Stratton Mountain, VT – The Stratton Mountain School (SMS) Board of Trustees has announced the hiring of Ross Powers, SMS class of 1997 alumnus and Olympic gold medalist, as the school’s new Snowboarding Program Director. Powers will join the school’s athletic staff at the beginning of the 2010-11 academic year.n”Ross returns to us with more than a decade of experience competing at the
highest levels of world-wide competition,” said Christopher Kaltsas, SMS
Headmaster. “Ross is one of the most highly profiled figures in the history
of the Halfpipe snowboard circuit, and we are pleased to have him join our
staff.”

As a student at SMS, Powers captured the gold medal at the 1996 FIS
Snowboarding World Championship in Lienz, Austria. Two years later at the
Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan, Powers earned a bronze medal for his
performance in the Halfpipe. At the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, he
led the historic sweep by the U.S. Men’s Snowboarding Team and stood atop the
podium as the gold medalist.

“Our Snowboarding Program’s new direction will integrate the latest coaching
techniques, strength and conditioning modalities, as well as the
state-of-the-art technology currently used at the highest levels of the
sport,” said Christopher Kaltsas, SMS Headmaster.

A Vermont native, Powers and his wife, Marisa, currently live in South
Londonderry, Vt., with their two daughters, Victoria and Meredith.

“The hiring of Ross Powers signifies a serious commitment by the Board of
Trustees to firmly maintain Stratton Mountain School as the preeminent Ski
and Snowboard Academy in the United States,” said Gary Giulietti, Chairman
of the Board of Trustees.

Mike Mallon, the current Snowboarding Director, will be pursuing a variety
of other opportunities for the ensuing year. While at SMS, Mallon established
a strong relationship with many of his athletes and their families, and
successfully maintained the program at a level of national prominence. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA)
recognized him in 2009 with their prestigious Westhaven Award, and Mallon’s efforts were
instrumental with the recognition of SMS as the USSA Snowboarding
Club of the Year in 2005 and 2009.

“Mike has done a commendable job over the past six years at SMS,” said
Christopher Kaltsas, SMS Headmaster. “He is deserving of our sincere thanks
for his tireless work and efforts in support of our school, and we wish him
luck in the future.”