We are GRP Ski
An Olympic development cross-country ski program based at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center in Craftsbury, Vermont. We train year-round and race throughout the country, representing the US in international competition. Along the way, we will share our knowledge of environmental issues with our communities and encourage others to take action and live green.
Our Coaches
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School Bulgarian Sports University
Major Masters in Sport Science: Physiology/Biomechanics
Hometown Goverdartsi, Sofiya, Bulgaria
Home Ski Club Mother Republic Bulgaria Club
Pepa has headed the Craftsbury ski programs for many years since coming to Craftsbury at the beginning of 1998. In Bulgaria she competed for the national team in ski orienteering where she won gold at the World Championships in 1994. At the Outdoor Center she has also worked as a massage therapist and fleet manager. When the Center was reorganized as non-profit in 2008, she took over head coaching responsibilities of the Green Racing Project as her full-time responsibility. Ski racing aside, Pepa enjoys burnt meat, bones, Johnny Red, chocolate and caffeine.
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School University of New Hampshire ‘04/Humboldt State University
Major Computer Science
Hometown Alstead, NH
Home Ski Club Putney Ski Club
Nick spent his undergraduate years at the University of New Hampshire, where he was a member of the Nordic Ski Team. He graduated in 2004, and continued his schooling at Humboldt State University in California. Nick arrives in the NEK from the Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale, CO. At CRMS Nick taught math and coached the nordic team. He has always been interested in skis and ski preparation, and has also worked as a sports and outdoor photographer. Nick's primary responsibility with the GRP is in selecting, managing, testing, waxing and maintaining team equipment for the GRP skiers.
Our Team
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School Williams College ’19
Major Computer Science & English
Braden grew up skiing in Southern Maine for the Yarmouth Ski Club and the Maine Winter Sports Center. During this time he won several State Championships with the help of Yarmouth High School ski coach Bob Morse. After completing High School he pursued a post-graduate year in Sun Valley, Idaho and worked with coach Tom Smith of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. Following this season Braden enrolled at Williams College and joined the ski team under head coach Jason Lemieux. Braden went on to make multiple EISA podium appearances along with 3 top-15 results at NCAA Championships. During his Sophomore season he scored points contributing to the first ever Williams Nordic Men’s team win at the UNH Carnival. Senior year Braden capped off his collegiate career by representing the United States at U23 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
At the Outdoor Center Braden enjoys working in the wood shop on various projects. He is religious about a nice long post-lunch nap, so don’t bother looking for him until late afternoon.
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School University of Vermont
Major Business Analytics
Hometown Apple Valley, MN
Home Club Loppet Nordic Racing
Personal Sponsors Madshus, Toko, The Feed, Julbo
Margie was born in Denver, CO and grew up in Apple Valley, MN where she was a four-sport athlete throughout middle school and high-school. While playing club soccer year-round for over 10 years, she also ran track and cross-country throughout middle school and high school. Margie began learning to ski in middle school, then continued on to her high school team, where her coach convinced her to try a couple of junior national qualifier races during her freshman season. After having success on the Midwest Junior National team, Margie chose to pursue collegiate skiing, attending the University of Vermont where she graduated with a degree in Business Analytics. During her time at UVM, she competed in three NCAA championships and was All-American in 2020 in addition to being named to the UVM Dean’s list and honored as a NCAA Academic All-American.
As a new member of the GRP, Margie is looking forward to working with the Center on various projects and making some new friends. In her free time she likes to practice basketball layups, juggle, and try to do the splits.
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School The College of Saint Scholastica
Major Chemistry
Hometown Mora, Minnesota
Clubs The College of Saint
Scholastica Ski Team 2019-2023
Personal Sponsors Madshus
John was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He grew up in Mora, MN alongside his twin brother, Michael, and two younger sisters, Johanna and Lola. He skied with the Fast Tracks ski club in Mora throughout his childhood. In 2011, John’s family moved to New Zealand for a year. During this year, his love for endurance sports was sparked when he and Michael started running cross country for the Kaitoke School. Once back in Minnesota, John ran cross country, track, and skied with his brother. After graduating from Mora high school, he decided to attend South Dakota State University to run cross country and track for the jackrabbits. After two years, John transferred to the College of Saint Scholastica to ski under head coach, Maria Stuber. As a saint, John was able to qualify for two NCAA championships and ski his way into the 2022 U.S. Nationals sprint semifinals as well as finishing fifth in the Theodore Wirth SuperTour sprint.
