Remembering Matt Erickson
This post is a little different from our usual updates. I want to take a moment to honor and remember Matt Erickson, our longtime Cub Club supervisor, who sadly passed away last week.
Matt was part of the Mountain Sports School for 25 years, an absolute cornerstone of our Stratton community. He gave everything to Stratton, and we’re all better because of it. Matt used to joke about how, 20 years ago, he was “dragged” down to Cub Club, sat at a desk, and told to fix it. And fix it he did.
Matt brought the structure and organization the program needed, and through years of hard work, he turned Cub Club into something truly special, a program that has produced not only incredible athletes but also incredible people. Matt loved to say that Cub Club was the trunk of the seasonal program tree, that all kids start in Cub Club before branching out to our other programs. He embraced this so much that he even had his name tags changed to read “The Trunk.”
But Matt’s impact went far beyond the program itself. He was a mentor. I had the privilege of watching him guide coaches through challenges, helping them grow into the best versions of themselves. He was steady, thoughtful, and always there when someone needed support.
In recent years, Matt focused on “future-proofing” Cub Club. He trained coaches to uphold the standards he created, mentored leaders, and worked closely with Kristi, Katie, and Val to make sure they had the tools to keep things running strong. While his passing was unexpected and far too soon, I know Matt would be proud of the team he built and their ability to carry on his vision.
Matt, we miss you. Thank you for everything, the lessons, the laughter, and the legacy you leave behind.
We’ll share details about a memorial for Matt at the resort as soon as plans are finalized. Thank you for taking a moment to reflect on someone who meant so much to this community.
MLK Weekend Schedule
This weekend is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, one of the busiest weekends of the season. Please plan for extra time getting to the resort.
Here’s a quick look at the schedule for our non-competitive seasonal programs:
Cub Club
- Saturday–Monday: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Cross Cub, Synergy, AAMP
- Saturday: 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM & 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM & 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM
- Monday: 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Late Arrivals
Here’s what to do if you’re running late:
Cub Club
- Drop-off depends on group level: upper-level groups leave earlier, lower-level groups later.
- Please have your child in the Cub Club room by 8:30 AM for upper-level groups and 8:45 AM for lower-level groups.
- If you arrive late, you may need to wait until the group returns for a break to reconnect your child.
Cross Cub & Synergy
- Drop-off: 8:30 AM; groups leave by 8:45 AM.
- If late, bring your child to the bottom of AMEX and look for Frances or Sarah.
- If the warm-up lap is complete, we won’t be able to connect your child with their group for that session.
AAMP
- Meeting time: 8:30 AM; groups leave by 8:40 AM.
- If late, look for Greg at the bottom of AMEX.
Sick Policy
If your child appears ill, Stratton Mountain Sports School reserves the right to refuse participation. If symptoms arise, we’ll contact you and ask that you pick up your child within 30 minutes.
Excludable conditions include:
- Illness preventing participation in activities
- Illness requiring more care than we can provide
- Illness posing a risk of spreading to others
This list isn’t exhaustive; leadership may exclude a child for other reasons if necessary.
Additional program-specific details follow below. Please reach out to me or your program supervisor with any questions. We can’t wait to ski and ride with you and your family this holiday weekend!
Best,
Tony Bailey
Seasonal Program & Mountain Bike Manager
tbailey@stratton.com
802-297-4074
Cub Club
Dear Cub Club Families,
Val here. I want to take a moment to thank you for all the kind words, hugs, and patience this past weekend.
With Matt’s recent passing, this past weekend was a difficult one for all of us. Still, being back on the mountain together, doing what he loved most, brought a sense of comfort and connection. Your kindness and support during these first weekends without him mean more than words can express.
Mr. Matt truly cherished being “the trunk”; he cared deeply about helping young skiers build confidence on the mountain and took great pride in that role. We’re committed to continuing his legacy by showing up for your kids with the same care and dedication Matt always brought to the program.
