When our sons were ski racing, Jesse Scott was one of their (and our!) favorite ski coaches. In 2023, Scott was honored as the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) Coach of the Year. I recently wrote an article about Scott for the Colorado Mesa University magazine, The Maverick. In chatting with him, one thing became very clear. Skiing is all about family for Jesse Scott. He’s a brave ski dad, who had a brave ski dad, and it’s my honor to share his story with you.
The first person Jesse Scott thought of when he was named the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) Coach of the Year for 2023, was his father. Scott’s father grew up in Aspen, but wasn’t a ski racer. But he was friends with ski racers, and as Scott explains it, his dad thought “there was something special about being a skier racer and wanted this for his children.”
“Getting this award is a tribute to my late dad,” he shares, explaining that when he was learning to ski and race, no one was a bigger supporter than his father.
Scott started skiing at age 2 and raced for Powderhorn Racing Club at Powderhorn Mountain Resort from ages 9 – 17. When his junior racing career ended, he became a junior ski racing coach. Before long, he’d stepped it up, becoming a coach for the alpine ski team at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) in Grand Junction, Colorado. Then, in 2017 he was named CMU’s head alpine skiing coach.
One of the factors USCSA emphasized in choosing Scott was his lifetime of ski racing experience. For as they recognized, Scott has hands-on experience doing everything from setting courses and gates, to erecting safety netting, to race administration and timing, officiating, and more. He’s not only a coach, but is a hands-on helper both on the snow and behind the scenes.
Professionally, Scott is a Mental Health Specialist at the CMU Student Wellness Center, a role which gives him insight into supporting and responding to each of the ski team’s athletes where they are, at whatever level of competition they desire. Personally, he is married and has a young son, who is just beginning to ski. His family comes to races, they host team dinners in their home, and they genuinely welcome each athlete into their circle.
When it comes to coaching, Scott recognizes that his role is to help each racer identify their own strengths. “Good coaching is not emotional, but objective and supportive,” he explains.
“Part of my job is to look at video and break it down, letting the athlete know what we’re seeing in their form and providing real feedback. I let the team members know that I’m here to provide instruction for the highest-level athlete in both techniques and tactics. But I also work with first-time racers introducing them to the sport. I want ski racing to be a joyful thing for all of them,” he says.
Another area of emphasis for Scott is introducing athletes to employment possibilities within the ski industry. Working with Powderhorn Mountain Resort, athletes learn about grooming and slope maintenance, ski instruction, adaptive skiing and snowboarding, and ski area management.
“Ski racing is tough. Ski racers acquire skills that not every athlete gets. Ski racing demands that athletes perform and execute right now, during the minute and a half it takes to complete a run. It takes a high level of motivation, athleticism and maturity,” Scott shares.
Scott believes that honing these skills will help his racers develop lifelong resilience and grit. “Ski racing is a challenge you have to sit with and work through,” he explains. “It mimics life.”
For more information on alpine ski racing at Colorado Mesa University, please visit this link. Ski racing at a smaller school is an excellent way to continue pursuing a beloved sport, while getting a top-notch education. In addition to alpine ski racing, CMU also has a cross-country and biathlon team.
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James says
Congrats to Jesse – a great person and so passionate about skiing – thanks for another great article BSM!