Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club selects new alpine director

Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club (AVSC) announces the appointment of Jeff Lackie as its new alpine director. With a distinguished career in coaching and a holistic approach to athlete development, he brings a wealth of experience and a track record of success at the highest levels of the sport, according to a press release.

His journey in alpine skiing spans over several years, during which he has coached skiers of all levels, from U8 athletes to the world’s most elite, according to the press release. His philosophy emphasizes a holistic approach, where success in alpine skiing is achieved through consistent effort, technical expertise, and a supportive team environment. He believes in fostering athletes’ understanding of their personal motivations and aligning them with the team’s shared goals. This methodology has consistently led to remarkable results, including personal bests, World Cup wins, and Olympic medals.

“We are excited to welcome Jeff Lackie to the AVSC family,” said David Baugh, AVSC’s new executive director, in the press release. “His extensive experience and proven success in the field of alpine skiing make him the perfect fit to lead our athletes and coaches. We look forward to the positive impact he will have on our community and sport.”

Most recently, Lackie currently served as the Alpine Program Director at Green Mountain Valley School in Vermont, where he led a team of 25 coaches and 130 athletes, ranging from U8 to post-graduate levels, according to the press release. During his tenure, he developed a new technical statement in collaboration with the coaching staff to streamline coaching processes and enhanced the quality and productivity of training and race venues for all athletes. He also hosted high-quality races and acted as Chief of Race. He implemented significant changes to physical testing and dryland programming, maintaining a fun and engaging environment.

Prior to this, according to the press release, Lackie was the head coach of the Women’s Speed Team at US Ski & Snowboard and prior to that served as an Assistant World Cup Coach at US Ski & Snowboard, where he coached Mikaela Shiffrin to numerous victories, including her record-breaking 3.07 second margin of victory World Cup slalom win right here in Aspen. Between July 2016 and 2022, he was the head coach of strength and conditioning at US Ski & Snowboard.

“Jeff Lackie joining the AVSC family is incredible for our kids, our club and the future of ski racing in Aspen,” said Ryan Smalls, AVSC board president, in the press release.  “I can’t wait for Jeff and his family to call Aspen home and become a great addition to AVSC and our mountain community.”