Inspiration & Innovator
Walt Berling’s career as a Nordic coach and teacher, which spans nearly 40 years, attests to his passion for youth education. As the JHHS Nordic Coach for 28 years, the JHHS Cross-Country Running Coach for 14 years, and a teacher for the Teton County School District for 36 years, Walt has coached many past and current JHSC Nordic coaches, including several members of a National Championship team. Not only has he been inducted into the Wyoming Coaches Hall of Fame, but he is a three-time National Coach of the Year nominee. An accomplished coach and teacher of other coaches, Walt nonetheless counts among his greatest contributions growing the Nordic team from 6 to over 50 skiers and volunteering at nearly 30 clean-up days, JHSC Ski Swaps, and Pole Pedal Paddle events. He volunteers with the Forest Service and has been a member of the trail crew on the Cache/Game, Skyline, Big Rock, Phillips Canyon, and Teton Pass trails. Currently, he serves as a guide and coach for a visually-impaired skier and works for the school district as a Walking School Bus, wherein he walks along a set route with one or more adults, picks up children at designated stops, and walks with them to and from school. His belief that “at many times, I see skiing as a tool, it brings such great things beyond the joy of skiing itself” has inspired and instilled life skills in countless student-athletes in Jackson and beyond.
