Ski Instructors

Greg Vautor

I have been PSIA Level III certified for 40 years. I began my ski teaching career where I grew up, at Smugglers’ Notch Ski Resort in Vermont. After several years teaching and supervising for Smuggers’ Notch Ski School I migrated west to Mammoth Mountain. Looking around the resort and incredible backcountry of the Sierra’s, I knew I’d found a second home and have been teaching at Mammoth now for 25 seasons. Working with clients from 3 years old to 86 my goal is to keep skiing fun for everyone. Summers I still spend in Vermont managing property and having fun riding motorcycles, sailing, golfing and mountain biking.

Meagan Jones

Meagan grew up in Canada and has taught and coached skiing for 15 years. She has worked in the in Banff, Whistler, New Zealand and the Snowy Mountains of Australia, but has called Mammoth her home for 10 years. Her philosophy is to embrace the energy and spirit of skiing – it’s supposed to be FUN. “We should make skiing more fun by making our movements more efficient; let’s work smarter, not harder!”

Debbie Nelson

I moved to Mammoth Lakes when I was 17 and my first winter I skied 147 days in a row. The next winter I was hired as a children’s ski instructor. I studied for and passed my Level II certification exam. Two winters later, now teaching adults, I passed my Level III full certification exam. I was a race coach and NASTAR forerunner @ Mt. Bachelor in Bend, OR for 3 winters. Coming back to Mammoth I teach all ages, all levels, all conditions including Advanced Ski Clinics, Race Clinics, Women’s Ski Clinics, and I coach and train rookie instructors. I was honored to be chosen for SKIING MAGAZINES first Top 100 Ski Instructors of America list.

I look @ everyday skiing as an awesome, excellent adventure.

Happy Trails! Debbie

Mel Seator

Mel Seator grew up in a Ski Family at the base of Mt Ruapehu, New Zealand, where she discovered her passion for the freedom of skiing. Mel represented her High School and University Ski Teams at their Regional and National Competitions. Her best results were 3rd Slalom Female and 6th GS Female at the University Champs. Mel’s career, as an instructor and coach, started in 1995 and since then she has taught in New Zealand, Austria, Japan and has made Mammoth Mountain her base mountain since 2000, along with her husband Andreas, who also teaches skiing at Mammoth, and daughter Anastasia, who is on the Mammoth Mountain Ski Team. Fully Certified in New Zealand and in addition obtained her Elementary Coaches Certificate, Mel is passionate about being up to date with current techniques, often you will here her advising other instructors “they whom dare to teach, must never cease to learn” and she lives by this mantra. She likes to keep things simple but effective, her “bag of tricks”, drills and analogies run deep and varied, because of this Mel achieves great results when working on others skiing in a safe and fun learning environment. It is often joked that you will hear Mel before you see her, with her energetic words of encouragement as she descends the mountain with her guests and large bright smile, she is hard to miss. When Mel is not working at Mammoth, she chases the winter and teaches skiing in New Zealand during our summer. Sponsored by the following alpine equipment companies: Head, Leki, Uvex.

Andreas Braun

Andreas Braun originally from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany began following in his fathers footsteps as a ski instructor in his home resort at the Flori Woerndle Ski Schule in 1991. He has worked in a variety of Ski Schools around the world, but now calls Mammoth his “home”, he started with Mammoth Mountain in 2000 which is when he met is now wife, Mel whom also teaches skiing at Mammoth and his daughter Anastasia races for the Mammoth Mountain Ski Team. Fully certified by the P.S.I.A. Andreas believes in staying current with evolving techniques of the Sport and you will regularly see him attending P.S.I.A. clinics and passing that knowledge on to the other instructors in training. One of his highlights each season is having the opportunity to coach an LA Council Ski/Race group. During our summer months Andreas has been coaching ski racing at Mt Ruapehu, New Zealand. His enthusiasm for passing on his knowledge and love for the sport of skiing is contagious. His philosophy on skiing is, if it’s not fun then you’re not doing it right and has a unique “yodel” sounding “woo hoo” that can be heard for miles, when he is enjoying a run. Another passion of Andreas’ is bike riding, affectionately known as “Big Guy on a Bike”, you will often see him riding his bike to work even in the middle of winter. Sponsored by the following alpine equipment companies: Head, Leki, Uvex

Heidi Goodwin

For 21 consecutive winters, I have taught skiing to all ages, beginner through advanced levels at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. I am a Certified Level 2 Alpine P.S.I.A. Instructor, emphasizing safety, fun, and learning. I enjoy skiing in all areas of Mammoth Mountain, especially when there is soft snow to be found. I love expanding my students’ horizons with lessons catered to the abilities, desires, and goals of the individual or group. With college degrees in Earth Science and Art, and a lifelong background of working outdoors, I know that each day is special, each class is unique, so let’s enjoy the snow, the fresh air, the birds, the forest, and especially the great skiing!

Chris Gray

“It’s the wind in your hair, it’s an escape, a thrill ride, it’s whatever you want it to be! There is nothing more heartwarming than seeing someone, from a first time beginner to the seasoned race veteran, have that moment when they realize the freedom skiing brings. A freedom that can take you back to your youth and put a smile on your face. I have been lucky enough to have skied on the slopes of Mammoth Mountain for the past 45 years, and would love sharing the secret stashes this mountain holds. So put your worries and woes aside, pencil in some time to put a smile on your face, and come ski Mammoth.”