CVA is thrilled to announce that Snowboard Cross student-athlete Boden Gerry ’24 and Ski Cross student-athletes Maggie Swain '24 and Morgan Shute '25 have been selected to represent Team USA at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Gangwon, South Korea. Moguls student-athletes, Jack Egan '25 and Chase Littlefield '24 have been selected as first and second alternates, respectively, for Team USA.

The YOG is a globally renowned sporting event that takes place every four years and is organized by the International Olympic Committee. The 4th Winter Youth Olympic Games will take place January 19 to February 1, 2024. The games are a platform for emerging athletes ages 15-18 from around the world to showcase their skills and compete at the highest level in their sport.

There are only 28 qualification spots for each gender in Ski Cross and Snowboard Cross, and 20 qualification spots for Dual Moguls, with each participating country sending only two or three athletes from each gender and discipline. These CVA Big Dogs have earned this rare and honorable opportunity through their unwavering dedication to their sport and their exceptional talent.

"We are thrilled to see these student-athletes represent our school and our nation at the Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon,” stated Head of School, Kate Webber Punderson ’89. “Having the opportunity to see these Big Dogs grow, and progress in their respective sport has been incredibly special. We are proud of their focus and determination and look forward to cheering for them."

Many YOG athletes have gone on to become Olympic champions. Some notable examples include Lim Hyo-jun (short-track speed skating, Republic of Korea), Gu Ailing Eileen (freestyle skiing, People’s Republic of China), Andreas Wellinger (ski jumping, Germany), Chloe Kim (snowboard, USA), and Petra Vlhova (Alpine skiing, Slovakia).

The Carrabassett Valley Academy Board of Trustees is thrilled to announce that the Board voted unanimously to appoint Alex Godomsky ’91, CVA’s current Director of Finance and Development, as CVA’s next Head of School. Alex will begin as Head of School on July 1, 2024.

A CVA parent and alum, having attended CVA as an alpine racer for half of his high school years, Alex is also a graduate of Bates College with a B.S. in Physics. He has significant connections to Maine, Carrabassett Valley, and Sugarloaf, having grown up in Farmington, and has been an athlete, coach, and avid fan of ski racing throughout his life.

Alex brings extensive knowledge of competitive skiing and more than 25 years of boarding school experience to this headship. Prior to becoming CVA’s Director of Finance and Development in 2021, he held a number of roles at Hebron Academy including Assistant Head of School; Director of Student Life; Director of Information Technology; teacher of math, science, and digital media; and Athletic Trainer. A seasoned leader and educator, Alex has a personal and professional understanding of CVA’s high-level academic and athletic environment and an enduring and profound commitment to the CVA mission.

Please read the full announcement from CVA Board of Trustees Chair, Lindy MacKinnon Gruen ’92, and a message from Alex Godomsky '91 by clicking the link below.

On October 6th, CVA opened its doors to welcome the families of our student-athletes for Fall Family Weekend and Sugarloaf’s Homecoming Weekend. Despite some weather challenges, our Big Dogs were out in force around the mountain, enjoying all that this unique community has to offer.

The CVA Annual Harvest Dinner hosted students, their families, teachers, coaches, and staff on Friday evening for a multi-course meal put on by our talented kitchen staff. Saturday was host to a multitude of community events. Teachers and coaches held conferences with visiting parents while CVA provided tours to visitors at our first Tours and Tacos event. CVA, The Rack, and Sugarloaf sponsored the annual Ski Swap & Sale in The Rack parking lot, where the CVA Environmental Club collected winter clothing and equipment for local schools and area charities, and the Parent Support Organization held a Holiday Wreath Pre-sale.

At the Sugarloaf Base Lodge, the Environmental Club teamed up with Sugarloaf to host a booth on Saturday and Sunday that provided recycling education, environmental awareness, and enthusiasm about tackling the climate crisis through Sugarloaf’s Forever Project. The booth featured a Recycling Game Show and interactive displays, sold handmade reusable holiday gift bags, and collected winter gear donations for the local community. CVA also hosted an Information Booth in the Base Lodge and pre-sold Holiday wreaths for the PSO.

Participating in these community activities, both on and off campus, helps strengthen our students’ connection to Sugarloaf, Carrabassett Valley, and each other. As members of this community, they learn life lessons including the importance of responsibility, generosity, kindness, and inclusion - helping them to grow into well-rounded, confident adults capable of achieving their goals.

Members of the CVA, Sugarloaf, and national Freestyle community gathered recently for a surprise party to thank and recognize the significant contributions of Joan McWilliams Dolan. After shaping the lives of Freestyle skiers for decades, the legendary athlete and coach has stepped down as CVA Weekend Program Manager. Over the past 40 years there have been few at CVA more consistently engaged with programming and athlete development than Joan.

“Today we are here to thank, honor, and celebrate our mentor, coach, co-worker, and, most importantly, friend - Joan McWilliams Dolan,” said CVA Head of School Kate Webber Punderson ’89 to a room filled with current and former athletes, colleagues, coaches, family, and others.

Since her first trip out west in the Summer of 1984 with the CVA Freestyle team, Joan has seldom not been a critical component of the school’s freestyle program. For many years, she has donned other hats as well including as a member of the faculty teaching math, science, and social studies, as the Freestyle Program Director, as the Athletic Director, and as the Assistant Headmaster of the school. Throughout her time in all of those posts, she has maintained one very important role: coaching the youngest athletes in the CVA Weekend Program.

During the celebration, Joan was presented with a plaque commemorating her many contributions to the Freestyle community. One copy of the plaque will be installed in the Jean Luce Building on Competition Hill, and a second copy will be on display on campus at CVA.

