CVA is pleased to announce our recent Podium Club Recertification at the Gold level from U.S. Ski & Snowboard!

Podium Level Club Certification is designed for clubs that want to perform a comprehensive organizational assessment to verify and demonstrate their understanding of the best principles and implementation of best practices. Gold-level certification is reserved for the highest-performing clubs in the country - organizationally and athletically.

"CVA began the certification process by achieving Gold Level Certification in 2015. Since then, they have continued on a journey of regular self-reflection and continued improvement. There has been a demonstrated commitment to above average principles and practices that put them in the class of the best clubs. CVA is hereby awarded 'Gold Certified' status by U.S. Ski & Snowboard. This status indicates that CVA is not only an asset to their athletes, but also to the mission and vision of U.S. Ski & Snowboard nationally and internationally. U.S. Ski & Snowboard looks forward to enhancing its partnership with CVA in ways that are mutually beneficial,” - Ellen Adams, USSS Club Development Manager.

The standards for Gold are based on the ability to provide year-round holistic support to athletes, including the availability of sports psychology, nutrition, strength and condition, and rehab/recovery programs. The CVA community would like to thank Sugarloaf, the Sugarloaf Ski Club, and the Town of Carrabassett Valley for being amazing partners in our endeavors.

The Scholarship Bash in-person event is a fun-filled evening featuring a live auction, food, drinks, and good friends. Please join us!

Cost: $100 each. Only 500 tickets sold.

Each ticket provides:

• A chance to win the $10,000 grand prize.
• Entry for two to the in-person event on Saturday, February 24th, 7-9 pm in The Bill & Joan Alfond Competition Center (includes drinks, appetizers, and a live auction bid number).

Raffle tickets are available, in-person only, at these local businesses:

• Mountainside Real Estate
• Carrabassett Valley Academy at the Capricorn on Rt. 27 and Academic Center on Begins Way
• Downhill Supply Company

All proceeds support the CVA Scholarship Fund. Get yours before they're gone.

Congratulations to the CVA Student Spotlight award winners for December! 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'Ellie's Bakery & Deli for sponsoring our Student Spotlight award recipients. Each month D'Ellie's provides gift certificates to our winners and displays their photos proudly on their wall.

Gabe is an excellent student with a strong work ethic. During the winter months, he frequently travels for competitions, completing much of his school work while on the road. He always keeps up with a high standard of work during his travels. Great job, Gabe!

Mikey is an all-around great Big Dog who demonstrates CVA values every day. He is polite, kind, and engaged with other students. He listens well to his coaches and maintains a clear focus on his individual progress in his sport. Keep up the good work, Mikey!

CVA Math & Science Teacher, Jessie Scannell, implements a variety of teaching strategies to keep her students engaged in math. Through lecture-style presentations, project-based work, and fun games and activities, Jessie’s lessons are crafted to accommodate a variety of learning styles while students are in the classroom or learning remotely from the road while traveling.

Technology also plays an important role in her classroom. When traveling, student-athletes at CVA can access their course textbook and complete homework electronically using the Pearson platform - an online tool that colleges use for remote/online and in-person learning.

“Because of the uniqueness of a school like CVA, I feel it’s important to teach my students how to learn independently. My philosophy is to teach students to teach themselves,” Jessie explained.

When students are on campus and learning in-person, Jessie incorporates a combination of traditional, lecture-styled lessons, broken up with fun activities and projects so students are well-rounded learners ready for college. One project is learning to solve the Rubik’s Cube, which teaches students to use algorithms, a procedural methodology to solve problems, and advances their skill at pattern recognition and visual and spatial awareness. It also teaches student-athletes to be determined - to stick with a difficult problem until it is solved.

Each class, students learn one step of solving a Rubik’s Cube. When students return to class the following day, the cubes are scrambled, and they are then tasked with remembering the steps from the beginning to solve their cube. At the end of the lesson, students are graded on whether they have remembered the steps necessary to solve the problem. If they solve the whole cube, they receive a 100, if they can only achieve two rows, they earn a 90, and so on.

Students who have gone through one or more of Jessie’s classes leave with important academic and life skills, tools they need to become the leaders of tomorrow. They are able to navigate and utilize digital textbook platforms, follow a lecture, work as part of a group, tackle long-term projects, and learn independently.

