When it comes to raising a child, no one has all the answers. Local parent Jon Nolting knows more than most, and as the new athletic director for the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, he’s happy to share. Since he started at the club in June, Jon has been revealing his wealth of knowledge through a column titled Parenting for Success in the club’s weekly newsletter. 

Jon moved to Steamboat in June 2015 with his wife, Darlene, alpine competition director for the Rocky/Central Region of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, and their children, Nicole, 12, and Jeremy, 10. Home had been Heber City, Utah, where Jon spent six years as the sport education director for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard team. A former ski racer, he switched to coaching, amassing 20 years of experience in teaching and athletic leadership at club and professional levels.

SSWSC centers on the primary goal of creating champions on and off the mountain, a philosophy that appeals to Jon. “One of the most rewarding experiences is watching kids pursue excellence, in anything, and seeing how far they can take it,” he says. “What they can learn at the Winter Sports Club will translate into life skills.” 

“Sport means different things to different people, but I see it as a chance for kids to have fun, get better and be with friends. At SSWSC, it’s about working on skills in a good peer environment,” Jon says. 

Jon is the coach’s coach, striving to provide leadership and guidance to the club’s teaching staff. “Coaching kids should be magical. If it’s not, then it’s not the right job for someone,” he says. After spearheading national campaigns and best practices in the sports of alpine, cross country, Nordic combined and freestyle skiing, plus snowboarding, Jon brings a new dimension of expertise to the club. 

On his days off, Jon does what he loves best: skiing with his family, being Dad and leaving the ski coaching to his kids’ coaches.