Who We Are

Ross Matlock

Ross grew up in Australia and learned to ski as a teenager.   He was first introduced to the Telemark turn on a ski touring trip in the mountains of Australia in 1983.  He has been living and skiing in the US for almost 20 years now, with a never ending passion for skiing and ski teaching. 

Ross is currently a member of the PSIA National Nordic/Telemark Team, which is a Team of the best Nordic/Telemark educators in the country.  They are all great skiers and great teachers….the best of the best….in both track/skate and Telemark technique.

Ross is also involved in the PSIA Rocky Mountain Division as an educator and delivers clinics for the instructors of the Rocky Mountain resorts. He has been the Head Judge of the US National Telemark Free Skiing Championships for the last ten years, as well as a judge for other similar Telemark competitions. He started a Junior Telemark Program at Crested Butte and his athletes have had great success in various competitions winning the U S Telemark free ski championships the last three years. He also teaches at the Crested Butte Ski School. Ross is also an Avalanche Level 1, AIARE certified Instructor and avid backcountry skier.

For twelve years Ross has been the Nordic Tech rep for Rossignol. He has been involved in all aspects of the retail industry from the development of product to the waxing of high end Nordic race skis. Ross is a member of the Crested Butte Nordic Council and has been involved in the running of the non-profit Nordic center for the last four years. He also teaches at the Nordic center.

Ross loves to ski just about anywhere, but he savors the days spent in the backcountry, whether it is hiking in the Anthracites of Crested Butte, a skin track in the backyard of the Ryounkaku Lodge in Hokkaido Japan or a heli lift in Valdez, Alaska.  As long as the snow is deep and the friendships are good, Ross is happy. Ross is a natural born “teacher”.  He will make you a better skier.  And best of all, he has a passion for skiing that is infectious.

Jill Matlock

Jill is a gifted athlete who chose to follow the path of skiing from an early age. As soon as she could walk Jill was seen skiing at the small family resort in Farmington, Maine. In junior high she raced cross country and alpine before focusing on alpine skiing in high school. As a college student she raced for the University of New Hampshire in slalom and GS making it to the NCAA championships 4 times.

After college Jill switched her focus to coaching. She coached for both the Green Mountain Valley School and Carrabassett Valley Academy. Jill coached many eventual US ski team athletes during these years and it was also during this time she became involved with PSIA and attained her full certification status.

Moving to Crested Butte in 1993 Jill’s incredible talent shone through during the first season she skied the Butte, winning the women’s title in the US Extreme Skiing Championships the very first year she entered. Having only skied the double black terrain for the first time that year, she quickly adapted to the extreme terrain. Her Big Mt Freeskiing career consists of 4 US Extreme Skiing Championship titles, top 5 in 5 World Extreme Skiing Championships and either winning or placing in South America, New Zealand and Europe free skiing competitions.

It was also during this time that Jill, as a member of The North Face Team, was the first woman to climb and ski Mt Aspiring in New Zealand. Other ski mountaineering trips to Valdez, the Ruth glacier and Chamonix gives Jill great depth and knowledge in the backcountry.

Jill then took on another challenge within the ski industry making it on the PSIA National Alpine Team as one of only 3 women. The National Team, the best of the nations top ski instructors, is a 4 year term that allowed Jill to represent her country internationally at the Interski event in Switzerland. A trainer and top instructor at Crested Butte, Jill’s well rounded background gives her a wealth of knowledge to draw from.

Jill’s resume is impressive in itself, but it’s not what really makes Jill a great instructor. Jill’s humble nature and incredible ability to see what’s going on in your skiing coupled with her amazing talent to deliver a lesson on your terms and at your pace is her gift.  She is one of the most requested instructors in Crested Butte and her return clientele love the time spent with her. She is a role model for the athlete in us all and is sure to bring the best out in you and your skiing. A mother of two boys, she is easy going and a pleasure to be around. You will enjoy your time with her both on and off the ski hill.