During his time at the center, John hopes to be able to utilize his knowledge gained from wildland firefighting to be able to work outside in the beautiful Vermont forests building and maintaining trails.
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School University of Alaska Anchorage '20
Major Accounting
Hometown Plymouth, MN
Home Club Loppet Nordic Racing
Personal Sponsors Salomon, Finn Sisu Store, JoJé Bars, SaltStick
Michaela was born and raised in Plymouth, Minnesota where she grew up running and skiing with her parents and three sisters. She competed in cross country running, skiing, and track in high school, and began switching allegiance from running to skiing after joining Loppet Nordic Racing her junior year of high school. Following graduation from Wayzata High School, she moved to Alaska to attend the University of Alaska Anchorage, where she skied for the Seawolves all four years and ran cross country for a season. An accounting major, she enjoys crunching the numbers almost as much as a long trail run or crust ski in the mountains. Highlights from her time at UAA include an appearance at the NCAA championships, two top-20 results at the 2020 US Nationals, and graduating summa cum laude.
This is Michaela's second year with the GRP and she is excited to keep progressing as a skier, race the Super Tour circuit, and to explore more of Vermont and the east coast. She's a big fan of the local food in Vermont and is hoping to learn how to brew kombucha that rivals the legendary GT Dave's.
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School Middlebury College
Major Neuroscience Major/Computer Science Minor
Hometown Burke, VT
Clubs St. Johnsbury Academy Ski Team (2013-2017), Craftsbury Nordic Ski Club (2016-2018), Middlebury College Ski Team (2017-2021)
Personal Sponsors Madshus, Toko, Swix
Alex grew up in Bethlehem, NH and for most of her beginning years wanted nothing to do with skiing, preferring to take dance classes, play soccer, and build forts in the woods. Upon moving to Burke VT in high school, she was quickly introduced to Craftsbury, after learning that was where her crush happened to ski train. While the guy was put on the back burner, Alex quickly warmed up to the idea of ski racing under the coaching of Anna Schulz, Audrey Mangan, and Jake Barton. Her senior year of high school she placed 4th in the 10k classic at Junior Nationals (much thanks to some killer skis crafted by Ollie Burruss) and tied for first overall at the Eastern High School Championships.
Alex then attended Middlebury College. Under the coaching of Andrew Johnson and Kate Barton, she qualified for 3-NCAA's, gaining All-American status her junior year with a 6th place finish in the 5k skate. Her senior year, while not racing for Middlebury, Alex was lucky to be able to train with the GRP - getting exceptional coaching from Pepa Miloucheva. That winter she qualified and attended U23-Worlds for the second time, highlighted by a 24th place finish in the 10k skate.
Alex enjoys coaching the masters program and helping out with the TNR races at the Outdoor Center. Outside of skiing, Alex's current fascination is with drones and she aspires to one day build her own. Additionally, she hopes to soon fulfill her lifelong dreams of learning to drive a Pisten Bully and getting a sponsorship from Hot Wheels.
Our Support
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Megan Chacosky MS, RD, CSSD has supported US Olympic sport teams for 8 years as a sport dietitian and performance chef; her roles have directly supported US Biathlon, USA Bobsled & Skeleton, USA Luge, USA Figure Skating, and US Ski & Snowboard teams with sport performance nutrition applications and travel chef provisions throughout athlete training and competition phases. She has impacted nutrition planning and execution for Team USA in the 2018 PyeongChang and 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.
