Program Updates

Rowmark Ski Academy is proud to welcome Per Lundstam as our new program director. Per brings decades of experience in elite athletic performance and sport science, including more than 20 years with US Ski and Snowboard and over a decade with the Red Bull High Performance Team, where he worked with world-class athletes across many sports. His background includes leadership in alpine sport science, athlete development, and cutting-edge performance methodology shaped by work in both the United States and Sweden.

We are also pleased to welcome several new staff members to the Rowmark team this year. Each brings valuable experience and a deep commitment to athlete development. You can learn more about their backgrounds by visiting their staff profiles below:

Paul Rechberger, Team Manager
Fritz Wood, U16 Assistant Coach
Jeni Conover, U12 Head Coach
Ryli Adrian, U12 Assistant Coach

Rowmark is elevating both athlete performance and program structure with a strong focus on growth and long-term development. New team-building initiatives are creating opportunities for athletes to strengthen collaboration, confidence, and resilience. A comprehensive Rowmark Ski Development Pathway is also underway, designed to guide athletes from the Junior Program into the Academy with clarity and purpose. This pathway ensures that each athlete continues to build the technical, physical, and mental skills needed for high-level success. Additionally, Rowmark is expanding access to diverse training environments, both on- and off-snow, to support complete athletic development and a deep, lasting love for skiing.

Recent Highlights

Bear Lake Challenge & U14 Rowmark Strong Day

As part of our commitment to team culture, Rowmark hosts an annual trip for U14 and Academy athletes that emphasizes physical and mental challenges, teamwork, and personal growth. This year, we highlight the leadership of our Academy program captains: Vivian Turner, Milan Mickelson, Ruby Rosh, and Alden Rhodes. These experiences help athletes form strong bonds, practice effective problem-solving, and build a deeper sense of trust and connection within the team.

Gymnastics Days

Throughout October and November, Rowmark has offered gymnastics sessions at Black Diamond Gymnastics and Sports Center every other Sunday. Thank you to Rowmark parent and Parent Advisory member Tracy Rhodes for leading the first session. These gymnastics days add valuable variety to athlete development and are open to all Rowmarkers.

Rowmark Physical Testing

As part of our fall preparation, we have been testing all of our athletes’ strength and conditioning progress. We are very happy with everyone's motivation to continue getting stronger and better. Thank you to all the athletes who came to our testing and put in all their effort to continue improving in the sport.

Rowmark Education

Coaches Education Series

Each week, our coaching staff meets in various locations to learn, collaborate, and continue progressing within the sport. Under the guidance of Per Lundstam, program director, and Peter Girardi, men's head FIS coach and head strength and conditioning coach, these sessions have offered tremendous value. Coaches have worked in the gym to refine technique and have also participated in classroom-based sessions led by specialists in sport science and education. The goal remains consistent. We strive to deepen our coaching knowledge to better serve our athletes and support the continued advancement of our sport.

Parent Education Series

Rowmark is pleased to introduce a new Parent Education Series designed to give families direct access to our staff and a deeper understanding of skiing, athlete development, and Rowmark operations. The series began with a successful ski tuning clinic on November 5, led by Equipment Manager and Women's FIS Head Coach Tristan McInnis. Parents received hands-on guidance and valuable insight into best practices for ski preparation. Upcoming sessions will cover topics such as travel procedures, medical collaboration with the University of Utah, physiology of skiing, and additional areas that support the athlete experience. Dates and further details will be shared soon.

Rowmark Science Corner

Rowmark Ski Academy has partnered with Ski Racing Media to create the Rowmark Science Corner. Three articles are now published, and a fourth is currently being written. These monthly pieces explore topics such as muscle fatigue in skiing, VO2 priming, and eccentric strength in youth development. Visit our dedicated page.

Ski Projects

Colorado, Chile, July 28–August 14

Our FIS and U16 teams traveled to South America during the Southern Hemisphere winter for outstanding on-snow training. The project offered excellent technical progression along with the chance to experience a completely new culture and environment. It was an energizing way to begin the season.

Hintertux and Wittenburg Projects, October 11–26

Rowmark athletes continued their development with high-level training on the Hintertux Glacier, sharing the venue with elite competitors from around the world. During this period, Rowmarker Vivian Turner also represented the program at the National Regional Development Program project in Wittenburg, Germany. The indoor venue presented challenging conditions, yet Vivian made significant progress and gained valuable experience.

Junior Program Winter Park Project, November 7–11

The Junior Program opened its fall preparation period in Winter Park, taking advantage of reliable early-season snow and excellent terrain. Athletes focused on foundational mechanics, freeskiing quality, and strong base skiing skills that will support their development throughout the coming season.

Academy Big Sky Project, November 14–25

Our U16 and FIS athletes traveled to Big Sky for their final preparation block before race season. With exclusive access to state-of-the-art training venues prior to public opening, the athletes are spending 12 days sharpening skills and building confidence through focused, high-quality training.

Junior Program  Big Sky Project, November 20–25

The Junior Program joins the Academy athletes in Big Sky for a project centered on strong fundamentals, freeskiing quality, and drill-based development. This block is designed to create a solid foundation that will carry the athletes into the heart of the competitive season.

Alumni Success

Rowmark alumni continue to inspire the next generation of athletes with their accomplishments at the highest levels of our sport. At the World Cup opener in Soelden, Austria, US Ski Team members Katie Hensien ’18 and Elisabeth Bocock ’23 delivered outstanding performances. Katie earned a strong 12th-place finish, while Elisabeth claimed 19th, making her the second youngest athlete to break into the top 30 and highlighting her remarkable potential. Their results contributed to an impressive showing for the American team in the first race of the season. As we enter an Olympic year, we keep our fingers crossed for all Rowmark alums on the US Ski Team—Katie, Elisabeth, Breezy Johnson ’13, and Mary Bocock ’22—and wish them continued success on the world stage.

Rowmark sends its full support to alum Katie Hensien, who recently fractured her tibia during training in Levi before the World Cup. Thankfully the injury requires no surgery, and Katie remains focused on a safe and healthy return later this season. Her Olympic dream is still very much alive, and Rowmark is cheering her on as she works toward a strong comeback.