Masters skiing program begins 10-week course

The Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation’s annual Masters Program begins on Sunday, Jan. 10.

The 10-week training program is for adult skiers who want to “bring out their skiing potential.”

Former World Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist Hilary Lindh will be returning as masters’ coach for 2021 and will be joined by Al Clough, who has been an instructor for more than 35 years.

The program is designed to improve skiers all-mountain/all-conditions skiing skills and have fun running gates without a big commitment.

Periodic video sessions are included as a part of the program. This is a terrific way to prepare for U.S. Ski Association Masters’ Racing, Wednesday Night Race League or just improve skiing skills, according to FVSEF.

The program meets Sunday mornings beginning on Jan. 10 for technical free skiing and afternoons for gate training. Giant Slalom is considered the heart of ski technique and is the normal focus of the masters’ gate-training sessions. Training in other disciplines may be available by request.

Clough is a Level III PSIA Certified Instructor, a Level 100 USSA Certified Coach and a Clinician and Certification Examiner for the Northwest Division of PSIA.

“The more I work with skiers as an instructor/coach the less we talk about skiing and the more we ski,” Clough says of his philosophy on ski education.

Lindh, originally from Juneau, Alaska, was named to the U.S. Ski Team at age 14 and won the World Junior Downhill title at age 16. Her impressive, 11-year competition resume includes World Championship Gold in Downhill at Sestriere, Italy in 1997, Olympic Silver in Downhill at Albertville, France in 1992, three World Cup victories, five WC podiums, and 27 top ten WC finishes. Lindh is a 2005 inductee into the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame.

Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation follows the technical and tactical philosophies advocated by US Ski & Snowboard Association.

For more information please contact Tim Hinderman at 406-885-2730, or visit www.fvsef.org/programs-masters-program.