February 12, 2012 – Stratton Mountain School has hired Gus Kaeding to coach an SMS Elite Team starting in the 2012-2013 race season. The program will include six senior skiers and up to three post graduate (age 17-19) skiers.

Gus will join the Stratton staff this summer after he finishes his job with CXC. He is a SMS alum and a graduate of NMU and is looking forward to working with the Elite Team and helping strengthen the overall program.

The goal of the program is to achieve international excellence. The Elite Team will train alongside the SMS students when workouts are similar. However, they will have their own coach and focus on what they need to do to improve. Having a strong training group has proven to be a key to success. Our hope is that this group will push one another and the entire SMS program to a higher level.

“The Elite Team will be very strong,” said Program Director Sverre Caldwell. “It will be a win-win situation. The Elite Team will get great coaching and support and the SMS kids will be exposed to USST level skiers on a year-round basis. We are very excited to have Gus join us and bring his expertise from working with the CXC program.

“We are talking to skiers and there is a lot of enthusiasm. Imagine being able to train with a group of skiers who have represented the US at the Olympics, World Cups, U23’s and World Juniors. Along with the seniors, we will offer the program to 2-3 PG’s. Our plan is to get several high level Juniors who can take full advantage of training with skiers like Andy Newell.“

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