Athletics

Snowboard

Over 25 years ago, Carrabassett Valley Academy pioneered the first snowboard-specific program and remains a world leader. Our coaching spans Snowboard Cross, Slopestyle, and Snowboard Alpine Racing, with athletes competing in Junior World Championships, Youth Olympic Games, and FIS World Cup events. CVA Big Dogs have earned Nor-Am podiums, national titles, and Olympic gold, and the program has two athletes headed to Cortina for the 2026 Games.

The CVA Difference

Premier Training Venues
Sugarloaf offers five top-tier terrain parks for slopestyle skill progression, an expanded Whiffletree area for focused training, and high-volume practice. Boardercross athletes train on progressive terrain with an Olympian-designed cross course. Snowboard racers benefit from a dedicated high-speed surface lift and advanced snowmaking for consistent, high-quality conditions.

Expert Coaching
Led by Freddy McCarthy ’12, Snowboard Program Manager and SBX Head Coach, CVA’s coaching team brings extensive competitive and film experience. Freddy’s background includes Junior World Championships, World Cup starts, and USCSA titles, providing expert guidance for athletes at all levels.

Program Pathways

Development Team
For athletes under 15, focusing on fundamental skills and competing in regional USASA series and introductory FIS events.

Travel Park Team
For advanced freestyle athletes specializing in slopestyle and rail jams, emphasizing technique, competition tactics, and media skills. Competes in Grand Prix, Revolution Tour, and FIS/Nor-Am events.

Travel SBX & Race Team
Focuses on parallel slalom, giant slalom, and boardercross, with training in racing techniques, tactics, and equipment maintenance. Competes in FIS/Nor-Am events and elite FIS competitions.

Year-Round Training

Fall and Spring terms at CVA provide a foundation for year-round performance. Programs include:

Evaluations and goal setting
Strength and conditioning
Mental performance training
Cross-training

Off-season, athletes gain experience at specialized facilities and on-snow venues globally to refine skills and compete at the highest levels.

Start Your Journey

Join a program with proven results, expert coaching, and world-class venues.
Apply today and take your snowboarding to the next level.

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List of 3 members.

Freddy McCarthy 12

Snowboard Program Manager & Head SBX Coach

207-653-8476

Bio
Throughout his competitive snowboard career at CVA, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and Sierra Nevada College, Freddy established himself as a dominant SBX racer earning Junior Worlds nods and a World Cup Start. Freddy is a well-rounded rider who won multiple USCSA titles in multiple snowboard disciplines while attending Sierra Nevada College in Tahoe. He served for three seasons as the Head Snowboard Coach at his alma mater before joining the CVA coaching staff in 2019. Freddy graduated from CVA in the Class of 2012.
Ben Elliot

Head Snowboard Park Coach

970-333-1914

Bio
Ben started riding at the age of 5 at the small resort Shawnee Peak in Bridgton, Maine. As his passions for the sport grew he soon left the New England mountains he grew up riding and went to Colorado where he joined the Burton Team along with Analog and Dragon regional programs. Filming, competing in rail jams, slopestyle events, and riding everything from Big Mountain to downtown city streets; from Utah to Oregon. Having a full spectrum knowledge of the sport with a focus on Freestyle, Ben is eager to cultivate a positive environment for our snowboard athletes to reach their best performance.
Justin Ellis

Snowboard Development Coach

Bio
Justin brings several years of experience leading and developing young riders. For the past four years, he has spent his summers working as a carpenter and his winters serving as Head Coach for the University of Maine at Farmington Freeski and Snowboard Team, where he coached multiple national champions.

A Level 100 certified snowboard coach, Justin is deeply invested in Maine’s snowboard community. He has spent countless hours supporting terrain park development at Spruce Mountain and previously worked on the park crew at Sugarloaf. Passionate about the value of small mountains in athlete progression, he continues to champion local hills as key spaces for growth and creativity in the sport.

When he’s not on snow, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife, running, skateboarding, filming edits with friends, and exploring new mountains.

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Carrabassett Valley Academy

3197 Carrabassett Drive
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
(207) 237-2250

Carrabassett Valley Academy prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any member or group based upon age, gender, race, color, religion, disability, categories sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, genetic predisposition, ancestry or other categories protected by Maine or federal law. CVA does not discriminate on these bases in the administration of its admission process, scholarship and aid programs, educational policies, athletics, or other school-administered programs.