Exploring the Winter Sports School (Park City, UT) with Head of School Tess Miner-Farra

Become a Ski Moms substack subscriber here.

In this episode Nicole and Sarah talk with Tess Miner-Farra, the head of the Winter Sports School in Park City, Utah. This is a unique public charter school that serves 9th-12th grade students focused on winter sports.  

We loved learning about the Winter Sports School and what makes it such an amazing place for young student-athletes. The school has a non-traditional academic calendar, running from April to November, allowing students to focus on their athletic training and competition during the winter months. For a little history, the Winter Sports School was founded in 1994 as a partnership between the Park City ski team and local educators. In 2014, it transitioned to become a public charter school.

The school's unique model allows students to train and compete at a high level while maintaining a rigorous college prep curriculum. Teachers and staff are very supportive of the student-athletes.  The school serves around 150 students, with 30-40% being alpine ski racers, 30% freestyle/freeski, and the rest a variety of other winter and non-winter sports.

Academics follow a traditional high school model, with students earning about 7 credits per year. As a public charter, the school must meet state graduation requirements.  The application process is a lottery system for Utah residents, with a more selective process for out-of-state applicants.

Tess discusses the challenges and benefits of the school's April-November calendar, the support provided to students when they travel for training/competition, and the school's partnerships and fundraising efforts.

It’s clear that the Winter Sports School is a very special place that provides a unique and supportive environment for young athletes to pursue their dreams, while also receiving a strong academic foundation.

Keep up with the Latest from The Winter Sports School!

Website:https://www.wintersportsschool.org/

Participating destinations include:
🏔️ Steamboat 🏔️ Winter Park Resort 🏔️ Arapahoe Basin 🏔️ Palisades Tahoe 🏔️ Mammoth Mountain 🏔️ Big Bear Mountain Resort 🏔️ Snow Valley Mountain Resort 🏔️ Stratton Mountain Resort 🏔️ Sugarbush Resort 🏔️ Snowshoe Mountain Resort 🏔️ Crystal Mountain 🏔️ Schweitzer Mountain Resort 🏔️ Deer Valley Resort 🏔️ Solitude Mountain Resort 🏔️ Tremblant Resort 🏔️ Blue Mountain Resort

Shop the Diamant Weekend Warrior Bag 2.0 at www.diamantskiing.com and use code SKIMOMS to save 10%

Invest in your season with this TSA Approved carry-on boot bag, it's a game changer and built to last. 

SHOP HERE

Use Code SKIMOMS for 15% off all labels. Code is not valid on sale items or stamps. Other restrictions may apply.