Missoula Ski Education Foundation

What Missoula Ski Education Foundation does

Missoula Ski Education Foundation (MSEF) is a Montana-based non-profit organization dedicated to youth alpine and freeride ski education for athletes ages 6-19 in the Missoula region. Programs are delivered exclusively at Montana Snowbowl and span a structured developmental pathway: the introductory Griz Ski Team (ages 6-10, $548/season, capped at 55 athletes), the Devo Team (ages 8-11, $777 with night training), the Alpine Race Team (ages 12-19, $955-$1,417, capped at 60 athletes), and the Freeride Team (ages 12-19, $955). Add-on modules include Night Training ($485-$777) and a Holiday Camp ($142). Curriculum is anchored in the US Ski and Snowboard (USSS) Alpine Training System and the IFSA Freeride Curriculum, with Long-Term Athlete Development principles, and coaches include US Ski Team alumni (Tatum Phillips) and PSIA Level 200 certified instructors (Owen Curry). The Alpine Race program competes within USSS Northern Division races (Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super G), while Freeride athletes participate in IFSA competitions.

The organization operates on a direct-to-consumer model with no disclosed proprietary technology. Registration, payments, and donations are processed through Playmetrics; branded apparel is sold through SquadLocker; and the website serves as the primary information hub. Revenue is generated from program registration fees and a tiered local sponsorship program (Bronze $1,500/yr through Platinum $6,000+/yr on 3-year commitments, plus $750 banner sponsorships) that together with donations accounts for approximately one-third of annual operating budget, with registration fees covering the balance. Season passes, lift tickets, USSS/IFSA licenses, competition travel, and lodging are explicitly excluded from program fees. MSEF's executive director is Elliott Natz, and the mailing address is PO Box 7046, Missoula, MT 59812. The organization's service area is geographically bounded to Missoula and surrounding Montana communities, with all coaching and program delivery concentrated at a single venue partner.

Name

Missoula Ski Education Foundation

Legal name

Missoula Ski Education Foundation

Website

https://missoulaskieducationfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Missoula Ski Education Foundation is a Montana non-profit that delivers structured youth alpine and freeride ski coaching for athletes ages 6-19 through a tiered program pathway at Montana Snowbowl, supported by local sponsorships and governing-body affiliations with USSS and IFSA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Ski Education and Competitive Ski Training

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Ski & Snowboard Schools (Instruction & Coaching) (THAAAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Winter Sports & Snow Training Schools (Ski, Snowboard, Ice Sports) (MPAKAJAI), Youth Athlete Development & Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) (HSADAEAE), Winter Sports Teams/Clubs (Ski, Snowboard, Bobsleigh, etc.) (MPAKABAI)

Keywords

• Youth ski education
• Alpine race coaching
• Freeride ski training
• Competitive ski teams
• Ski club programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Missoula

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Program Registration Fees: Primary revenue source from youth ski program registrations. Fees vary by program level: Griz Ski Team ($548), Alpine Race Team ($955-$1,417), Freeride Team ($955), with additional fees for holiday camps and night training sessions. Registration conducted through playmetrics.com platform.
2. Sponsorships: Jacket sponsorships at multiple tiers (Bronze $1,500/year, Silver $2,500/year, Gold $4,000/year, Platinum $6,000+/year) over 3-year commitments. Banner sponsorships at $750/year. Sponsors receive logo placement on athlete jackets or practice banners. Approximately 1/3 of annual operating budget derived from donations and sponsorships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

MSEF delivers youth ski education and competitive training through a tiered progression pathway at Montana Snowbowl in Missoula, Montana. The four core teams are Griz (ages 6-10), Devo (ages 8-11), Alpine Race Team (ages 12-19), and Freeride Team (ages 12-19), with Night Training and Holiday Camp offered as supplemental training add-ons. Programs are aligned with US Ski and Snowboard and IFSA governing bodies.

