Racing Ahead: Inside Aiglon’s New Era of Ski Performance

Aiglon College has always lived in the shadow of the mountains. But over the past eighteen months, the school has transformed its ski racing programme to become one of the most coveted in the region.

That decision has reshaped the entire programme. The school now fields three clear squads—Junior, Development and Performance—supported by a full competition calendar, targeted pre-season training and a coaching team whose combined experience stretches from Olympic slopes to international federations. 

The goal is simple: reach the top and never lose that edge.

A Programme Rebuilt from the Foundations

“This year is about breaking new barriers,” explains Head of Competitive Snowsports and Performance Athletes Jamie Willcocks, who comes to the school with two decades of teaching high-performance athletes. “Winter seasons of 2024 and 2025 were building years. Now we’re confident we’ve got the structure, the coaches and the identity. If a family wants their child to ski race, they should know this is one of the best environments they can choose.”

That structure begins early. Skiers from Year 3 to Year 8 join the Junior squad pathway; older students move into senior Development or the Performance squad. Beneath that sits the Race Progression stream—ideal for students who ski well and are interested in racing but are still developing the fundamentals.

According to Maruša Ferk Saioni, Ski team Head coach and a former Slovenian national team racer who competed in four Winter Olympics and more than a decade on the World Cup tour,, the results are already evident.  “We have 6 racers training with Ski Romande,” she says. “These students have even more obligations, including national training, our training and competitions, but they’re organised and motivated. They know their responsibilities and they’re mature enough to manage them.”

Balancing Academics and Ambition

In a boarding school, balance isn’t an abstract concept—it plays out on a daily basis. The coaches understand that race days, pre-season camps and fitness sessions must coexist with exams, assignments and house life.

“It’s difficult for teenagers to manage their time,” Jamie acknowledges, “but that’s why we’re here. There’s a lot of communication with Assistant Heads and Tutors, and every performance athlete has an individual programme. We review things on a weekly basis.”

The staff have chosen to give more of themselves to match student efforts. Early mornings, rotating training schedules and constant dialogue with teachers keep students grounded. 

“We’re not a ski academy,” he adds. “We’re a school. Their wellbeing and academics always come first. A student who feels good performs better anyway.”

On-snow, Off-snow and Everything in between

Aiglon’s training philosophy is broad and includes technique, mindset, strength, decision-making and ski preparation.

“Everybody likes to prepare the skis,” says Maruša. “The Aiglon Base Camp is full every afternoon.” Base Camp is the school’s dedicated ski-tuning, workshop and team space that has become one of the programme’s informal gathering points. 

“Before races, the students are there—tuning, waxing, asking questions. We run workshops on ski history, video sessions with legends and last year we even brought in a World Cup serviceman. Parents and students loved it.”

This year, the addition of Mike Barker, Snowsports Assistant Coach, has added even more expertise. A lifetime in international snowsports—racing, coaching, and running programmes across Europe and the Middle East—he offers a 360* view of the sport. He has coached at the highest levels, served on international coaching committees and even built Dubai’s inter-school racing programme from the ground up. 

Mike keeps Base Camp open throughout the week. “The students can make the choice to show up, take care of their skis, watch videos, have food, and talk as a team. We also run mini performance-science lectures. It’s so much more than a training space.”

Race Preparation: the Two-minute Window

“A race day is a long day for two minutes of skiing,” Jamie says. “The mental aspect gets overlooked. The students are already good racers. What we help them learn is how to switch on—110% performance for a tiny window.”

“It’s like golf, conditions shift constantly. The best athletes learn to adapt,” agrees Mike. “Our job is to help them build routines, understand the terrain, the wax, the tactics and trust themselves.”

During the season, the teams train on weekends and two times per week during PE lessons with the Aiglon dedicated coaching staff. The dedicated performance team also benefits from one extra rotating weekday session, ensuring students never miss the same lessons twice. Pre-season is intense: six camps from Saas-Fee, indoor slalom blocks, to a Christmas trip to Canada. In total, students have 35 days of available training before the first major event. It’s the kind of preparation that helps them hit the ground sliding once winter term begins.

In terms of the SnowSport programme expanding outside of ski racing, Jamie mentions that, “We have five students strong enough for the Junior Freeride World Tour,” he says. “And next year, a new student will be competing in snowboard cross at a national level. The idea is to build an entire Snowsports programme that caters for all student athletes to succeed and be recognised.”

A Culture that Lifts Every Skier

Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of the new programme is its team culture. Ski racing may be individual, but at Aiglon, it’s never lonely.

Mike uses what he calls the “sandwich effect”: younger skiers learn from older ones, who learn from coaches, who learn from each other. “Some students need visual cues, some need to talk things through, some need to feel it. We adjust,” says Mike. “That’s what coaching is.”

Maruša sees the impact daily. “The most important thing is that the kids feel good—and that they feel supported by the older students. We get to know each racer. We figure out what works for them: the right words, the right feedback. Skiing may be individual, but the team carries you.”

Looking toward 2026—and far beyond

By March, the calendar becomes a blur: weekly races, weekend competitions, British and Danish national events, freeride contests, the Aiglon Cup, and the Wengen schools race on the legendary Lauberhorn. There’s no shortage of opportunities for students to carve their ski destiny.

Success, the coaches agree, isn’t just podiums.

“It means a squad that feels like a squad,” Jamie says. “Committed racers who know their goals. And when we turn up at races, we want other schools to think: that looks fun, and I want to be part of that.”

Success also includes the highest level for Maruša. “This year some students will race at FIS level. We’re ready. Some of them can represent their countries internationally—maybe even one day at the Olympics or World Championships.”

 “We choose the right races for the right athletes, at the right time. And we look after them mentally, so they thrive, not burn out,” says Mike. 

Aiglon’s ski racing programme has evolved into a prestigious programme that sets young skiers on the path to athletic success. And if the coaches are right, the next chapters will be written at speed, with no sign of slowing their lightspeed momentum.