With that in mind, here’s what you need to know for the upcoming three-day weekend:
Evaluations & Move-Ups
- We’re always observing the kids’ skiing, but official move-ups happen only on Sundays (and Monday for this holiday weekend).
- We track progression week after week, which helps us identify when a child may need extra support.
- When considering move-ups, we look for consistency and confidence in all snow conditions. Skills should show up regularly, so kids feel comfortable and successful at the next level.
Properly Sized & Tuned Equipment
- Please double-check that your child’s skis and boots are the correct size. Equipment that’s too big or too small can make learning harder and affect performance.
- By this point in the season, many skis need a tune-up. Freshly waxed skis make a noticeable difference, especially as conditions change. Skis can be dropped off at First Run next door for a quick tune!
Check-In Times
To keep mornings smooth and avoid congestion:
- Advanced skiers (Raccoon, Deer, Wolf, Catamount, Moose, Bear): Check in by 8:30 AM; groups aim to be on snow by 8:45 AM.
- Beginner skiers (Mouse, Squirrel, Rabbit): Check in starting at 8:45 AM; groups leave the room at 9:00 AM.
Pick-Up
- Please wait until coaches bring the entire group back into the room before picking up your child. For safety, kids cannot be picked up on the snow.
- Afternoon breaks vary by group, and some Cubs may not take a break every day. We cannot guarantee a specific early pick-up time before 3:00 PM.
No Nuts in the Building
Please avoid sending snacks that contain nuts. This helps us keep the Cub Club room safe for everyone.
If you have any questions during the week, feel free to reach out to Kristi or Tony.
| Tony Bailey tbailey@stratton.com 802-297-4074 | Kristi Menzies Kmenzies@stratton.com 802-297-4154 |
We’re looking forward to seeing you this weekend!
Thank you,
Val
Cross Cub
Hello Stratton Cross Cubbers!
Happy January! Thanks for a great holiday week. I can’t believe how quickly the season is flying by and and that we’re already approaching our next holiday weekend.
Did you know January is National Safety Month? I bet you did if you were able to make it up for the program on the 3rd! If you couldn’t make it, you missed some pretty awesome Decorate Your Helmet Day designs. We were so impressed by the creativity this year!
This is my absolute favorite time of the season; it’s time to rack up some miles! We’ve moved beyond focusing on turning the feet and simply achieving parallel, and now we’re putting those skills to work all over the mountain.
At this point, most of the kids are confidently skiing backward, hockey stopping, side slipping, and spinning whirlybirds (360s). Our big technical focus now is carving: engaging the edges, building pressure through the turn, and letting the skis do exactly what they were designed to do. We’ll be exploring higher edge angles, cleaner turn shapes, and smoother transitions as we link turns across varied terrain.
It’s an exciting phase of the season, and the progress has been awesome to watch.
With the weather being so inconsistent lately, we’re seeing a mix of cold, wet, and (unfortunately, some) rainy conditions. It’s especially important that children come dressed appropriately for both temperature and moisture. We’ve noticed several children arriving without waterproof outerwear on wet days.
When kids are cold or wet, it becomes much harder for them to focus, learn, and enjoy their time on snow. Please be sure your child arrives dressed in warm layers, with waterproof jacket and pants, hand warmers, and a neck gaiter. A t-shirt and shell, or non-waterproof outerwear, is not sufficient for these conditions.
For safety and comfort reasons, we will send children home if we feel they are not dressed adequately for the weather. Thank you for your support in keeping everyone warm, dry, and ready to ski.
Don’t forget we are offering Snowboarding Sunday (morning session only) on February 8th and March 1st. You bring the gear, and we’ll teach the lesson. Please email me the week prior if your child is planning on snowboarding. If you do not email me before the weekend, we cannot guarantee that a coach will be available. Here’s a link to purchase snowboard rentals if you need them: Snowboard Rentals.
