Stratton Mountain School Announces New Junior Program Director

Stratton Mountain School (SMS) has announced the appointment of Sydney Koop (formerly Mikkelson) as its new Junior Program Director, effective July 1.

With a distinguished career spanning over 18 years, Sydney brings a wealth of leadership, coaching, and marketing expertise to this newly created position. Sydney will coach with the SMS U12 and U14 alpine groups as well as spearheading the collaborative programming between SMS and the Stratton Winter Sports Club (SWSC).

Koop comes to SMS following a distinguished career spanning more than 18 years. Koop’s expertise in leadership, coaching, and marketing will benefit her in this newly created position, the school said.

Koop is an alumna of both SMS and the University of New Hampshire, where she graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing. During her time at UNH, she was a member of the NCAA Division I Alpine Ski Team, where she was a three-year captain, a four-time NCAA Championship qualifier, and a two-time All-American.

Koop will coach the SMS U12 and U14 alpine groups as well as spearheading the collaborative programming between SMS and the Stratton Winter Sports Club (SWSC).

Prior to her work at SMS, Koop founded and built the ski racing club Mad Alpine in Madison Wisconsin which was established in 2014. Mad Alpine grew to more than 150 skiers and developed some of the top talent in the region.

Koop moved to New Hampshire with her husband and their two children three years ago. She has worked at the Killington Ski Club with U10 athletes for the past three seasons.

"Since 2014, I have been deeply committed to building programs that not only focus on skill development but also instill a lifelong love for the sport,” Koop said. “My passion for skiing and the opportunity to cultivate that passion in athletes for generations to come fuels my soul.”

“Skiing isn't just a sport; it's a lifestyle, and I am thrilled to bring this ethos to the youth programs at Stratton Mountain School and the Stratton Winter Sports Club,” she added.

Last year, Koop joined SMS as a development camp coach. She also commenced working as a liaison between SMS and SWSC, and helped create a new cooperative training program between the two.

“We are delighted to welcome Sydney to the SMS family,” remarked Mike Morin, Director of Sport at Stratton Mountain School. “With her wealth of experience and unwavering commitment to athlete development, we are confident that she will lead our youth programs to new heights of success.”

With the addition of Sydney Koop, Stratton Mountain School continues its commitment to providing a world-class experience for young athletes, nurturing their talents, and empowering them to achieve their full potential both on and off the slopes.