Squaw Valley hires Ron Kipp as coaches education and development manager

The Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Race Team has announced that Ron Kipp will be joining the team in the newly created position of ski team coaches education and development manager. Kipp will be working with the ski team coaches to continue to develop, augment, and enhance their coaching skills. He comes to Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows from the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) where he was the Alpine Sport Education Manager and presided over all aspects of alpine coach education and certification.

“Establishing this position says a lot about the Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Ski Team,” said Kipp. “The staff and team commitment to athletic excellence, along with their ability to adapt to the needs of the athletes was a major draw for me. Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows already has an incredible history, and I look forward to building on that legacy.”

“Creating this position of education and development manager for our coaches is the next step in our team’s evolution,” added Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Program Director Todd Kelly. “Having Ron lead the charge is like waking up to a four foot powder day.”

“At Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, we have an uncompromised dedication to continuous improvement,” said Dee Byrne, Vice President of Snowsports for Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows. “I am absolutely thrilled that Ron will be joining our team and the community of North Lake Tahoe. To have someone of Ron’s caliber and expertise leading our coaches’ education will, without a doubt, elevate the experience of our athletes on the Ski Team and provide a tremendous resource for our entire region. Establishing this unique role gives further testament to our commitment to high level training and competition.”

Kipp completed his Ph.D. work in sport science with an emphasis in motor control at the University of Utah prior to working with the U.S. Ski Team’s Sport Science Department, where he was director of athlete preparation. He has also coached, and was the head physiologist with the U.S. Ski Team’s Men’s Alpine World Cup Team, and was assistant director of coaches education for USSA. He worked with the Norwegian Men’s Alpine National Team as an on-hill coach and sport science consultant. For five years, he was the education manager for PSIA-I (Professional Ski Instructors of America). Kipp has also written two books, authored or co-authored over 40 scientific published papers, and has given over 100 presentations nationally and internationally on skiing.

While working for USSA, Kipp added two levels of education and certification (300 and 400 levels) to the U.S. Coaches Education program. Meanwhile, the previous 100 and 200 levels were modified and adjusted to bring them in line with current teaching techniques. These updates and changes raised the bar for U.S. coaching as well as added depth to the program. Kipp has always been a believer in skiing skills.

“Good skills make good skiers, and good skiers make good ski racers” Kipp asserts. “To do this, we will make the best coaches, which in turn will create the best ski racers.”

Release and photos courtesy of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows.