Ray Gilmore - PSIA & USSA Ski Coach

09/09/2026

Monday - August 31, 2026
Days Until National Team Tryouts - 585
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𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 -
* Targeted Right VMO Activation: Dialing in specific pre-hab exercises to pull the right patella back into alignment, relieve tracking friction, and flush/reduce the excess joint fluid before snow flies.

* Structural Longevity & Load Control: Keeping the baseline solid at 190+/- lbs (down from 255+) to protect the joints. Focusing on low-impact movement and mobility to prep the knees for injections over the next few weeks, building the foundation now so I’m moving clean through this season and in peak condition for April 2028.

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 -
* People Skills (Self-Advocacy & Inner Trust): Self-awareness isn't just about how you relate to others; it’s listening to your own body and having the backbone to advocate for yourself. Sticking to my gut to protect healthy joint tissue—even when pushed toward invasive procedures—proved that patience and clear self-communication matter.

* Technical Skills (Biomechanics & Joint Alignment): Functional movement starts from the ground up. If patellar tracking and muscular balance aren't dialed, clean edge and pressure management on snow become compensatory wear and tear instead of efficient performance.

𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝:
* The Body Can't Heal in a Cage: Real, physical recovery didn't begin until I cut out the toxic noise, the manipulation, and the stress. Walking away, clearing my head, dropping 60+ pounds, and focusing on my health allowed my body to do what doctors say doesn't happen at 49: regenerate cartilage spacing and reverse joint degeneration.

* Trust Your Gut Over the Knife: Walking out of The Alpine Clinic today with Dr. Glazer confirming my knee spacing has dramatically improved was vindication. I took heat for walking away from microfracture surgery in 2022 and turning down a partial knee replacement in 2023. Today proved I wasn't crazy or scared—I was right. Total knee replacements just got pushed from 50 to 60.

* The Mission Continues: Broken knees & shoulders from a life of impact sports, a broken back on patrol in Afghanistan, another broken back on a wet floor in 2018, derailed plans—but, none of that wrote the ending.

Those were just chapters.

I attained my L3 Alpine in February 2024, then made the Eastern Alpine Development Team & ACE Team in March of 2024, and I was selected for the Eastern Team in March of 2026 --- but, that is not the end.

Those were just chapters.

National Team Assessment & Selection in 2028 at the age of 50¾, starts with taking care of my body today, so I am ready for that next chapter.

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❄️🎿❄️🎿❄️🎿❄️





PSIA-AASI
PSIA - AASI Eastern Region

09/07/2026

Monday - September 7, 2026
Days Until National Team Tryouts - 578 +/-
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𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 - Help me, by throwing your questions at me.

I started this training vlog idea back in April, but I have been a bit delinquent on keeping it current. For that I apologize.

That doesn't mean that I haven't been writting, listening, learning - It means that I haven't posted those writing, thoughts and ideas up here (yet).

I wrote them, filmed the updates/discussions, and then, just didn't make the time to post them and share them.

🤷🏼‍♂️



So, in an effort to get back on the horse, I want to answer your questions, and get the snow season discussions started now.

So, please help me, by allowing me to try and help you.

Throw your Questions, Comments, Concerns, Hopes, Dreams, Desires, Queries, and Complaints into the comment section down below.

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 -
All of it. Send me all of it. Force me to crack open my pile of manuals, in an effort to ensure my thoughts are in fact accurate. Post a video that you are looking for some MA on.

𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝:
I have great intrinsic motivation (intrinsic = internal) during the season, and even during the months without snow, my mind is in ski mode....however, my follow through, when it comes to leveraging my off season preparation into a means to educate others.... that's lacking.

So, I want to create a way to have an external form of motivation & accountability, in order to make that part a habit.

Hence, asking for help.

So, please, throw me your questions down below, and think SNOW!

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❄️🎿❄️🎿❄️🎿❄️





PSIA-AASI
PSIA - AASI Eastern Region

08/29/2026

Friday - August 28, 2026
Days Until National Team Tryouts - 588 +/-
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𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 - My daughters and I participated in the 18th Annual "Hit the Beach - Surfing Heals all Wounds" event at Hampton Beach today.

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 -
Teaching skills and people skills.

𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝: I still suck at Surfing, and I LOVE IT!

We don't need to be elite level performers to enjoy an activity. That is something that as elite level skiers and riders, we need to remember.

The wave in this video is the equivalent of the magic carpet. A coach, helping me get ahead of the break and keeping me stable until I could get to my feet, is like having an edgy wedgy and a hula hoop.

And it was an amazing feeling to take it right to the shore.

That "feeling" is what we want ALL of our students to have on the hill.

That "feeling" is what keeps us coming back.

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❄️🎿❄️🎿❄️🎿❄️

08/27/2026

Everyone,
Please see the link below, PSIA scholarship season is open. I was awarded a 10th Mtn Div Scholarship, along my journey; it is worth your time to apply. Please, check out these opportunities to further your education, and help spread the word.

