Ski & Snowboard Australia appoints new Alpine Director

Three-time Olympic alpine ski coach Michael Branch has been appointed as Ski & Snowboard Australia’s new Alpine Director it was announced today.

Bringing an impressive CV as a very successful high performance coach with the US Ski Team and US Ski and Snowboard Association, Branch has coached some of the sport’s biggest names to top world rankings and Olympic medal success including Bode Miller, Ted Ligety and Andrew Weibrecht.

“It’s a great opportunity for SSA and I am sure the alpine skiing community will share my enthusiasm in welcoming Mick to the role and to guiding Australian alpine skiing towards a new chapter.”  Said Michael Kennedy, CEO, Ski and Snowboard Australia.

“Mick understands the Australian Alpine skiing landscape and is looking forward to working closely with the clubs and current National Team athletes to develop and instill a new culture of high performance consistent with the National Alpine Committee vision and strategic plan for the sport.” Kennedy said.

Branch comes to SSA with nearly 20 years coaching experience, including five years as Head Coach of the NSWIS and OWIA alpine programs before moving to the USA as a high performance team coach.

His work with the US Ski Team focused on the design, implementation and evaluation of training programs for developing international, World Championship and World Cup alpine athletes.

In his new role commencing this July, Branch will lead SSA’s alpine and ski cross strategic plan with the objective of improving and maximizing identified performance drivers, such as athlete pathways and athlete services.  

His experience developing strong partnerships and managing operations puts him in good stead to strengthen the capabilities and capacity of SSA partners, programs, coaches, resorts and race organizing committees to deliver on strategic priorities.

“It’s engagement with the community that is the first firm step towards influence and leadership of the system” Branch said of the role.  “Educating and influencing the clubs and broader community of the correct pathway to compete consistently on the world stage will be best achieved with high level communication coupled with elite level experience and knowledge of the sport.”

His application also highlighted the need for greater investment into grass roots skills development as a requirement for long term athlete development.

Michael will take over from Brad Wall who is returning to USA with his family to take up a role as Athletic Director at Burke Mountain Academy.  

A handover period will commence from June ahead of the new role starting 15 July 2017.

Alexandra Rouse
Ski & Snowboard Australia