Jessie Scannell grew up in Maine, skiing at Sugarloaf. She received her BS in Mathematics from Simmons College in Boston and went on to receive her master's degree from James Cook University in Australia. For 13 years she lived and worked in Australia in the field of marine research, specifically ichthyology with a specialty in tropical reef fish ecology and shark fisheries. This is her fourth year teaching Science and Math at CVA.

Before the holiday school break, the CVA community gathered for a festive night of food, friends, and cheer to celebrate the season. A delicious feast was provided by the fabulous CVA kitchen staff, with a delicious array of desserts provided by the CVA Parent Support Group, topped off with some festive singing, led by Reverend Pam Morse. Thank you to the many hands that make community events like this so special!

The CommUnity Advocates held its first full meeting before the holiday break. Approximately 25 students, coaches, teachers, and staff, came together in a powerful display of support for our mission - to cultivate a sense of belonging, where everyone—students, faculty, and staff—feels welcomed, valued, respected, and safe. The group's goal extends beyond the CVA community, empowering students to become advocates for unity in the wider world.

A special thanks to the Kindling Collective for joining us and helping the group to engage in open discussions about gender and sexuality within our community, fostering awareness and inclusion of differences. Let's continue to champion these essential conversations and create positive change together!

Please join us in cheering on the CVA Big Dogs headed to the Youth Olympic Games this month! Ski Cross student-athletes Maggie Swain '24 and Morgan Shute '25, and Snowboard Cross student-athlete, Boden Gerry ’24, have been selected to represent Team USA at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Gangwon, South Korea. Ski Cross student-athlete Adam Hamblet ‘24 has been selected as a race forerunner. Ski Cross Coach Mike Phelan has been selected to coach Team USA for Ski Cross. Moguls student-athletes, Jack Egan '25 and Chase Littlefield '24 were selected as first and second alternates, respectively, for Team USA in their sport of Freestyle Moguls.

Morgan Shute '25 (left) and Maggie Swain '24 (right)

Boden Gerry '24

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.

Want to watch our athletes and coaches in action? Opening ceremonies will be held on January 19th at 8:00 PM KST (January 19th at 6:00 AM EST). Snowboard Cross races are scheduled to be held January 20th from 11:00AM - 2:45PM KST (January 19th from 9:00PM - 12:45AM EST) with Mixed Team Events happening January 21st from 10:45AM - 12:15PM KST (Janaury 20th from 8:45PM - 10:15PM). Ski Cross Men’s and Women’s Races will be held January 23rd from 11:00AM - 2:45PM KST (January 22nd from 9:00PM - 12:45AM EST) with Mixed Team Events happening January 24th from 10:45AM - 12:15PM KST (January 23rd from 8:45PM - 10:15PM EST). Closing ceremonies will be held on February 1st at 8:00PM KST (February 1st at 6AM EST).

Congratulations to CVA Alpine student-athlete, Lucia Littlefield '26, for earning her spot in the prestigious U16 National Performance Series (NPS)! Lucia is one of the 9 Women’s Eastern Region athletes selected and the only athlete representing the state of Maine. 

The U16 NPS is a powerhouse gathering of top-tier U16 athletes from across the nation, uniting talent and determination in a unique training and racing series. Lucia's selection is a testament to her exceptional skills and dedication to the sport.

Congratulations to CVA student-athletes Maddy Cannan '29 and Anders Hildebrand '28, the overall winners of the 2023 Bill Bousum Memorial race at Sugarloaf Mountain held on December 31st. 

Since its inception in 1986, the Bill Bousum Memorial race has stood as a tribute to the memory of Club member and dedicated volunteer Bill Bousum. Maddy and Anders join an illustrious list of event winners, including four former and current U.S. Ski Team members.

The Francoeur Bumps & Jumps B-Moguls event at Sugarloaf Mountain was a true testament to teamwork! The 3-day process to build the course for the first B-level event of the season in the East wouldn't have been possible without the collaborative efforts of Sugarloaf Mountain, the Sugarloaf Ski Club, and the CVA community from the athletes and coaches who helped to set and shape the course, to the volunteers and parents who helped during the event. Thank you to all!

