want to start by saying how excited I am to be back at JHSC. Coaching here for 12 years was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career, and now, returning as both a parent and Alpine Program Director, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to help lead the next chapter of the Alpine program.

Before I get into this month’s updates, I want to thank Kristin Waddle for her 14 years of leadership and dedication to JHSC. Kristin has had a tremendous impact on countless athletes, families, and coaches, and I know I’m stepping into a program that is stronger because of her commitment. On behalf of all of us, thank you, Kristin. We wish you all the best in your next chapter.

I’d also like to officially welcome Matt Hoffman as our new FIS Head Coach and congratulate Turner Brett on his new role as Youth Alpine Program Director. Matt brings outstanding experience in athlete development, strength and conditioning, and sport science, while Turner has spent the past eight years helping to shape our youth program and has become one of the most respected coaches in our community. Both share a genuine passion for developing great athletes and even better people, and I’m excited to work alongside them as we continue building on the strong foundation already in place.

Summer Training is Underway

July marks the beginning of organized summer training for many of our athletes. Dryland training begins July 6 for our U16 and FIS athletes and will continue throughout the summer and fall. These sessions are designed to build strength, coordination, mobility, and resilience while helping athletes establish training habits that will benefit them throughout the season.

Later this month, our U14 and U16 athletes will head to Saas-Fee, Switzerland, for a summer glacier training camp. Saas-Fee offers one of the premier summer training environments in the world and provides an outstanding setting for technical development. Beyond skiing, the camp gives athletes the opportunity to travel together, experience a new culture, build independence, and strengthen relationships with teammates and coaches. We’re excited to introduce this new opportunity and look forward to sharing updates from Switzerland.

Give Back to Our Mountain

We'll once again be partnering with the U.S. Forest Service and Snow King Mountain for two community service projects focused on removing invasive plant species on Snow King.

Dates: July 9 and August 6
Time: 8:30–10:00 a.m.
Meet: Base of Snow King by the Gondola

This is a great opportunity for athletes to earn community service hours, meet Matt and me, or simply spend a morning with teammates and coaches while giving back to our local mountain. No experience is necessary—just bring a pair of work gloves and be ready to help.

We hope to see many of you there!

Building Lifelong Athletes

As I’ve settled into this role, I keep coming back to one idea: I want JHSC to be a place that develops lifelong athletes. To me, that means creating an environment where athletes can pursue excellence while building a lifelong love for skiing, the mountains, and being active.

We all love skiing. We want our athletes to work hard, chase big goals, and enjoy the excitement of competition. But I also hope they leave our program with something even bigger—a love for being active, trying new things, and spending time in the mountains that lasts long after their ski racing days are over.

One of the things I love most about summers in Jackson is that there are so many opportunities to challenge ourselves, explore new activities, and grow as athletes. Summer skiing is an incredible opportunity when it’s available, and camps like Saas-Fee play an important role in technical development. But just as important are all the ways we can continue growing outside of ski boots. Whether it’s mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, climbing, trail running, swimming, water skiing, or simply spending the day outside with friends, every activity develops us in a different way. Together, they build balance, coordination, confidence, resilience, creativity, and adaptability—all qualities that translate directly to skiing when winter returns.

This is something I believe because I’ve experienced it myself. Growing up, I split my time between alpine ski racing and whitewater kayaking. Some people thought doing two sports would hold me back, but for me it did just the opposite. By the time fall rolled around, I was excited to get back on snow. By spring, I couldn’t wait to get back on the river. Each sport made me appreciate the other, and I think that variety made me a better athlete while keeping both sports fresh and fun.

I was reminded of that while listening to JHSC alumna Anna Gibson speak at the Jackson Hole High School graduation this June. I had the privilege of coaching Anna as a U14 athlete, and it has been inspiring to watch her carve her own path—from alpine skiing to Nordic skiing, collegiate running, and ultimately representing the United States in ski mountaineering at the Olympics. Anna’s journey is a great reminder that there isn’t just one path to success. Exploring different sports and new challenges doesn’t have to take away from your potential—it can help shape the athlete and person you become.

One part of her speech that really stuck with me was her message about balancing freedom and hunger: giving yourself the freedom to explore, recover, and stay curious while maintaining the hunger to keep learning and improving. She also encouraged graduates to embrace an "underdog mindset," reminding them that there is always more to learn, more to do, and more to become.

I think that’s a great reminder for all of us. Summer is a great opportunity to build athleticism, challenge ourselves in new ways—on or off skis—spend time with friends and family, and return to our fall training block refreshed and excited for what’s ahead. In my experience, athletes who genuinely enjoy the process tend to stay in the sport longer—and often reach higher levels because of it.

That’s the kind of program I hope we continue to build at JHSC. We want athletes who love to compete, love to learn, and love being outside. If we can help young people develop those habits and that mindset, we’ll not only develop better ski racers—we’ll help develop healthy, resilient people who continue seeking adventure and living active lives long after their racing careers are over.

I hope everyone has a fantastic July. Enjoy the mountains, enjoy the rivers, enjoy time with family and friends, and we’ll look forward to seeing many of you at dryland, on Snow King, in Saas-Fee, and before long, back on snow.

See you out there,

Jon Souter
Alpine Program Director