Last month, August Teague stepped up from his Nordic leadership role to become the new executive director of the Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club (AVSC). As a child, Teague was an AVSC athlete and competed on both the Nordic and Alpine ski teams. He returned to AVSC with extensive college and elite-level cross-country ski coaching experiences. He has served as the Nordic program director since 2016.
In a letter to AVSC alumni and community supporters this summer, interim executive director Beth Hoff Blackmer offered insight into what Teague plans to bring to the role. “[Teague] will prioritize expanding program access and participation, keeping athletes and families engaged and informed, supporting high-level performance and strengthening our club culture,” she wrote. The Nordic program is one of AVSC’s oldest offerings and among the largest, attracting more than 350 junior athletes every winter and engaging 60+ staff members. Teague’s replacement as program director, Olympian Sophie Caldwell Hamilton, was featured in an article last week.
Teague shared with The Sopris Sun that he is “most looking forward to working closely with our staff, athletes and families to carry AVSC’s mission forward.” He continued, “This club has such a rich tradition, and I am excited about the opportunity to strengthen the pathways we offer for kids in the Valley, whether their goals are participation in our Aspen Supports Kids program, high performance or building lifelong connections through sport. I am especially excited to bring people together around our core values of teamwork, commitment and integrity, and to make sure every child in the Valley feels there is a place for them at AVSC.”
Teague noted that AVSC has changed and expanded over the past decade. “The club has grown tremendously in both size and scope since I first coached here,” he said. “What has impressed me most is how AVSC has managed to maintain its community-driven spirit while also building more opportunities for athletes at every level.” Those additional opportunities take various shapes, he explained. “We have invested in professional coaching, expanded programs in all disciplines, and created more ways for families across the Valley to participate. At the same time, the sense of belonging and local pride that has always defined AVSC remains at the heart of everything we do.”
Teague expressed excitement about AVSC’s many signature events. After the annual Sports Swap at Willits, which takes place from 9am to 2pm on Saturday, Oct. 4, the club has a busy schedule through the winter in addition to competitions. “Our Nordic Bonfire at the Aspen Nordic Center is always a wintertime family favorite,” Teague said, referencing the Aspen Golf Course fundraiser slated for February of 2026. He also mentioned the Audi Ajax Cup, “our biggest fundraiser of the year,” on Dec. 30. “It offers an incredible day of racing and celebration that directly supports our athletes.”
AVSC will host a second annual Ullr Fest this December to support the Nordic program throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, and the Snowboard and Freestyle programs will participate in Wintersköl via their Rail Jam event. Beyond those, Teague said, “Our athletes will be out on the hills, trails and halfpipes all winter long, and we hope the community will come cheer them on. We encourage anyone to check out our list of events on our website at www.teamavsc.org and sign up for the monthly newsletter there to find out what’s going on at the Clubhouse, around the Valley and beyond.”
The Nordic program changes are just a small sampling of AVSC promotions. Two administrative employees have been promoted into director roles: Cole Baggett as director of finance and Allison Johnson as director of communications. Athlete teams are recognizing veteran coaches with more responsibility as well. Eric Angus and Lina Sutro are both AVSC alums, stepping into the Snowboard 13+ Comp Team and Nordic Program Race Team head coach roles respectively. The Freestyle program has also named a new head coach for FIS Park and Pipe, Dave Zweig. AVSC is hiring for several more coaches as winter approaches.