A Big Dog thank you as well, to Connor Dolan, course builder and Freestyle Weekend Program Director, whose hard work ensured the success of the event.

Each month we'll spotlight some of our CVA coaching teams at the Academy. Our coaches work hard to support the athletic dreams of our Big Dogs and we are so proud of them.

Garrett Morrow has been the CVA Backcountry Program Director since 2021. Growing up at Sugarloaf with a Dad on the ski patrol, Garrett developed a love of skiing, and the mountains, early on. In high school, he joined the ski team, and after becoming team captain, he discovered his desire for coaching. Although a former racer, Garret’s passion has always been the backcountry, and exploring the world off-resort. 

Garrett brings over two decades of experience to CVA. After traveling all over the continental US and Canada in search of deep powder and steep descents, he returned to the Valley to foster and instill a love of backcountry skiing and riding in future generations. As the trip coordinator and lead guide for Saddleback Mountain, Garrett led uphill ski tours in the winter and guided hiking and paddling trips in the summer. At Sugarloaf, he served as a coach for the Big Mountain Bubblecuffer program, helping 12 to 16-year-olds safely explore and navigate all-mountain terrain. 

Learning how to be safe in the mountains is a pivotal component of Backcountry skiing and riding. Garrett’s experience in rescue operations, as a ski patroller and firefighter, helps him to better prepare the athletes that he works with. His certifications include Wilderness First Responder, Registered Maine Guide, PSIA Level 1, AIARE Level 1 and Avalanche Rescue, Swift Water Rescue Technician, Pro Board Firefighter 1 & 2, and Wildland Firefighter. 

In the off-season, Garrett spends his summers rafting, mountain biking, and hiking. He even completed the full Appalachian Trail!

On December 30th, CVA alumni gathered for the Annual Alumni Holiday Party, and it was nothing short of epic! This year's celebration took place at Winterstick, featuring not only festive vibes but also an exciting build demo!

A massive shoutout to the incredible Winterstick crew for adding that extra special touch to our Big Dog event. Special thanks to Tom Fremont-Smith '91 from Winterstick for leading tours and explaining the build process, and to Alumni Reunion Chairs Megan Hildebrand ‘99, Eric Kankainen ‘01, and Courtney Schad ‘95.

To all the amazing alumni and their families who joined us, a heartfelt THANK YOU! Without each and every one of you, none of the successes, memories, or traditions at CVA would be possible. Your contributions have left an indelible mark on our school, inspiring current and future generations of students to reach new heights. Thank you for being the architects of our legacy, for sharing your stories, and for continuing to be a beacon of inspiration. Together, we celebrate the past, embrace the present, and look forward to a future where the CVA spirit continues to thrive.

Maintenance/Custodial Position

Carrabassett Valley Academy has an open position in the Maintenance Department. This position is year-round, 30-40 hours per week, and involves the daily maintenance and cleaning of CVA buildings, grounds, and equipment. The schedule is flexible, and applicants would work with both students and faculty in a secondary education setting. At least one year of building maintenance, construction, plumbing, or electrician experience is strongly preferred, but not required. CVA offers competitive wages, benefits including health and dental insurance, a Sugarloaf ski pass, and paid time off. Interested candidates should contact Dave Koenig at 207-237-4451 or dkoenig@gocva.com. 

For more information, including a complete job description, please click the link below.

The Sugarloaf Charity Summit, Sugarloaf’s premier fundraising event, provides an opportunity for Sugarloafers, old and new, to join forces in the fight against cancer. Here are ways you can participate:

Help raise a mountain of money to fight cancer by participating in the fourth annual Charity Challenge on Saturday, January 27th. Let’s work together to reach our goal of raising $150,000 for this incredible Sugarloaf Charity Summit event!

Raffle tickets are available for a two-year Sugarloaf Season Pass that includes unlimited skiing and riding at Sugarloaf and unlimited Nordic skiing at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center with NO blackout dates. Pass is valid for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 ski seasons.

The Annual Sugarloaf Charity Gala returns on January 27th, complete with a live auction, live music, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and so much more! Grab your tickets today.

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.