The Arctic Valley Ski Team is the ski racing and ski education arm of the Anchorage Ski Club. We provide a variety of youth programs for participants ranging from ages 5 to adults & commitment levels ranging from multi-day full competition to weekly recreational ski programs.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
AVST STAFF
AVST Program Director: Luke Clement
Coach Luke, I grew up ski racing at Alyeska, Arctic Valley and all over Colorado with Crested Butte Academy. My Grandma and Dad started skiing at AV in 1958... I founded AVST back in 2018, both of my daughters have skied for AVST and my oldest is now coaching the Tinys. We've grown from 30 athletes in 2018 to 98 in 2024/25. My love of speed and passion for skiing has kept my focus on making Arctic Valley a place for all skiers. Looking forward to another great season!
AVST Program Administrator: Reilly Buck
Hey y'all! My name is Coach Reilly and I am the Program Admin for the Arctic Valley Ski Team. I grew up racing for the Alyeska Juniors program in Girdwood and then raced FIS out of Montana Snowbowl in Missoula, MT. After college I returned to Alaska, where I have been a coach at Alyeska resort for nearly a decade. This will be my first season with AVST and I am so thrilled to be a part of this wonderful program. My certifications include PSIA Level 1, USSA Level 100, Adaptative Level 1, and IFSA L200. When I'm not working on the hill or in my office at Home Care Assistance Alaska, I enjoy CrossFit, running, hiking, hunting/shooting, screaming at the TV while the Green Bay Packers are playing (winning or losing, doesn't matter), and spending time with my gorgeous wife and our three crazy cats!
AVST PROGRAM SECRETARY: Mark Dehertogh
Coach Mark had a career in the marine corp where he had the opportunity to ski in several countries and many of the states, moved to Anchorage volunteered with Challenge Alaska at Alyeska, then moved to hilltop to volunteer with Special Olympics Was the hilltop ski area assistant ski school director for 2 years then became the ski school director for the next 13 years. While with hilltop he continued coaching and helping with Special Olympics. He became involved with ski racing when hilltop started a ysl ski program. Mark is also our official for us ski and snowboard the past 8 years.
AVST Fighting Ptarmigan Head Coaches:
Steve "Mash" Mashburn & Anders Klinkenberg
Coach Steve "Mash" Mashburn: has been coaching alpine ski racing for over 20 years. He has helped produce athletes that have gone on to race around the world.
Coach Anders: I grew up in Vermont and raced until I went to collage at UVM. At UVM backcountry skiing became my thing. After collage I moved here to Alaska for the skiing and the Flying!
AVST FLYING PTARMIGAN HEAD COACHES:
Brian Richardson & Kara Norby
Coach Brian grew up ski racing at Alyeska and then went on to race for Burke Mt Academy where he specialized in Downhill and Slalom. Brian returned to Alaska to Coach for Alyeska and Guide raft trips all over Alaska. Brian was Coach Luke's first ski coach in 1990.
Coach Kara grew up racing in a midwestern league as well as USSA and FIS with Cascade Mountain in Wisconsin, and coached there as well. She raced for Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat Springs, CO and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Kara was the head coach of a state qualifying High School team in WI. She is an Arctic Valley lifetime member, volunteer coach, and is excited to watch her two children become Flying Ptarmigan!
AVST LAUGHING PTARMIGAN HEAD COACH:
Andrew Kastning
Coach Andrew grew up in Colorado and has been skiing his whole life. He raced uphill on skinny skis for the University of Vermont, and has coached at three Universities including Nevada-Reno, Montana State, and UAA. Now a dad of three, he’s shepherded his three daughters through the Arctic Valley Program and also helps out with Junior Nordic. When he’s not at his regular jobs he can be found deep in the mountains shredding powder on his tele-setup.
AVST Assistant Coaches:
Dan Allard, Kris Gills, Nili Reynolds, Ryker Dean, Wyatt Mashburn, Paul Matthews
Coach Dan has been training alpine skiers since 1989. He is an international mountaineering guide and ski racing coach. He holds a Level 6 Deutscher Schileherverband (DSLV) (German Ski-Instructor Association) certification, attained in 2000. The DSLV level 6 includes backcountry ski instruction/guiding and the training of instructors in all aspects of Alpine Skiing and Racing. In the US, he holds a level 3 USSA Ski Instructor certification and a Level 100 Alpine Race Coaching certification. He has experience coaching young racers for the Hillberg Youth Ski Team on JBER, the Mad River Glen Ski Team in Vermont, and the Arctic Valley Ski Team. Dan’s coaching philosophy is Safety 1st, Challenge the Athlete, and to have a BLAST doing it!
Coach Wyatt "Yung Mash" has grown up through the Alaska Division and the alpine club programs. He is a 3rd generation Mashburn skier, with a love and passion of the sport. He now helps his Dad coach at Arctic Valley Ski Team as Junior Coach. Wyatt is currently a Junior at South High School (2025-26)
Coach Kris is coming back to AVST for another season! He has a long history in ski coaching and Big Mountain Skiing with Mighty Mites, ASC, Rowmark, CPG, and AVST! He has a Lifelong love of skiing and is looking forward to a great season with the AVST gang!
Coach Ryker: I started skiing around 4 years old, my dad coached me. I switched to snowboarding around 10 to try something else. Now I’m able to do both and try to switch it up every week.
Coach Paul grew up in the rugged hills of Scotland, where he first discovered his love for skiing and racing. Despite the inconsistent snow, driving winds, and icy terrain, his passion for the sport flourished. In pursuit of deeper powder and more challenging slopes, Paul’s journey evolved into ski mountaineering, leading him to alpine peaks and backcountry routes throughout Europe and North America. In 2023, Paul seized the opportunity to relocate to Anchorage, Alaska. With the Chugach Mountains now in his backyard, he’s immersed himself in the vibrant outdoor community and the endless possibilities of Alaskan winters. Today, Paul is a proud father of two young skiers in the Flying Ptarmigan program. Watching them carve their first turns at Arctic Valley fills him with joy and pride. He’s inspired by the program’s blend of community spirit, skill development, and the rugged beauty of the terrain, an ideal setting for fostering resilience, confidence, and a lifelong love of the mountains.
