Saying goodbye to coaching

To my Jackson Hole Nordic Family (written 9/1/2019)

One of those times so rarely caught on film but most often the best times. The little moments between the big moments.

After leaving ski racing at the 2013 NCAA Championships in Middlebury, VT, I was unsure what my relationship to skiing and Nordic was going to be from then on. It had been a defining part of my life since I was 10 years old and led to the most formative experiences of my life. Including why I attended Dartmouth College, something that truly changed my life.

For nearly 18 months after NCAA’s I didn’t touch a pair of Nordic skis. It wasn’t until I reached out to the Jackson Hole Ski Club upon moving to Jackson, WY fall 2014, did my relationship with Nordic skiing shift. A huge shift! From an identity solely based on junior and college racing where everything revolved around my own ski education and results, to an identity based on sharing the love of Nordic skiing and lifestyle, and putting all my energy into the development of the next generation of skiers.

Little did I know on that first day of skiing with U12’s, the next 5 years would teach me more about skiing than any amount of ski racing ever did. The Jackson Hole Ski Club Nordic program with it’s parents and athletes became my family and guard. Coaching gave me a sheer love of skiing, deeper than my previous years. Coaching showed me just how amazing the Nordic community truly is and how the sport brings humans together in a different way, a stronger way. Coaching humbled me and inspired me. Coaching ultimately grew me into the person I am today and showed me I am not done being the best skier I can be.

It is pointless to continue on with experiences I had or the benefits of spending time with kids or the greatness I believe Nordic holds. The servers hosting this blog can’t handle the magnitude of such a post… So in closing, all I have left to say is this: Coaching the group of humans I was fortunate enough to spend 5 years with, was one of the best times of my life. I think of those years fondly and moments from them come back to me every day. Saying goodbye was a very difficult decision and it was the athletes themselves urging me to pursue my own goals that made leaving a decision I was happy with.

So thank you Jackson Nordic! For everything!

(written on 29 March 2019, as my formal departure announcement to the JHSC Nordic family at large)

Happy End of Season Team!

As many of you already know, I am moving on from the ski club this summer. The last 5 years with JHSC Nordic is indescribable. I have written and re-written many versions of the official announcement only to realize I am not able to describe just how grateful I am to have been through so many experiences with you all.

It is the Nordic community, in particular the athletes, that make coaching so rewarding. In a most fortunate growth of the program, I have moved with the same group of skiers from Devo or first year Juniors to Comp and seen the personal and athletic growth of our skiers into the wonderful young humans they are today. It feels as if I had a second childhood myself with our skiers. Our training, van rides, camps, cooking, games, good times, hard times, trail running, river jumping, broken poles, airport layovers, more van riding, more training, and who knows what else... has been incredible.

It is no lie that making this decision has torn me apart and it is the bitterest sweet departure. These skiers and our Nordic community, are not solely athletes and parents, they are are my friends, training partners, equals and company I will miss dearly. The reason Jackson has felt like home.

Looking forward, it is with inspiration from our athletes and program growth I have decided to personally pursue elite racing. The details of which team I will be on and where I will call my new base are still being unknown. It is a terrifying experiment to take on and I find myself questioning why I would leave so many good things behind, but ultimately I cannot rest until I discover the absolute best athlete I can be.

Jackson and our team will always home and I will be finding every way I can to stay connected.

Thank you for your support, generosity, time, food, energy, hugs, gear, trust, advice and more.

Cheers,

Scott

A Humble Goodbye

1st Post as an Independent Skier - summer training and what’s next