The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Park and pipe specialist joins the team
Noah Brooks has been named head coach for Park and Pipe Freeride Skiing.
“We are very excited to add a talented and accomplished coach like Noah to the CBA team,” says Graham Frey, Crested Butte Academy director and head of school.
“Noah completes a long search to find a park and pipe specialist to bring our overall Freeride program to the next level. His addition to the CBA coaching staff adds an important focus to park and pipe freeride skiing discipline. Noah Brooks will work alongside industry leaders Bud Keene, Wendy Fisher and Drew Cesati—arguably the best academy staff ever assembled,” continues Frey.
“I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to work with a company with the reputation in the sports world like IMG,” says Brooks.
“The resources they bring to the table, coupled with the athletic and academic model at CBA are second to none. Also, working with a coach like Bud Keene (CBA’s director of freestyle programs, decorated Olympic coach and legendary program leader) is a powerful situation that I have been looking at for a long time and one that I’ve finally found,” he continues.
Brooks began his career at Winter Park as a moguls competitor, reaching the NORAM level before getting in to the relatively new sport of Freeride at the age of 16.
He says, “I just saw a whole new sport emerging that was focused on air, style, and freedom of expression. It appealed to me then as a competitor and it appeals to me now as a coach.”
Brooks’ career focused on filming and photography, working with companies such as Warren Miller and various top photographers. As head coach for the Vail freeride team for the past three seasons, Brooks coached his athletes to podiums at the US Open, Aspen Open, Vermont Open, US Nationals and two top-10 finishes at the X-games.
Brooks plans to set the standard high for his athletes and is dedicated to helping CBA skiers reach their full potential.
Brooks says, ”As freeride skiing keeps pushing the envelope and growing, I am excited to be involved. And, with halfpipe skiing making its Olympic debut in 2014, it is only a matter of time for freeride skiing to see its day of glory. Crested Butte Academy plans to be a part of that glory.”