The CVA Big Dogs thank you, Joan!

CVA Head of School, Kate Webber Punderson '89, and Killington Mountain School Head of School, Claire Butler, joined the New England Ski Journal’s Basecamp podcast last month to talk about Ski and Snowboard Academy life. A companion article was recently published in the New England Ski Journal magazine.

Congratulations to the CVA Student Spotlight award winners for September! Each month CVA teachers and staff nominate students who exemplify what being a Big Dog is all about in each of the three foundational pillars of our mission - academics, athletics, and community.

Thank you to D'Ellies Bakery & Deli for once again sponsoring our Student Spotlight award recipients. Each month D'Ellies provides gift certificates to our winners and displays their photos proudly on their wall.

Mia has had a strong start to the school year in all her classes, participating and performing well academically. In addition, she has been volunteering her time to help others as a peer tutor. Thank you, Mia, and keep up the good work!

Sully is a very impressive Big Dog athlete. He approaches each training session with total commitment, maturity, and a positive attitude. Additionally, he takes the time to help and motivate others. Thank you, Sully, for leading by example in every way.

Ben is a model of the Big Dog community spirit. He is very helpful around campus, always pitching in to help the maintenance staff and in the kitchen. Whatever needs to be done, Ben does it without being asked. He is very polite and shows gratitude and appreciation to the people around him.

Last week, six CVA student-athletes joined CVA’s College Counselor, Jenny Wiltse-McClure, on a college tour at the University of Maine. Chase Littlefield ’24, Nattee McKenzie ’24, Maggie Swain ’24, Will Trudeau ’24, Jack Velenchik ’24, and Jack Egan ’25 explored the campus with Patty, “the best tour guide ever,” according to the group. They asked Patty questions about academics, athletics, and campus life while getting a feel for being on the UMaine Campus.

A highlight of the tour was meeting a “Kiwibot,” one of UMaine’s 15 hospitality robots that navigate the campus using a camera and GPS to deliver food ordered through UMaine Dining's Everyday app.

Landscape photography is the art of capturing pictures of nature and the outdoors in a way that brings the viewer into the scene. From grand landscapes to intimate details, the best photos demonstrate the photographer’s own connection to nature and capture the essence of the world around them.

CVA art students recently went on their annual field trip to Quill Hill as part of their Landscape Photography unit. Students learned about the framing and characteristics of landscape photography and were introduced to tripods and the use of slower shutter speeds.

Tuesday, October 10th was World Mental Health Day. CVA students, teachers, coaches, and staff wore green in recognition of this day, and as part of CVA’s on-going efforts to ensure mental health is valued, promoted, and protected by reducing the stigma, training staff and students in Mental Health First Aid, and working on mental training skills that help build resiliency and a culture of support at CVA.

Good mental health is vital to our overall health and well-being. Yet one in eight people globally are living with mental health conditions, which can impact their physical health, their well-being, how they connect with others, and their livelihoods. Mental health conditions are also affecting an increasing number of adolescents and young people.

At CVA, Peer Mentors ensure students have a supportive environment year-round. The role of a Peer Mentor is to guide and support other students, helping to create a safe, supportive, and productive environment. Peer Mentors receive mental health training and serve as the link between students and staff to address student concerns and promote a positive culture. They organize social events throughout the year to provide an opportunity for students to bond, socialize, and manage stress. This year so far, the Peer Mentors have hosted an ice cream social and a game night.

On Saturday, October 14th CVA hosted the annual Fall Dance for students in the yurt located at the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center. The evening featured a night of music, dancing, and fun.

A Big Dog thank you to the CVA Parent Support Organization, who provided desserts and drinks for everyone to enjoy at the dance.

Winter sports demand more than just skill on the slopes. They require strength, resilience, and an unbreakable spirit. Creating stability and mobility through weight training, strength training, agility, mobility, plyometrics, sprint work and free play is essential for winter sports athletes. In the weight room, the goal for CVA student-athletes is three-fold: Enhance Performance, Prevent Injury, and Unleash their inner champion.

Your purchase helps the CVA PSO support life-changing programming.

Local pick-up/delivery: $40 (order by 11/28)

Shipped: $54 (order by 12/12)



The Scholarship Bash is a critical piece of Carrabassett Valley Academy's fundraising efforts to raise scholarship money for current and prospective student-athletes. Each year, CVA awards scholarship funds and financial aid to over half of our student-athlete population who demonstrate financial need and exceptional potential in their athletic discipline and academic performance.

Ways to Get Involved:

Buy a Raffle Ticket

Attend the Event

Donate an Auction Item

Be an Event Sponsor

Raise your Paddle

Volunteer for the Bash Committee

For more information, please contact Melissa Fogg at (207) 237-4505 or mfogg@gocva.com. 

Congratulations to CVA alum, Sam Morse ’13 (in photo) for earning your spot on the 2023-2024 Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team.

Congratulations as well to these Big Dogs who earned spots on U.S. Teams:

Acy Craig '20 (Snowboard Cross Elite Team), Sasha Jansujwicz '23 (Snowboard Racing Elite Team), Nathan Pare '24, Boden Gerry '24, and Theo McLemore (Snowboard Cross Development Team); and former CVA employee, Brenna Huckaby (Paralympic SB Pro Team).

The Big Dog community looks forward to cheering you all on this season!

Don't forget to renew your membership to the Sugarloaf Ski Club! The mission of the Sugarloaf Ski Club is to provide the opportunity for all youth to participate and excel in skiing and snowboarding, promote community building events, support competition, and preserve the history and heritage of the mountain. To become a member, or to renew your membership, click on the link below.