Megan currently serves as the lead Sport Dietitian for the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, organizing nutrition provisions for the elite club programs of biathlon, rowing, running and XC skiing and supporting the Center’s seasonal dining hall menu development and delivery. Megan continues to engage as a member of the USOPC Nutrition team, collaborating with fellow Olympic dietitians and contributing to internal educational documents, dietetic protocols, and performance nutrition best practices. Megan is passionate about using sport nutrition to encourage not just peak performance, but also sustainable, positive relationships with food and body image within athlete populations.
es here
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Will Ruth joined the GRP in 2022 as strength coach for all four sport programs. He has a BS in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sport Psychology, an MA in Sport Coaching, and an NSCA-CSCS certification. Will lives in the nearby town of Barre, and has coached in the Craftsbury sculling camp program since 2019.
Will rowed and wrestled in high school in Olympia, Washington, and then played lacrosse and began competing in strength sports as a student at Western Washington University. He came back to rowing at Western in 2013 as the men’s team strength coach and assistant coach, where he remained until moving to Vermont in 2019. Will has also coached collegiate track and field, high school football and lacrosse, and youth and adult outdoor mountain athletes, and online strength coaching and coach/athlete-education. His work and strength coaching in rowing has been featured at rowing conferences, in the “NSCA Coach” magazine, and on the Craftsbury 2020 Sculling Webinar series.
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When Samantha Smith, MD, became a competitive rower in college, she also inadvertently chose her future career as a primary care sports medicine specialist.
“Because I had many injuries, I noticed the difference when I saw specialists who understood my sport and took it seriously so I could continue to be successful as an athlete,” says Dr. Smith, who is also board-certified in internal medicine and pediatrics. “That fueled my interest in orthopedics, and I really enjoy taking care of both adults and children.”
Dr. Smith offers nonsurgical treatment for musculoskeletal and other medical issues that occur not just in athletes, but all active people. The field of primary care sports medicine is not new, but it has been growing rapidly over the past decade, Dr. Smith notes. “With advances in ultrasound and other office-based imaging and procedures such as injections, primary care sports and nonoperative musculoskeletal providers work alongside orthopedic surgeons to provide complementary services to patients,” she says.
Pinpointing the source of a patient’s problem is one of Dr. Smith’s favorite aspects of her job. “I might see a patient with ankle pain or pain on the side of the knee, but those might just be the symptoms,” she says. “The underlying problem may be something seemingly unrelated, such as weakness in the hip, so we need to focus our treatment plan on strengthening the hip.”
Dr. Smith is an assistant professor of clinical orthopedics and rehabilitation at Yale School of Medicine.
Application and Requirements
Ski Program FAQs
How does someone become a GRP athlete?
Selection of athletes for this program is based on a combination of performance criteria and a written application. Applicants will be expected to meet at least one of the following performance criteria:
Top 10 EISA Ranking for the current year (or last year that skier raced EISA races)
Top 10 USSA birth year ranking (on the most recent ranking list)
Top 10 NENSA overall point list (current year)
There will be some discretionary allowances made for cases where injury, location, or other challenges exist.
The written application covers past experience and will also ask the applicant to explain why they think this program is a good match for them and what skills or interests they would bring to the green/sustainable aspect of the program.
Applications are due end of the day March 24, 2024. Decisions will be made and athletes will be contacted by April 10, 2024.
Why is there a written application - Why not just take the fastest skiers?
This program aims to offer elite-level coaching, training and race support while also supplying participants with a meaningful non-skiing experience and meeting the mission of its host, the Craftsbury Outdoor Center. It is important that GRP athletes see the value of this approach and have interests and skills outside of Nordic competition that will make them a valuable member of the Craftsbury community. Treat this as a job application: one part of the "job" will be training effectively and skiing your fastest; the other equal part will be making a meaningful contribution to the Outdoor Center and the broader community.
Who is supporting this project?
The Craftsbury Outdoor Center is the primary supporter and sponsor of the GRP, with the support of sponsors from the ski world and beyond. The Craftsbury Outdoor Center was purchased in November 2008 and restructured into a non-profit organization with the following mission:
To support and promote participation and excellence in lifelong sports with a special focus on Rowing, Running, Nordic Skiing, and Biathlon.
To use and teach sustainable practices; and
To protect and manage the surrounding land, lake and trails.
The Green Racing Project fits well with this mission, and Craftsbury is excited to provide this programming opportunity.