Product overview

Missoula Ski Education Foundation is a non-profit youth ski education organization offering a multi-level programs pathway. The core portfolio consists of five interconnected programs: Griz Ski Team (ages 6-10, foundational skills), Devo Team (ages 8-11, combined Jr. Freeride/YSL training), Alpine Race Team (ages 12-19, competitive ski racing), and Freeride Team (ages 12-19, big mountain skiing). Add-on programs include Night Training for additional gate and technical work, and Holiday Camp for season preparation. Programs progress from Griz to Devo, then athletes choose between Alpine Race or Freeride paths, all utilizing Montana Snowbowl as the primary training venue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Griz Ski Team Introductory ski program for youth ages 6-10, serving as the entry point into MSEF's progression pathway.
• Devo Team Intermediate ski development team for ages 8-11, bridging entry-level and competitive racing/freeride programs.
• Alpine Race Team Competitive alpine racing program for ages 12-19 focused on US Ski and Snowboard-aligned race training and competition.
• Freeride Team Competitive freeride training program for ages 12-19 aligned with the International Freeskiers Association (IFSA), focused on big-mountain and freeride competition.
• Night Training Supplemental evening training add-on for enrolled team athletes, extending training hours beyond standard weekend sessions.
• Holiday Camp Holiday-period intensive training camp offered as a supplemental add-on to team athletes during school breaks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1/3 of operating budget from donations and sponsorships supports affordable registration fees
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Bicycle HangarminorOthersLocal Missoula bicycle shop sponsoring MSEF through jacket sponsorship program. Listed as one of MSEF's sponsors on the website.
• Missoula Bone and JointminorOthersOrthopedic urgent care clinic in Missoula sponsoring MSEF through jacket sponsorship program.
• GullskiminorOthersLocal ski-related business sponsoring MSEF through jacket sponsorship program.
• Shelter Works Home Inspections LLCminorOthersLocal home inspection business sponsoring MSEF through jacket sponsorship program.
• 3RPDminorOthersSponsor supporting MSEF through jacket sponsorship program.
• Payne ColeminorOthersSponsor supporting MSEF through jacket sponsorship program.
• Five Valleys UrologyminorOthersLocal medical practice sponsoring MSEF through jacket sponsorship program.
• Flippers Casino and TavernminorOthersLocal entertainment venue sponsoring MSEF through jacket sponsorship program.
• Revo MTminorOthersLocal business sponsoring MSEF through jacket sponsorship program.
• US Ski and Snowboard (USSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational governing body for ski and snowboard in the US. MSEF follows USSS Alpine Training Systems curriculum and athletes compete within USSS Northern Division race series. Alpine Race athletes require USSS Competition License.
• IFSA (International Freeskaters & Snowboarders Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational governing body for freeride skiing competitions. MSEF Freeride program follows IFSA curriculum and guidelines. Athletes require IFSA membership to compete. MSEF coaches use IFSA competition criteria for athlete development.
• Montana SnowbowlcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal ski resort in Missoula, MT where all MSEF programs are conducted. Provides terrain for training, racing, and competition events. Night training and Saturday programs held at Snowbowl facilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Winter Park Competition Center: Colorado youth ski racing organization offering USSS-aligned Alpine and Freeride development pathways with multi-tier age groupings. Comparable athlete progression structure and competition focus at a single mountain venue.
• Sugarbush Ski Club: Vermont-based youth ski racing club offering USSS-aligned Alpine programs with multi-tier development pathways and competition team structures. Comparable in offering tiered coaching and competition focus for youth athletes.
• Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation: Idaho-based non-profit providing Alpine, Freeride, and Nordic ski education to youth athletes following USSS curricula. Closely mirrors MSEF's structure: multi-level pathways, USSS/IFSA alignment, community sponsorship support, and capacity-capped competitive teams.
• Bridger Ski Foundation: Non-profit youth ski education foundation in Bozeman, Montana. Closest geographic and structural peer - same USSS-aligned Alpine Race and Freeride programming for youth athletes, similar non-profit funding model with local sponsorships.
• Bogus Basin Ski Education Foundation: Idaho non-profit providing youth ski education and competition programs based at Bogus Basin. Operates as a community-embedded foundation supporting racing and freeride development for regional youth athletes.
• Jackson Hole Ski Club: Wyoming-based youth ski racing and freeride club with USSS and USASA programming and a multi-tier athlete development pipeline. Operates similar competitive racing and freeride team pathways for youth athletes in a mountain community.
• Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club: Colorado-based multi-sport winter club (alpine, freestyle, freeride, snowboard) with tiered athlete development from young ages through competitive racing. Comparable youth development model anchored at a single mountain venue.

Regional players

• Schweitzer Mountain Ski School: Idaho-based ski school offering youth and adult ski instruction programs. Adjacent competitor in regional youth ski instruction market; operates from a different resort/territory than MSEF but competes for similar regional families.

Broad incumbents

• US Ski and Snowboard (USSS): National governing body for US skiing and snowboarding; sets the Alpine Training System curriculum that MSEF follows and sanctions the Northern Division race series. Not a direct competitor but shapes MSEF's competitive landscape and curriculum.

Others

• Montana Snowbowl: The ski resort in Missoula where MSEF delivers all programming. Functions as the foundational venue partner for MSEF rather than a competitor; their operational health directly enables MSEF's program delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/missoula-ski-education-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Missoula Ski Education Foundation