Athletics

Ski Cross

Carrabassett Valley Academy is proud to be one of the few academy-based Ski Cross programs in the United States. Our FIS and Development athletes compete at top levels, winning USASA National Championships, attending U.S. Ski & Snowboard Project Gold camps, and excelling in elite FIS events. In the 2023-24 season, two of our Big Dogs represented Team USA at the Youth Olympic Games in Korea, bringing home two silver medals.

The CVA Difference

Carrabassett Valley Academy stands out with its home at Sugarloaf Mountain, a supportive community, and dedicated coaches.

Premier Training Venue: Sugarloaf offers an extended on-snow season, progressive terrain, and an Olympian-designed cross course, perfect for refining racing skills and providing a home-court advantage.
Experienced Coaching: Led by Michael Phelan, head coach for Team USA at the 2024 Junior World Championships and Youth Olympic Games.
Supportive Community: CVA is committed to helping each athlete achieve their personal best.

Program Philosophy

The CVA Ski Cross program emphasizes long-term athlete development through proven training principles. Our approach focuses on:

Maximizing Time On-Snow
Mastering Fundamentals
Building Confidence in Sport and Life
Fostering a Life-Long Love of Skiing

Ski Cross Progression

CVA Ski Cross provides ability-appropriate coaching, with groups based on progression, skills, commitment, and attitude.

Development Team: Focuses on fundamentals, competing in USASA events with the goal of qualifying for USASA National Championships.
FIS Team: For athletes 16+, focusing on advanced technique, competition tactics, and mental conditioning. Athletes compete in FIS/Nor-Am events, aiming to qualify for Junior World Championships and World Cup events.

Year-Round Training

A successful athlete trains for their sport year-round. Attending the Fall and spring terms at CVA allows our student-athletes to work with trainers and high-performance consultants to get the most out of the competitive season, and become well-established and comfortable in the classroom before the busy Winter Term gets underway. Our off-season training program includes evaluations and goal setting, weight training, cross training, and mental performance training.

List of 2 members.

Mike Phelan

Ski Cross Program Manager & Head Ski Cross Coach

401-787-0683

Bio
Mike grew up in Rhode Island and started ski racing at a young age. He attended Waterville Valley Academy for his senior year of high school and continued racing at the collegiate level. His love of the sport sparked a desire to coach and led him to join the CVA Weekend Program as a Ski Cross coach in 2015. Mike was promoted to Ski Cross Head Coach in 2018, and then named Ski Cross Program Manager in 2021. In 2024 he was named Head Coach for Team USA at the Youth Olympic Games and Junior World Championships. Mike’s experience, training philosophy, and commitment have helped to grow CVA’s Ski Cross program into one of the best Academy programs in the country.
Mazie Hayden

Ski Cross Coach

Bio
- Mazie attended Killington Mountain School for ski cross, graduating in 2018. She graduated from the University of Vermont in 2023 with a B.A. in Health and Society and a Minor in Sociology and Psychology. Mazie is a Vermont native and grew up skiing, biking, and rock climbing at a competitive level. During her ski cross career, she won USASA nationals multiple times, podiumed at Junior Worlds, and had a few top 15 World Cup finishes. Now, she competes internationally in downhill mountain biking. She was able to rediscover her love for ski cross through coaching privately in recent years, and is thrilled to take the next step with CVA!

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Carrabassett Valley Academy

3197 Carrabassett Drive
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-2250

Carrabassett Valley Academy prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any member or group based upon age, gender, race, color, religion, disability, categories sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, genetic predisposition, ancestry or other categories protected by Maine or federal law. CVA does not discriminate on these bases in the administration of its admission process, scholarship and aid programs, educational policies, athletics, or other school-administered programs.