Off-campus option
As of May 2022, we have offered an off-campus option in addition to the on-campus program that we have offered since the start of GRP back in 2009. Our goal is to offer more flexibility for athletes who may have (or hope to find) a regular job that they can work from the Craftsbury area alongside their training. The off-campus option is not encouraged for first-year athletes.
Off-campus athletes will be responsible for finding and paying for their own housing and food. They may purchase meals at the Center if they wish. They will be expected to fulfill the basic COC Community Work Hours, but no additional work. Off-Campus athletes are expected to be present at team training and meet the same expectations as residential athletes: be a part of the team, Center and greater Craftsbury community.
On-campus athletes live on campus, eat on campus and have jobs and projects on campus to fulfill their work expectation above the basic Community Work Hours.
For on-campus athletes, Craftsbury will be providing housing, meals (when the dining hall is open - about 10 months of the year), part-time work and access to health insurance. Both on- and off-campus athletes will be provided coaching, and race support.
What is the expected housing arrangement?
Housing is provided for the on-campus team in several large farmhouses at the edge of the Craftsbury trail network. It's a 1 to 4 mile jog/bike/ski to the Center depending on which house you’re in. Off-campus athletes are responsible for finding and paying for their own housing and food (purchasing Center meals is an option).
Who is the target audience for this program?
The Craftsbury GRP program is designed primarily to fill the gap that exists after collegiate skiing, and serve as a bridge from collegiate racing to national and international level competition. Most skiers and biathletes won't reach their peak performance levels until their mid to late 20's, yet it can be hard to graduate from college and tell your parents that you're "just going to train" for the next few years. This program works to provide athletes a long-term training situation that also allows them to develop and use other skills, specifically those related to the mission of the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, on a part-time basis.
What is the time commitment for this program?
One does not become a faster skier or biathlete overnight. It's generally a multi-year proposition and thus requires a long-term commitment, with periodic review to be sure goals remain reasonable and measurable progress made. This program asks for a minimum one-year commitment, generally at least two years - with regular coach-athlete review to agree on goals and monitor progress toward them.
Is there a prerequisite in terms of training?
It is expected that applicants will have been training at a serious level on a regular basis. As part of the application process you will be asked to submit your training log for the past several years. The GRP program coaches will also want to talk with your most recent coach(es) to get a sense of your level of training, as well as to prepare for as smooth a transition as possible to the new training program.
Will GRP Athletes be paid for the part-time work, or is it an unpaid expectation of the program?
All GRP program participants will be expected to do a certain amount of work for the Center - more if you live and eat on campus. With prior approval, community service may also count toward some of the GRP work expectation such as offering ski clinics for local kids, coaching local sports teams, tutoring students, or volunteering for other nonprofits.
There will be the possibility of working additional hours for take-home pay either at the Center, or at area businesses, as time allows.
The Center will also cover health insurance, after the initial two months for on-campus athletes.
Is there any social life in Craftsbury?
Ok, this is probably the most important question! There are some excellent restaurants in Craftsbury, Hardwick, West Glover, Morrisville and Stowe. The Outdoor Center itself is far from dead, with a steady stream of guests, campers and coaches of all ages coming through. The Green Racing Project's Rowing team includes around 15 oarsmen and women, so there's a good bunch of fellow athletes with whom you'll share work and fun. For days off further afield, there's Burlington or Hanover, both about 90 minutes away or Montreal, 2 hours away.
What will the Center-provided work opportunities be?
Our goal is to provide every athlete with one or more regular jobs at the Center or in the community. Ideally, we will find jobs that match an athlete’s interests and career goals, while also supporting the mission of the Center. Certain projects and tasks are ongoing; other new projects may be determined through a joint brainstorming and prioritization process that gives skiers the chance to suggest and design projects that align with the Center's mission. Here are some examples from the past years:
Various projects related to helping Craftsbury become more sustainable. These include analysis of current heating/power systems, improved management of property, production of local food on property
Management of the team itself: uniform design and acquisition, press releases, blogging for interested media, travel planning, work with sponsors
Projects supporting the broader Craftsbury ski/biathlon program in general: helping coach juniors, helping run training camps, helping organize events,improving trails to ensure early skiing, etc.
