Page 120 - Flathead Living // Spring 2015

48o NORTH
Before gathering students, O’Donnell assembled a tal- ented crew of guides and instructors from a variety of back- grounds, including pro snowboarder Sean Busby, talented ski mountaineer and competitive mountain biker Ben Parsons, pro skier David Steele and skilled rider and skier Tom Danley.
“The diversity of skills is fantastic,” Danley said. “These are the fundamentals you need to live in a mountain community.” The first students at the academy were introduced to the adventurous curriculum that was designed for the winter. Each participant engages in physical training and coaching in their chosen discipline of backcountry skiing or snowboarding, with additional disciplines of Nordic skiing, ice climbing, and skimo racing. In the fall semester, the program will transition
to mountain climbing, trail running, and mountain biking. Each student must also take courses in avalanche safety and wilderness medicine, as well as a mountain snow science
course accredited by the University of Montana.
Also, students are enrolled in an internship in the com- munity, including the ski patrol at Whitefish Mountain
ABOVE Billy O’Donnell, right, founder of RIDGE Mountain Academy, instructs athletes during a day of training at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
BELOW O’Donnell at his Whitefish home.
118 FLATHEAD LIVING | SPRING 2015