Exploring the Winter Sports School (Park City, UT) with Head of School Tess Miner-Farra

Send us Fan MailBecome a Ski Moms substack subscriber here.In this episode Nicole and Sarah talk with Tess Miner-Farra, the head of the Winter Sports School in Park City, Utah. This is a unique public charter school that serves 9th-12th grade students focused on winter sports.  We loved learning about the Winter Sports School and what makes it such an amazing place for young student-athletes. The school has a non-traditional academic calendar, running from April to November, allowing students to focus on their athletic training and competition during the winter months. For a little history, the Winter Sports School was founded in 1994 as a partnership between the Park City ski team and local educators. In 2014, it transitioned to become a public charter school.The school's unique model allows students to train and compete at a high level while maintaining a rigorous college prep curriculum. Teachers and staff are very supportive of the student-athletes.  The school serves around 150 students, with 30-40% being alpine ski racers, 30% freestyle/freeski, and the rest a variety of other winter and non-winter sports.Academics follow a traditional high school model, with students earning about 7 credits per year. As a public charter, the school must meet state graduation requirements.  The application process is a lottery system for Utah residents, with a more selective process for out-of-state applicants.Tess discusses the challenges and benefits of the school's April-November calendar, the support provided to students when they travel for training/competition, and the school's partnerships and fundraising efforts.It’s clear that the Winter Sports School is a very special place that provides a unique and supportive environment for young athletes to pursue their dreams, while also receiving a strong academic foundation.Keep up with the Latest from The Winter Sports School!Website:https://www.wintersportsschool.org/Instagram: The Winter Sports School on InstagramFacebook: The Winter Sports School on Facebook**This season The Ski Moms community is planning to organize a midweek ski trips to connect with other moms. Complete our survey here to stay updated! **Stop by Salem, Woburn, or Framingham, and head to skihaus.com to check store hours and get exact locations. Find your perfect family-friendly mountain stay—or list your own! 👉 Browse or list at Ski Mom Family Rentals Register by August 15, 2026, and use code SKIMOMSRETREAT to save $100 on your trip.Visit www.theskimoms.co/events to see the 2027 lineup and reserve your spot. Get the best gear recommendations and trip-planning tips directly to your inbox. Head to skimom.substack.com to subscribe. Join for free—or upgrade for all the premium perks. Premium subscriptions start at just $5 a month and get to listen ad-free and unlock exclusive content, including insider travel guides, packing lists and more. Support the showKeep up with the Latest from the Ski Moms!Website: www.theskimoms.coSki Moms Discount Page: https://www.theskimoms.co/discountsSki Moms Ski Rental HomesJoin the 13,000+ Ski Moms Facebook GroupInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theskimoms/Send us an email and let us know what guests and topics you’d like to hear next! [email protected]@skimomsfun.com