What approach will be taken to ensure as smooth a transition as possible from my current program and coach?
Transitions are always challenging. This program will use all of the following approaches to try to make the transition as smooth as possible for athletes:
Communication: Head Coach Pepa Miloucheva will want to discuss each athlete with her/his previous coach or coaches. She will also want to maintain communication as needed when questions or problems arise.
Physiological testing: Craftsbury has VO₂ testing equipment on site, as well as lactate testing equipment. Pepa also uses other testing methods as well, such as timed runs and strength tests. All of this data helps her assess each individual athlete's needs and current state.
Individualized approach: The program's and Pepa's philosophy is that different athletes have different needs. The exact same training program will most likely not be optimal for all the athletes in the program. Therefore, training schedules will be tailored to each individual skier as is necessary.
What does Craftsbury offer in terms of training facilities and opportunities?
Craftsbury offers an extensive trail network for skiing, as well as trail running, bounding and mountain biking in the summer. There are also many dirt roads, which make for great long runs or rides. Mountains aren't far away for more vertical challenges: Jay Peak, Mt. Mansfield and others. In addition to the Center’s rollerski loop, there are quite a few options for rollerskiing as well, all within a 10-30 min drive of the Center. A track in Morrisville is used for timed runs.
The Center’s biathlon range is equipped with 15 points right on the rollerloop. Our lodge & fitness facility features a well-equipped strength training room, as well as multiple Concept2 SkiErgs, Indoor Rowers, and BikeErgs. Sculling on the water is offered for its excellent cross-training, along with kayaking, canoeing and swimming.
Application
In exchange for coaching, travel support, room & board, GRP skiers are asked to take on projects that contribute to the work of the Center. If this sounds like work you would enjoy, while taking your skiing to the next level, then you may be a good fit for the GRP. You can read more about the team by taking a look around this website.
Skiers or biathletes applying, or thinking of applying are encouraged to talk to the coaches at one of the late season races or via contacts below:
Ski - Pepa Miloucheva, grpski@craftsbury.com address, or call 802-586-7767.
Biathlon - Mike Gibson at grpbiathlon@craftsbury.com address, or call 802-586-7767.
GRP Summer Training Program
Are you an elite college skier?
Check out our Collegiate Summer Training Team, a summer program for U23 athletes currently pursuing a degree while competing at a high level in Division 1 NCAA nordic skiing (NCAA qualifiers). The goal of the program is to provide an elite-level summer training experience in concert with the Craftsbury Green Racing Project.
Our Sponsors
You may have heard of them as the first rowing camp in North America, or perhaps as the most consistent snow in the east, but even without participating in one of the COC's programs, you can share the same great Craftsbury setting, excellent food, and facilities as group or individual guests. Craftsbury has the pleasure of hosting the Green Racing Project Rowing, Skiing, and Biathlon Teams at the Center.
Since 1976, Concept2 has been making innovative rowing products, from their Indoor Rowers to the Dreissigacker Racing Oars. In 2009, Concept2 introduced the SkiErg. Whether you're a rower, a skier, or neither one, Concept2's products will help you get fit, stay fit, win your race, or train for your primary sport.
Our Partners
Caldwell Sport provides service and selection of cross country racing skis at the highest level available. They are not a full-service retail shop. They don't do boots, poles, clothing, accessories, or even step-down ski models. They focus their attention on what they do best, and they continually strive to improve the company and its services. They're interested in working with racers at all levels who want the best skis they can get.
Podiumwear creates patterns that function at the highest levels of competition, sources fabrics and trims that can overcome the toughest conditions, works with clients to bring their unique design ideas to life, then prints, transfers, cuts and sews each piece to the highest standards. All of their products are made in their St. Paul, Minnesota facility.
In the winter of 2007, Vermont skier Corinne Prevot picked up some fun fabric and started making hats for her Burke Mountain Academy teammates and friends. Soon the demand for the colorful hats grew, as did the variety of prints. As the buzz snowballed beyond the New England ski community, new products joined the line to keep everyone warm and colorful. Skida believes in local production, limited edition products, and a fresh perspective, and in supporting the local community.