Alpine Skiing

Brewster's alpine ski team competes in District II of NEPSAC and on the U.S. Ski Association (USSA) level. During the season, Brewster competes in the Lakes Region against many of the top District I independent schools in Northern New England. The ski program strives to be as competitive as possible at both the NEPSAC and USSA level of competition. On an individual level, the program aims to help individual skiers develop their skills and tactics to their highest level. A number of Brewster students have gone on or will go on to race at the college level, including at Division I schools.

Brewster offers the following competitive alpine skiing:

USSA competition in all age appropriate levels
Independent school competition at the varsity and junior varsity level

The Coaches

Peter Colcord

Head of Program

While his family was stationed in Stuttgart Germany Peter learned to ski at the age of 10. By age 11 Peter was the head of the ski patrol for the US Armed forces ski club (the Sitzmarkers ) for his age group. After moving stateside Peter landed in New England skiing most of the ski areas in NY,NH,VT and ME mastering the art of skiing on the New England crud we call snow. More recently Peter has traveled to Salt Lake City and enjoyed the white gold of Utah skiing the back country steep and deep. Peter’s dream is to heli ski in the Chugach range of Alaska but for now he enjoys instructing the students at Brewster.

Peter’s approach to coaching might be a little different than most. His goal, as head coach, is to improve every skier, building a strong team with great character and sportsmanship, without losing focus on the need to have fun. He feels it is his responsibility not only to have structure and drills that will improve muscle memory and technique building race course confidence but to also let the students enjoy the fun and camaraderie of their high school years.

Along with his staff, technical coach, Willie Swaffield and JV coach Kate Copplestone, both with impressive ski racing resumes, Peter will strive to unite the team and build life skills and memories that will last for a lifetime.

Willie Swaffield

Technical Coach

Coach's Picture Willie Swaffield is a nationally ranked, former NCAA Division 1 ski racer. He was a member of the University of New Hampshire ski team and a three-time Junior Olympic participant. He is a graduate of Burke Mountain Academy, where he studied and pursued ski racing in high school. He is a former assistant coach of the local high school ski team and coached and helped set courses at the local Abenaki Ski Area in Wolfeboro. Swaffield also is a water ski coach, specializing in competitive slalom skiing and jumping.

Jim Monahan, an instructional support teacher at Brewster, is the assistant coach of the ski team. As a member of Professional Ski Instructors Association, he has been an instructor of all levels of skiing at Bretton Woods and Attitash resorts.

He also has worked as a member of the Ski Patrols at Wildcat and Attitash mountains for eight seasons and has been involved with the Attitash race program for more than 18 seasons. Coach Monahan looks forward to a great ski season and hopes that his expertise and experience will contribute to Brewster's ski team success.