Both programs and staff at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center look a little different this summer. Although many of the usual faces can still be seen around the Center, or at least present in your email inbox, there will be some new additions to the group. Anna Schulz is on maternity leave, raising the next generation of BKLer. Her partner, Ollie Burruss will have reduced hours as well. With this double whammy parental leave, some coaching positions will be swapped around as we welcome some additions to the skiing program staff: Jeff Tucker and Kristin Bourne.

Jeff Tucker bedecked in high-vis and ready to roll.

Last summer, Jeff came to the Craftsbury Outdoor Center to help with the influx of summer athletes as a summer assistant junior coach, and we are happy to work with him again this year. Jeff graduated from Colby College in 2016 with a degree in environmental science and has since spent his time coaching various ski teams including Harvard University, Colby College, and NANANordic, in addition to working at the Woodstock Nordic Center. Before returning to his homeland of Vermont last year, Jeff spent the summers managing Acadia National Park’s trail stewardship program.

The Center is excited to welcome Kristen Bourne as a Green Racing Project Coaching Intern. Kristen hails from Lake Elmo, Minnesota and graduated from Northern Michigan University in 2018 with a degree in exercise science. Her success as a three time NCAA championship competitor led her to pursue skiing further, where she moved to Norway and joined Lyn Ski with Team Obos in Oslo. While skiing professionally in Norway, Kristen spent her extra time learning the Norwegian language and serving as an intern with the Norwegian School of Sports Science. The Women's Ski Coaches Association (WSCA) network was a great help in finding a candidate for this position, and we are excited to have found Kristen with her experience in sports both academically and professionally.

In addition to the new faces, Running Directory Heidi Caldwell will see additional time on skis and instructing this summer as we work to fill the hours the Schulz/Burruss shaped void has created. Jake Barton and Audrey Mangan will provide anchoring continuity to programming, with little change to their roles.

Though the faces may change, the coach squad's commitment to work hard to make sure participants have a quality experience remains intact! Happy Dryland!

- GRPSkier, Margie Freed, reported this story

New Ski coaches this summer