If you don't apply, I don't want to hear complaints about the cost of membership & events this season. 😉

Please, take advantage of this opportunity, review what is out there, and put in an application.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know, and I will do my best to answer them, or point you in the right direction.

https://thesnowpros.org/for-members/scholarships/?utm_source=PSIA-AASI&utm_campaign=db363d44de-Newsletter_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-3af43c010b-381838538

Be well,

08/25/2026

Monday - August 24, 2026
Days Until National Team Tryouts - 592 +/-
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𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 - Let's talk about nutrition...

One of my teammates is preparing for a fitness competition, and watching her navigate the final days of peak-week prep got me thinking:

**𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙏𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣?**

The answer is simple:

**𝘼 𝙝𝙪𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚.**

In June 2023, I weighed 255 pounds. Years of injuries, surgeries, and recovery had taken their toll.

By Alpine L3 in February 2024, and then Alpine Dev Team and ACE Team Tryouts in March, I was under 200 pounds.

By Eastern Team Assessment & Selection in March 2026, I weighed 187 pounds.

That's a 68-pound difference, and it changed everything.

**𝙎𝙤 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙄 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩?**

No pills. No injections. No magic shortcuts. Just better habits.

Starting in July 2023, I cleaned up my diet and became more intentional about how I fueled my body:

🥗 Half to two-thirds of every plate became vegetables
🍗 Lean protein filled most of the rest
🍚 Complex carbs stayed in moderation
☕ Sugar-free creamer replaced the sugary stuff
🚫 Fast food disappeared
🥕 Vegetables became my go-to snack

At the same time, I simply started moving more.

• Daily walks lead weekly hikes
• I picked up surfing
• I got back on my mountain bike
• I added yoga for flexibility

I never weighed portions. I didn't skip meals. I didn't spend hours in a gym or sweat it out in a sauna.

I just moved with purpose and paid attention to what I was putting on my plate.

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 -
I am going to file nutrition under technical skills, but, understanding nutrition will help you with your teaching skills & people skills as well.

If you have ever worked with a group of "Hangry" kids, you know what I mean.

𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝:
- Performance starts long before you even put your boots on. What you put into your body today helps determine what you're capable of tomorrow.

- At 255 pounds, life was harder than it needed to be. Carrying around 68 extra pounds is like having a 9-year-old riding on your shoulders everywhere you go.

- At 187 pounds, I was back at my "Army weight." I felt lighter, quicker, more agile, and still had the strength and endurance I needed to perform.

- The journey back to a healthy weight proved to me that I didn't need to "Run" to be fit. I simply needed to move with an intent.

- I didn't need to starve myself, I needed to change the proportions on my plate. Less "sugars" (carbs) and more movement, was my path to a healthier weight and improved functional fitness.

- I didn't have to cut out all of the fun stuff, I had to indulge with intent and mindfulness. Eat a bowl of chips, not the whole bag. Have a small sorbet or fruit pops, instead of a pint of Ben & Jerry's. Have a fun sized candy bar, not the king sized.

- Small choices. Consistently repeated. Make the biggest impact. One meal. One walk. One choice at a time.

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❄️🎿❄️🎿❄️🎿❄️

08/05/2026

Fall Camp registration is open for our Peak Performance Ski Camps sessions at Copper Mountain and Winter Park, CO.

- Visit peakperformancecamp.com to register.

- Take advantage of discounted tuition rates by Sept 5.

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We are pleased to announce that Peak Performance Ski Camps will be hosting Fall Camp 2026 sessions at Copper Mountain and Winter Park, Colorado. The Peak Performance Fall Ski Camp sessions are a great way to kick off the ski season. Big mountain skiing, a high volume of directed free skiing and GS and SL training.

This Fall Copper Mountain is hosting men's World Cup Races Thanksgiving week and no camp training is available to anyone other than the national Teams from Nov 25 till Nov 29.

We will pivot to Winter Park during that time period.

Sessions offered:

Nov 12-19: Copper Mountain. No lodging or meals provided.

Nov 21-28: Winter Park. Lodging available as well as non-lodging options.

Dec 2-9: Copper. Lodging and non-lodging options available.

We will forward final pricing for Copper and Winter Park as soon as they release it.

Dave Gregory
Camp Director
Peak Performance Ski Camps
603-520-1642
peakperformancecamp.com

07/21/2026

Quinn came to the Dynamic Skills Group* in December of 2024, and spent two seasons with us, preparing for her next step, the Cranmore Race Team.

Never afraid to try new tasks, be it in the park or the course, skiing spines and bumps, to getting lost in the glades; she was always smiling and making the team laugh.

It is going to be fun to watch her progress in the sport.

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*The Dynamic Skills Group is designed to prepare the athletes for their next step, be it Race Team or Free-Ride (Freestyle). The DSG is part of The Rattlesnakes Program at Cranmore Mountain Resort, in North Conway NH.

The concept is simple, if you can ski bumps you can race slalom, and if you can ski trees then you can ski GS. Before you can ride a rail or bonk a box, you have to bust your wedge and learn to rip parallel. So, we cross train the kids in all possible environments, from groomers to glads, race courses to rails, and everything in between. We want them to develop a lifelong love of the sport, while mastering their fundamental skills, before moving into competitive programs.

Let them keep the learners mindset for a little longer, before we throw them into the performance mindset; and then when they make the jump to the competitive side of the sport, they are ready to receive that advanced instruction.

Quinn came to the Dynamic Skills Group* in December of 2024, and sp...