Meet The Coaches
Our coaching team brings decades of international experience, competitive pedigree, and a shared passion for developing the next generation of Scottish skiers.
IMG.REF: TEAM_2024
SOPHIE JACOBS / CRAIG LAMONT / FFION TOWNSEND / RODDY HAMILTON / ANGELA GOODMAN / HELEN HOLLIDAY
Head Coach
SOPHIE
JACOBS
BASI ISIA Alpine
Alpine Race Coach L1
European Mountain Safety
I’ve skied since I was three, with early trips to Glenshee and La Plagne, where I fell flat in powder for the first time! That passion grew over the years into a career. In summer I do a bit of everything, so feel free to ask next time you see me.
I gained my CASI Level 1 and 2 qualifications in Lake Louise, Banff, and am now working towards BASI Level 3. I have a particular interest in adaptive skiing and ski touring, and I continue to develop my alpine race coaching through the Snowsports Scotland Conference and other training.
After two seasons in Zermatt, I chose to stay closer to friends and family and joined Cairngorm Ski Club, where I’m Head Coach. My main aim is to help people enjoy skiing and make the most of their time outdoors. Building skills and technique opens the door to more terrain and epic adventures.
Coaching in Scotland brings unique challenges, and I’m humbled every season by the grit and drive our trainees show, whatever the mountain throws at us. Our coaching team brings a wealth of experience, and it’s a privilege to lead them. I can’t wait for next winter!
LEADERSHIP
PERFORMANCE
Head Performance Coach
Craig
Lamont
Alpine Level 3 (Licensed)
IVSI Int. Coach L1
Course Setter A-List
I have been coaching ski racers for 35 years, having started my own race training with CSC at age 11 before racing full-time on the European FIS circuit. Early in my career, I even coached the sole member of the Swaziland Ski Team at the Albertville Olympics.
After retiring from racing, I became Head Coach at CSC and later the Scottish Ski Club, where I coached many racers onto the British and Scottish national teams. Throughout my career, I’ve coached at over sixty camps. My proudest achievement is leading the Scottish Ski Club Boys U14 & U16 teams to four consecutive British Team titles against commercially run academies.
Recently, I coached the Scottish Team for the 2023 ISF World Schools Games. Today, I focus on coaching young adults, aspiring coaches, and masters racers, and I am qualified to mentor Level 1 & 2 Trainee coaches. I also actively train and am the reigning Scottish Masters Slalom Champion on snow.
Freestyle Coach
Roddy
Hamilton
CSIA Level 2
Park & Pipe L2 Performance
Started skiing at Firpark dry slope, progressing into racing on dry slope and Scottish mountains. Did a ‘gap year’ qualification course in Canada before university, gaining CSIA Level 2 and Park and Pipe qualifications (naturally drawn to freestyle from aggressive inline skating).
Throughout university spent nearly as much time at the dry slope as studying. Since 2010, spent winter seasons instructing and coaching at Cairngorm, Glencoe, Japan, Austria, and Italy.
Now a Climate Change Officer full-time, but gets in as much skiing as possible—including night tours in the Ochil Hills. Takes part in the Coe Cup most years. Aside from skiing: mountain biking, fixing bikes, gardening, and music.
Freestyle
Alpine
Alpine Coach
Angela
Goodman
BASI ISIA Alpine
Started skiing age 10 in Annecy, France. Raced and trained with Bearsden Ski Club on Cairngorm. Instructed and raced during university, and has worked full and part-time as an instructor and coach with a BASI Level 3 ISIA.
Extensive experience coaching for Nevis Range and Lochaber Ski Club, with international experience in France, Italy, the USA, and Australia. Loves coaching and seeing changes in skiers’ confidence, mountain awareness, and resilience.
Outside of skiing, works as an Early Years Practitioner focusing on outdoor learning. Heavily involved in Lochcarron sailing club as Training Principal, racing laser dinghies.
Performance Coach
Tom
Goodman
UKCP Alpine 1
SSS2
Skiing passion cultivated since age 3. Joined SSC Race program at 12 and obtained qualification at 16. Has focused on elevating performance in racing across various clubs.
Continues to push personal performance in gates, touring, and freeriding. Simultaneously pursues a Master’s in Naval Architecture at Strathclyde, complemented by extensive sailing involvement as a performance coach for RYA Scotland.
Chose to return to roots this season, coaching on Cairngorm to inspire the next generation in one of Scotland’s premier programs.
Performance
Development
Development Coach
helen
holliday
BASI ISIA Alpine
Alpine Race Coach L1
European Mountain Safety
I’m delighted to be working for Cairngorm Ski Club in the privileged position of managing our fantastic and highly experienced coaching team.
Having spent much of the last 12 years living and working in the Allgäu Alps, it’s lovely to be back in Scotland and exploring our home mountains again – be that on skis or on my mountain bike.
I’m really looking forward to spending this winter helping our young trainees develop – as future ski racers, free riders, coaches or simply all-round ski legends!
Alpine Coach
Ffion
Townsend
BASI Level 2
Started skiing age 4 on a dryslope in North Wales. Joined Cairngorm Ski Club at age 8 and attended race camps in Hintertux which fuelled her passion. Participated in racing, Freeride (Coe Cup), Nordic skiing, and touring.
Gear tester for Fall Line Magazine, lucky enough to attend the Ski Test every year and ski with legends like Candide Thovex, Glen Plake and Finlay Mickel.
The Cairngorms is one of her favourite places to ski and she is really looking forward to working with the Club this year, whatever the weather. ‘Ski Ya Later’
Alpine
Coach with us
We are always glad to hear from qualified coaches who would like to work with the club. Get in touch at coaching@cairngormskiclub.co.uk.