Competition Program

Whether your goal is to develop a lifelong love of alpine, freestyle, snowboarding, or Nordic, or to compete for an NCAA Division I school and beyond, Gould Academy has the coaches, the teachers, the opportunities inside and outside of the classroom, not to mention the passion to help you achieve your goals.

From regional and national competitions to international events at the highest level, the Gould Academy Competition Program provides an unbelievable educational and athletic experience thanks to our training location at Sunday River Resort located only six miles away.

During the summer, many of our student-athletes receive an extensive strength and conditioning manual and are encouraged to participate in our summer camp programs, including conditioning, trampoline, jump, and on-snow camps.

In the fall, those same student-athletes have the opportunity to take part in an intense strength and conditioning program while pursuing their passion for any number of varsity sports, including soccer, field hockey, cross-country running, and mountain biking. We also work to get our student-athletes on-snow or in pools as soon as possible through trips to Chile, Austria, Oregon, and Quebec City.

Coaching Philosophy

For all programs, a commitment to learning is assured by coaches who are experts in both applied training science and adolescent development. Coaches for the Competition Program have worked at all levels, from grassroots to World Cup, ensuring a challenging, supportive and rewarding experience for each student-athlete.

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Gould Academy Competition Program

Deb Costello

Gould Academy Competition Program
On-Snow Program Manager
Winter Term Program Coordinator
B.A. University of Maine, Farmington
Bio

As the On Snow Program Manager, Ms. Costello provides the oversight that keeps the Gould Academy Competition Program (GACP) running smoothly throughout the winter. With her bird’s eye view of the program, she manages the daily operation for the full-time and weekend GACP. Also Gould’s Winter Term Program Coordinator, she is the liaison between Winter Term student’s sending school and Gould Faculty. Ms. Costello is a 1984 graduate of the University of Maine at Farmington and brings to Gould Academy 25 years of experience in managing various programs and departments for both Sugarloaf and Sunday River ski resorts. She lives in Bethel in the Winter Term Dorm and has two children: Meghan ‘11 and Wyatt ’12.

KC Gandee

Gould Academy Competition Program
Snowboard Program Director
B.A. Eastern Mennonite University
Boys’ Junior Varsity Soccer Coach
Bio
Coach Gandee brings over 20 years of experience to the Gould Academy Competition Program’s Snowboard Team. A graduate of Eastern Mennonite University, he earned a degree in management and organizational development and later spent 10 years working at resorts including Stratton, Okemo, Killington, Northstar, and Sierra at Tahoe. Most recently, he was the Snowboard Program Director at Killington Mountain School in Vermont. Coach Gandee’s list of credentials is extensive. In addition to being on the AASI National Team from 2004 until 2008, he is Level III certified, an examiner for the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI), and a USSA Level 300 SBX Coach and Level 200 Aerials coach. Gandee is a major contributor to US Ski and Snowboard Team projects, including the new Level 100 and 200 coach education material and is developing the new level 300 SBX certification program. KC has coached US Project Gold SBX for 5 years and worked as a consultant for High Cascade Snowboard Camp in Oregon running their SBX/SX program. In his spare time, he also served as the coach representative on the USASA Board of Directors from 2012 to 2018. When not coaching (or preparing to coach), Coach Gandee spends time on the mountain bike trails of New England. He is an avid rock climber and loves exploring rivers and lakes with his wife, Courtney, and their two golden retrievers.
John Kimble

B.A. University of Southern Maine
Gould Academy Competition Program
Freestyle/Freeski Program Director
Mountain Biking Coach
Bio

Coach Kimble has been Freestyle/Freeride skiing at Sunday River since the age of 6. After attending the University of Southern Maine, where he earned his athletic coaching certification, his passion for skiing led him to Lake Tahoe, CA, where he skied for the Atomic Freeride Team. He moved back to Maine in 2003 to be closer to his family, friends, and home mountain, and has been coaching at Gould ever since. He has earned his ASEP, EMT, USASA Level II, USSA Level II Mogul, USSA Level III Aerials, and ISSA Strength and Conditioning and Youth Fitness certifications. He has chaired the USSA Eastern Freeskiing Division since 2010. When winter is over, you can still find Coach Kimble working with freestyle/freeride athletes in Gould’s fitness and trampoline training facilities, at the Lake Placid or Quebec training complexes, or on the Mount Hood glacier, coaching summer freestyle ski training camps. Mr. Kimble resides in Newry with his wife, Carrie, their son, Caleb, and daughter, Ellyn.

Parker Gray ’97

Gap Year Head Alpine Coach
US Ski Team Coach 2015 to 2018
Bio

Head Coach and Gould alumnus Parker Gray ’97 leads the postgraduate GAP Year Alpine Program. Gray is a native of Newry, Maine, and spent three years with the U.S. Men’s Olympic and World Cup teams, serving as an Assistant and Strength Coach.

While Head Coach at KMS, Gray was named Vermont Coach of the Year. As an athlete, Gray was a two-time Junior Olympic Downhill Champion, SG Champion, and overall winner. He is also a member of the Gould Athletic Hall of Fame (2018).

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time coaching the Men’s World Cup team. The experience of working with highly driven athletes and staff opened my eyes to the reality of what a highly motivated group can achieve. I hope to build on that experience at Gould and help our athletes achieve success.”  -Parker Gray ’97