Waitsfield, VT – July 31, 2025 – Green Mountain Valley School (GMVS), one of the top ski academies in the world, is raising the bar for athlete development with the addition of several world-class coaches for the 2025 season. This expansion deepens GMVS’s commitment to delivering best-in-class training while providing student-athletes with the comprehensive support needed to excel on snow, in the classroom, and beyond.
Elevating the Alpine Program
GMVS is stepping into the season with a powerhouse lineup of new coaches, bringing international expertise and fresh energy to help athletes excel at every phase of their development.
Naga Kusumi joins GMVS as their Head U14 Alpine Coach and Director of Youth Development. A former Olympian and FIS World Cup competitor, Naga brings decades of coaching success, having led standout junior programs at Mt. Mansfield Academy and Stratton Mountain School, and guided young athletes to podium finishes at Eastern Championships and beyond.
Adding further international depth is Oliver Koch, a Swiss Olympic-certified High Performance Coach with over two decades of elite-level experience. Oliver’s resume includes coaching the Swiss Women’s National Team at the 2002 Olympics and serving as Sports Director at the Schweizerische Sportmittelschule in Engelberg, Switzerland, where he helped develop numerous World Cup athletes. At GMVS, Oliver will be working with the oldest, most competitive male athletes as the lead Tier 1 and Post Graduate (PG) Coach.
Also new to the Alpine staff is Helene Kristoffersen, a recent Saint Michael’s College graduate, NCAA Championships competitor, and three-year captain for the Division I Alpine ski team. Helene will coach the U18 Girls’ team while supporting the academic program as a science instructor and serving as a dorm parent – bringing her leadership both on the hill and in the classroom.
Rounding out this group of new Alpine leaders is Scott Graham, who joins GMVS as a Technical Specialist, and Head U12 Coach and lead Midweek Coach for the Junior Race Program. A Vermont native with nearly 15 years of high-level coaching experience, Scott recently supported the U.S. Ski Team’s Women’s World Cup team, coaching America’s top slalom and giant slalom skiers. At GMVS, he’ll guide the next generation by overseeing the Junior Race Program U12s, leading the Junior Race Program’s midweek training, and working one-on-one with academy athletes during return-to-snow and mid-season blocks.
“Scott’s technical knowledge, passion for mentorship, and proven success at every level make him a tremendous addition to our Alpine staff,” said Mike Day, Alpine Program Director. “Together, these new coaches strengthen the depth of our program, fueling technical growth and personal development for GMVS racers, at every level.”
New Leadership Energizes Nordic
The GMVS Nordic program also gains fresh leadership this year with Brandon Herhusky stepping in as Nordic Program Director. Brandon joins GMVS from the University of New Hampshire, where he served as Assistant Nordic Coach while pursuing his Master’s in Kinesiology. His coaching experience includes some of the nation’s top clubs and academies, including Sugar Bowl, Eastern Massachusetts Cross Country Skiing (EMXC), and Vermont’s Mansfield Nordic Club, along with collegiate coaching at Harvard and the University of Vermont.
Brandon’s passion for Nordic skiing and athlete development runs deep — he has coached athletes at Junior Nationals, served as a wax tech and U18 coach, and supported the U.S. National Team on the international stage, including the 2023 races in Jyvaskyla, Finland. A ski academy graduate himself, Brandon knows firsthand the power of an academy environment to help young athletes thrive both on snow and off.
GMVS Head of School Tracy Keller shared, “We’re excited for Brandon to lead the Nordic program by combining high-level training with a focus on building skills, confidence, and curiosity. His athlete-centered approach and extensive network in the Nordic community position GMVS Nordic to continue raising the bar for what’s possible for young skiers.”
Supporting Student-Athletes Off the Hill
Alongside the athletic leadership, GMVS is excited to welcome Laurence Webber, who will be joining the community as a French teacher and a dorm parent. Laurence brings a wealth of international experience, having earned his Bachelor’s degree from McGill University and recently completed a Master of Arts in French through Middlebury College and Sorbonne Université in Paris, where he spent the past year teaching English at the prestigious École Alsacienne.
Kerry Jackson, GMVS Academic Director, notes, “Laurence’s passion for language, culture, and student mentorship will bring vibrant energy to campus, enriching both the academic and residential experience for GMVS students.”
A Complete Approach to Developing Student-Athletes
GMVS’s investment in holistic excellence continues to be matched by its commitment to the well-being of every athlete, on the hill, in the classroom and everywhere inbetween. On campus, Sports Psychology Consultant and Mental Skills Coach Sheila Stawinski and Counselor Michael Domey provide mental health support while Chris Palmer, GMVS’s certified Athletic Trainer, ensures athletes stay healthy, recover well, and perform at their best throughout the season.
“Bringing together this caliber of coaching, mental health support, and athletic training, in an academic setting sets GMVS apart,” said Tracy Keller. “It reflects our mission to help student-athletes reach their full potential on the hill, in the classroom, and beyond.”
GMVS offers programs designed to develop ski racers at every stage of their journey. Starting with the Junior Program for U8 athletes, GMVS nurtures young talent early on with age-appropriate training and skill-building, The school serves middle school through post-graduate (PG) student-athletes, integrating intensive on-snow development with rigorous academic curriculum tailored to support student-athletes balancing ski racing and academics. Together, these programs create a seamless pathway for athletes to grow, compete, and thrive at every level.