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About

World Class Academy Snow Sports is a college-preparatory high school program for young snowboarders and skiers who want to take their sport seriously without putting their education on hold. You’ll study, train, and travel to some of the world’s leading snow sports destinations, using every mountain and every condition as an opportunity to learn and progress.

Training goes far beyond time on snow. You’ll work on freestyle, technical snowboarding and skiing, and freeride, alongside strength and conditioning, mobility, recovery, mental performance, and video analysis. Your development is personal. You’ll work with your coaches to set goals, track progress, and learn how to train, compete, recover, and take responsibility for your own path.

Snowboarders and skiers work together as one team. We believe the best education happens when learning and passion go hand in hand. Alongside your academic progression, you’ll develop the confidence, creativity, adaptability, and independence to take whatever comes next.

  • Snowboarder Selin Lakatha skimming across a turquoise pond slide, spray flying behind her board
  • Snow Sports team posing with their boards in front of a painted tiger building
  • Snowboarder laying down a deep carve on a groomed slope
  • Snowboarder hiking through fresh snow carrying a board on a backpack

Join the Snow Sports Academy

Ready to take the next step? Applications for the following school year open in September and are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications are submitted through TADS and include a few short questions, an athletic resume, and references. Financial aid applications can be submitted at the same time.

Once we receive your application, Head of School Toni Leidl will get in contact with you to arrange an interview. Admission decisions are typically made within two to three weeks, while financial aid decisions are usually announced between January and May.

We’re looking for students who are motivated to grow both in the classroom and on snow and are excited to be part of the World Class Academy community. Most importantly, we want students who are ready to make the most of this unique experience and see where it can take them.

World Class Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, or ethnic origin in its admissions policies, educational programs, athletic programs, or any other school-administered activities.

APPLY

Destinations & Schedule

2027-2028 Destinations

  • New Zealand

    Snowboarder spinning above a park jump with snowy peaks behind

    New Zealand

    Aug. 22nd - Oct. 2nd

    Q1

    August 22nd

    Students arrive in Queenstown, New Zealand (ZQN)

    August 23rd - October 1st

    Quarter One in Wānaka and Queenstown, New Zealand

    October 2nd

    Students and Faculty depart from Queenstown (ZQN)

    October 3rd - 23rd

    Fall Break

  • Austria

    Snowboarder in the air above the Stubai Glacier park in Austria

    Austria

    Oct. 24th - Dec. 11th

    Q2

    October 24th

    Students and faculty arrive in Munich, Germany (MUC)

    October 25th - December 10th

    Quarter Two around Innsbruck, Austria

    December 11th

    Students and faculty depart from Munich, Germany (MUC)

    December 12th - January 8th

    Winter Break

  • Japan

    Snowboarder grabbing high against a deep blue sky

    Japan

    Jan. 9th - Feb. 25th

    Q3

    January 9th

    Students and faculty arrive in Tokyo, Haneda (HND)

    January 10th - February 24th

    Quarter Three in Hakuba and Hokkaido, Japan

    February 25th

    Students and faculty depart from Hokkaido, New Chitose (CTS)

    February 26th - March 18th

    Spring Break

  • France

    Snowboarder flying off a kicker into a hazy mountain view

    France

    Mar. 19th - Apr. 29th

    Q4

    March 19th

    Students and faculty arrive in France, Lyon (LYS)

    March 20th - April 28th

    Quarter Four in Les 2 Alpes, France

    April 30th

    Students and faculty depart from France, Lyon (LYS)

Snowboarder riding a wide freeride bowl below jagged peaks

2027-2028 Schedule

Semester 1

  • Quarter 1: August 22nd - October 2nd

    August 22nd

    Students arrive in Queenstown, New Zealand (ZQN)

    August 23rd - 25th

    Student Orientation and start of Semester 1

    August 23rd - October 1st

    The year opens in the mountains of New Zealand, with the team first based in Wānaka and mainly riding Cardrona. With a focus on building strong freestyle foundations and refining technique. From there, we head to Queenstown to explore more of the Southern Lakes’ world-class Terrain, combining progression, adventure, and the unique mountain culture of New Zealand.

    October 2nd

    Students and Faculty depart from Queenstown (ZQN)

    October 3rd - 23rd

    Fall Break

  • Quarter 2: October 24th - December 11th

    October 24th

    Students and faculty arrive in Munich, Germany (MUC)

    October 25th - December 10th

    Students will spend 7 weeks based around Innsbruck, Tyrol, using the region’s glaciers to drive their pre-season progression. With regular sessions at Glaciers Hintertux and Stubai, the focus will be on building freestyle skills and confidence. Off snow, students will continue their progression at Banger Park’s Airbags in Scharnitz and indoor trampoline facilities such as the Airparc. If conditions allow, the team will finish with a week at Flachauwinkel, home to Austria’s famous Absolut Park, putting their skills to the test on one of Europe’s leading freestyle setups.

