Olympic skier Sophie Caldwell Hamilton named AVSC’s new Nordic program director

Olympian Sophie Caldwell Hamilton has been named the new Nordic program director for the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club, the club announced on Thursday evening. She replaces August Teague, who after nine years leading the program was recently promoted to executive director, replacing David Baugh.

“I can’t imagine anyone more qualified than Sophie for this critical role at AVSC,” Teague said via a news release. “She brings a lifetime of experience in the Nordic world from the Bill Koch League to the Olympics. She is passionate about the sport, intimately understands our goals and our athletes, and is dedicated to their growth as both athletes and people. I look forward to seeing where she takes the Nordic program next.”

Hamilton has been on staff at AVSC since 2021, where she’s served as both an assistant national comp coach and more recently as the head race team coach. During that time, she also served on the board of both the Rocky Mountain Nordic organization and the National Nordic Foundation.

She raced on the World Cup-level in cross-country skiing from 2013 to 2021, where she competed in two Winter Olympics. She earned 10 World Cup podiums over her career and was the first U.S. woman to win a classic World Cup. She also previously served as a captain for the U.S. ski team. She is a graduate of Dartmouth.

Her Roaring Fork Valley roots are tied to her husband, Aspen’s own Simi Hamilton, himself a three-time Olympian in cross-country skiing. They started dating in 2014 and the couple married in fall 2019 in Vermont, near where she grew up. When they retired from ski racing in 2021, they relocated back to Colorado after a career on the road.

In her new role, Hamilton will oversee one of AVSC’s largest athletic programs, with more than 350 athletes and over 60 staff.

“I am honored and excited to step into the role of Nordic Program Director,” she said in the news release. “The Nordic program is in a strong and inspiring place, and I look forward to building on the momentum we’ve already created. Having worked closely with August for several years, I know that we share a passion for expanding access, developing lifelong Nordic skiers, and supporting athletes in reaching their full potential. It’s a dream to dedicate my work to creating opportunities for as many people as possible to experience the Nordic sport.”