A few more reminders:
- Snack Breaks
- Snack breaks are taken at the discretion of our coaches. Each session, coaches will decide where, when, and if a snack break is appropriate based on weather, energy levels, and group flow.
- Snack breaks are not required, and there will be days when a group does not take a break during the session. Please be sure your child eats a sufficient breakfast before coming to ski for the day. With our morning session being just three hours long, we want to maximize time on snow rather than spending a significant portion of the session indoors.
- For the afternoon session, we do not loop. Please do your best to be back at the flag by 12:30 PM, or make sure your coach knows ahead of time whether or not your child will be returning for the afternoon session so we know whether to wait.
- Equipment check
- If you’ve been skiing with us all season, your child’s equipment is likely due for some mid-season maintenance.
- This is a great time for a fresh wax and edge sharpen for everyone. Even if your child skis on rentals, regular maintenance makes a big difference in performance, confidence, and safety. Well-tuned skis are easier to control and allow kids to take full advantage of the skills they’re developing.
- We also encourage you to check in with your child’s coach about their current setup. As skills improve, many children are ready to move into a longer pair of skis, which can further support their progress.
- Bring your stuffie to ski day- 1/31
Hope to see you all soon and thanks for letting us ski with your children.
See you this weekend!
Frances Hoeffner
Cross Cub Supervisor
fhoeffner@stratton.com
Synergy
Hi Synergy Families,
Happy New Year! Here’s to good health, plentiful snow, and countless joyful turns in 2026. We just wrapped up one of our smoothest holiday weeks yet, and we want to extend a huge thank-you to our students, parents, and coaches for your patience, flexibility, and great attitudes. December delivered just about every weather condition imaginable, which only proved once again how tough, adaptable, and downright hardcore our Synergy skiers truly are. January has since had us questioning whether we are ice-skating or skiing. You all can do your part to help usher in more snow, so here are a few tried-and-true rituals you can try at home (can confirm most of these have a surprisingly successful track record):
- Offer a snow penguin to the snow deities (this has been the most successful ritual)
- Wear PJs inside out and backwards to bed
- Place a spoon under your pillow
- Place a white crayon on a windowsill
As we eagerly await those glorious nor’easters, our groups continue to dial in key skiing fundamentals. We’ve been working on understanding when and where to apply pressure to our skis, how that pressure affects ski-snow interaction, and how rounded “C-shaped” turns help control speed. For the last two weeks, all of our groups have been fine-tuning their side slips and pivot slips. Going forward, we’ll be moving deeper into the art of edge angles, learning when to use different angles for carving versus schmearing (yes, it’s a real ski term, best said with a proud New Jersey accent!) and of course, slicing through that ice. We’ll also be exploring why certain turn shapes pair well with specific edge angles, depending on terrain and snow conditions. Be sure to ask your skiers what they have been learning in Synergy. Cheers to a snowier, adventure-filled January!
Upcoming Program Dates
January
- Sat. 1/31– Bring Your Stuffie to Ski Day (Cross Cub & Synergy)
- Have a stuffie friend join you on the slopes. Make sure your stuffie can be secured in your jacket! This is both for Cross Cub & Synergy
- We are planning another rock climbing event in the Village, date/time TBD
February
- Sun. 2/8 – Snowboard Sunday (AM SESSION ONLY for Cross Cub & Synergy)
- Once a month, kids can go to the darkside and try out snowboarding for the morning. You bring the equipment and we’ll provide the snowboard instructors.
- Be sure to give yourself a little extra time to make it to line-up if you’re getting rentals
- Once a month, kids can go to the darkside and try out snowboarding for the morning. You bring the equipment and we’ll provide the snowboard instructors.
- We are planning another rock climbing event in the Village, date/time TBD
- Sat. 2/28 – End of Season Party, 5PM, Jr. Ski School
- Pizza, refreshments, ice cream
Best,
Sarah Kneip (and Waffles the Penguin)
Synergy Supervisor
skneip@stratton.com