    December 6th - 10th

    Finals Week

    December 11th

    Students and faculty depart from Munich, Germany (MUC)

    December 12th - January 8th

    Winter Break

Semester 2

  • Quarter 3: January 9th - February 25th

    January 9th

    Students and faculty arrive in Tokyo, Haneda (HND)

    January 10th

    Student Orientation and Start of Semester 2

    January 10th - February 24th

    The 2nd Semester brings students to Japan. Their experience will start in Hakuba, travelling from Tokyo into the heart of the Japanese Alps. Based in Hakuba, the team will continue working on freestyle progression at Hakuba47 before heading north to Hokkaido. The team will transition from Tokyo Haneda to New Chitose in Hokkaido by air, using New Chitose as both their gateway to Northern Japan and their departure airport at the end of the quarter. There, they will explore the world-class resorts of Niseko and Rusutsu, experiencing Japan’s legendary powder and diverse terrain. Off the snow, students will immerse themselves in Japanese culture through local food, traditions, and the unique mountain communities of Japan.

    February 25th

    Students and faculty depart from Hokkaido, New Chitose (CTS)

    February 26th - March 18th

    Spring Break

  • Quarter 4: March 19th - April 29th

    March 19th

    Students and faculty arrive in France, Lyon (LYS)

    March 20th - April 28th

    Students will finish the year in Les 2 Alpes, surrounded by the spectacular peaks and high-altitude terrain of the French Alps. With a strong focus on freestyle progression, the team will spend their days riding the resort’s renowned snowparks, progressing from technical features and rails to bigger jumps and more challenging lines. The extensive mountain terrain provides the perfect setting to build creativity, and all-mountain skills, while off the snow, students will experience the vibrant atmosphere of Les 2 Alpes.

    April 24th - 28th

    Finals Week

    April 28th

    Parent Appreciation Dinner

    April 29th

    Graduation Ceremony

    April 30th

    Students and faculty depart from France, Lyon (LYS)

Ready to start your adventure?

Apply NowContact Us

Snow Sports Faculty

Coaching & Equipment

Coaching & Equipment

You want to get better. We want to see how far you can take it. Whether you’re already competing or simply pushing yourself to the next level, you’ll have coaches who know your sport, understand your goals, and are invested in your progression. You’ll train, try new things, and learn what it takes to perform at your best.

Your development is guided by combining sport-specific coaching with physical training, mental preparation, video analysis, competition experience, and mountain safety. You’ll learn how to train with purpose, look after your body, and make good decisions.

  • Snowboarder riding fresh powder under a deep blue sky
  • Black-and-white shot of a snowboarder high in the air against the sun
  • Snowboarder Selin Lakatha sliding a handrail down a snowy staircase in the terrain park
  • Snowboarder flying over a park jump with alpine peaks behind

Training

No two training days are exactly the same. We use the mountain as our playground, adapting each day to the snow, weather, terrain, destination, and the needs of the team. Depending on the conditions and destination, a day might focus on technical snowboarding or skiing, freestyle in the park, freeriding in the terrain, or a combination of disciplines.

A typical day starts with early-morning physical activation, followed by on-snow training. In the afternoon, students switch from the mountain to the classroom for their academic studies. The day usually finishes with a short recovery session and/or video analysis, giving students time to reset, review their performance, and prepare for the next day.

Training is built around progression and experience. The team spends plenty of time on snow, with sessions designed to build skills step by step and prepare them for increasingly demanding terrain, tricks and conditions. Competition is part of the journey too, with opportunities to prepare for and take part in relevant national and international events.

Safety comes first. Students learn to understand the conditions, make responsible decisions, and look out for themselves and their teammates. Learning how to balance risk, fun and safety is an essential part of becoming a complete snow athlete.

Equipment

Students arrive with their own equipment, clothing, and protective gear, along with everything they need for school and daily life. Taking care of and staying organized with personal equipment is an important part of Academy life.

A complete equipment and packing list will be provided in the pre-course package. Students also bring a personal first-aid kit for minor needs, while the Academy carries additional first-aid equipment for more serious situations.

Student waxing and tuning a snowboard at a workbench

Coaching

Snowboarders and skiers train together as one team, pushing each other and learning from each other. We take training seriously, but also believe that becoming a better athlete should be an exciting journey. A journey shared with good teammates, great coaches, and plenty of time on snow.