By Will Yeiser, Executive Director & Co Founder
When we opened our doors in 2009, a ski program was not part of the plan. It wasn’t in the budget, on the schedule, or even on our radar. But as winter approached, we began exploring the idea of launching a ski program at FBRA.
During my time teaching at Asheville Middle School, I led the AMS Ski and Snowboard Club for three winters and developed a strong partnership with the team at Wolf Ridge Ski Resort (now Hatley Pointe). As a former ski instructor in Jackson Hole, I felt confident that we could build a meaningful and effective ski progression for our students and staff.
After sharing the idea with our families, we decided to move forward. In January 2010, we led our first ski field lesson to Wolf Laurel. The program was an immediate success. Students and families were thrilled with the experience and the growth they saw.
That first winter, Co-Founder David Byers joined the effort as a ski instructor, and together we worked with our founding class of twelve students for six weeks on the slopes of Wolf Ridge. Beginners steadily progressed to intermediate and advanced terrain, while more experienced skiers refined their technique through focused drills and coaching. The ski program immediately became one of the most popular activities we do during the year and it has grown ever since.
Growth You Can See
Our ski program—like our whitewater canoeing and climbing programs—is rooted in our mission to build character and integrity for a lifetime of learning, service, and leadership. The transformation we witness over the three-year ski progression is both visible and inspiring. We have students who, on their first day in sixth grade, struggle to buckle their ski boots. By eighth grade, those same students are confidently skiing “Whoopdedo,” a double black diamond run at Sugar Mountain in Banner Elk. Even more impressive, they are skiing it multiple times in a day—pushing themselves to make tighter, steeper, more controlled turns.
Instruction Rooted in Excellence
Our goal is to safely introduce students to skiing while cultivating a lifelong love for the sport. We build a strong foundation of knowledge and skills modeled after the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) curriculum.
More than half of our current staff hold Level 1 PSIA certification, and others are actively working toward certification. Several staff members also teach at local ski areas in the evenings and on weekends, continuing to refine their skills alongside professional instructors.
We are proud to partner with highly respected local professionals such as Witold Kosmala and Chip Coxe—both accomplished PSIA instructors—who support our program through specialized clinics at area ski resorts.
Expanding to Snowboarding
We are often asked why we initially focused on skiing rather than snowboarding. As a former ski instructor, I knew how to teach skiing well and wanted to build the program around that expertise. Alpine skiing also provides a strong foundation for other snowsports such as cross-country, skate, and telemark skiing—much like tandem canoeing builds foundational skills for whitewater kayaking and rafting.
This winter, however, we launched our first-ever after-school snowboarding program—and it has quickly become a favorite among students and staff.
A Community on the Mountain
I am incredibly proud of our ski instructors and the strength of our program. It rivals many ski schools in both structure and quality. Most rewarding of all is witnessing the confidence, resilience, and joy that grow in our students year after year. There is something special about being in the mountains together as an entire school. When we are on the rivers, we are in different locations depending on the grade level, but when we are skiing, we are all together, frolicking in the snow and creating an unforgettable shared experience unique to our school and community.
We look forward to seeing you on the slopes next winter!