Okemo Coaches Education Initiative
“My success came from lots of hard work, confidence to take chances and a good plan. The plan is a key component, which Phil McNichol helped create as my head coach. Phil delivered a program that suited my needs and those around me to bring out the best in all of us. He and I had a great working relationship on the USST and what made it work was his detailed approach. Phil has a very analytical mind and broke things down covering all aspects of an athletic program. That’s what it takes to be successful. Leave no stone unturned, believe in your plan of attack and make it happen.”
“Phil has done an awesome job over the years working with the US Ski Team. He managed all the crazy different personalities on the team seamlessly. We always knew he cared tremendously and was truly invested in our successes.”
OMS, Okemo and OMARA got together this year and have organized an Okemo Coaches Education Initiative. We brought in former US Ski Team Head Coach Phil McNichol to work with our coaching staff for two 9 day sessions; 12/13- 12/21, and 1/24- 2/1.
Phil is from the small town of Washington, CT where he developed his passion for skiing completely on his own. He started skiing at the age of 9 and was the only member of his family that skis, unlike most of our families that have grown up skiing together. Phil had to pave his own path, taking time away from his family carpet business to find ways to get equipment and get to the hill. He did this until the age of 16, but then decided to pursue team sports. When Phil was 22, he began teaching skiing and coaching while finishing his degree. Phil continued to follow his passion in skiing, which brought him from Flagstaff, AZ to New Zealand, Vail ,CO and Park City, UT where he landed on the National Team staff in the spring of 1996. Phil worked his way from Head Men’s Junior Team Coach to Head Men’s Europa Cup Coach and finally the Head Coach of the US Men’s Ski Team in 2002. For more information about Phil McNichol, click here.
According to OMS Alpine Program Director, Chris Hurka, “Phil is a very down-to-earth, approachable person and is one of the foremost ski educators in the world.” With that being said, Phil’s focus during the initiative is to work with our coaching staff to advance their understanding of skiing and how to work with our athletes, from Hopefuls through U19, to help them become great skiers and racers. Not only is Phil working with coaches directly, he is also observing and working with coaches while they are working with our athletes. This opportunity alone is immeasurable.
During Phil’s first session with OMS, he has focused on the structure and efficiency of our program in order to increase our ability to work effectively with our athletes. He has also focused on the psychological and physiological aspects of how athletes learn. Lastly, Phil worked with coaches on the technical piece of skiing and how to most efficiently use drills.
Overall, the main takeaway of Phil’s first session at OMS has been how to create a more efficient environment with what we do on snow and to enable coaches to focus better on the teaching process. We look forward to hosting Phil again in January!
Phil’s Notable Accomplishments:
- Coach of Year United States Ski & Snowboard Association 2008
- International Alpine Coach of Year US Ski Team 2008
- During tenure as Head Coach of the US Men's Team, Phil helped produced the most successful Men’s Team in US skiing history. In just 6 years the team amassed 42 World Cup Victories, 98 World Cup Podiums, 141 WC Top 10 Finishes, landed the first Olympic Men’s Gold Medal in 12 Years (2006) and produced: 4 World Championship Titles, 8 World Championship Medals, 6 World Cup Discipline Titles, 2 World Cup Overall Titles as well as placing the US Men’s Team second in 2 consecutive years in the Nations Cup.
