A new era for Clendenin Method Ski Camps
While ski equipment and winter fashions evolve every season, the core techniques and strategies of off-piste skiing have changed little over time — certainly not since George Joubert and Jean Vuarnet worked together to write “How to Ski The New French Way” in 1967. Joubert and Vuarnet worked closely with alpine skiing legend Jean-Claude Killy in developing their philosophy for advanced all-mountain skiing.
Years later, John Clendenin, two-time World Freestyle Champion and one of the smoothest, most elegant skiers I’ve ever witnessed, was similarly inspired by skiing with Killy. Watching Killy’s apparently effortless and clearly efficient style motivated John to develop his own philosophy and instructional methodology for mogul skiing, which he called ‘the Clendenin Ski Method’ (CM).
John Clendenin and the Clendenin Method:
John spent years analysing the skiing of Killy and other skiing greats (including Andy Mill and Stein Erikson), and distilling what he saw with his own experiences, and with lessons from mentors like Warren Witherell, Cal Cantrell, and Phil Gerard. The result was a complete methodology for teaching all-mountain skiing, which he published in a book titled ‘Four Words for Great Skiing’, and which became the core doctrine of his Aspen ski camps.
The camps, which John started offering in the early 2000’s, were primarily targeted at adult skiers who had fallen into the infamous ‘intermediate rut’ – comfortable on groomers, but terrified of bumps. More than two decades later, John’s camps have helped thousands of skiers conquer the whole mountain and the method has a huge following across Colorado, Utah, and beyond.
In 2013, John Clendenin was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. In 2017, Forbes magazine featured him in its article, “Is John Clendenin the Best Ski Instructor in the U.S.?” Outside magazine featured his camps in 2019, while The New York Times included them in a 2025 list of the best adult ski camps.
Now in his late 70s and still skiing all of Aspen Mountain with ease and elegance, John is ready to step back from day-to-day operations of the Clendenin Method business. Earlier this year, he passed the torch to Andrew Aldercotte, a longtime CM coach and Aspen instructor.
New leadership for CM:
We at SNOW have known Andrew for years. He contributed articles on skiing in Spain, California, and Aspen in the early 2010s, and we were excited to sit down with him to discuss his background, why he’s the right person to lead the brand into its next era, and his vision for the program.
Andrew is a lifetime skier. Born in Montreal, he first put on skis at Ski Morin Heights in Quebec at age two. His earliest ski memories are of dragging his skis up the driveway and clicking in for just a few turns. After his family moved to California, he skied at Kirkwood Mountain Resort and began teaching at the ski school there right after high school. Since then, he has taught in Chile and Aspen, earned a master’s degree in Wales, and more recently completed a PhD at Rutgers University.
Now 38, Dr. Aldercotte has built an impressive instructing résumé: full certification with PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America) and BASI (British Association of Ski Instructors), six years as an instructor trainer for Aspen Ski Schools, PSIA Rocky Mountain Region Demo Team nominee in 2015, and winner of the Aspen World Synchronized Skiing Championship that same year with the Aspen Demo Team.
When asked what qualifies him for the role, however, he pointed to broader factors: his global skiing experiences and travels, deep mastery of John’s methodology and philosophy, strong relationships with existing CM coaches, and his academic background.
Looking to the future:
On the future of the Clendenin Method, Andrew says, “The core teaching methodology isn’t going to change. Why fix what isn’t broken? Developing the method was John’s life mission and near full-time obsession, and he did an incredible job.”
Instead, Andrew plans to reinvigorate the business through diversified camp offerings, modern social marketing and e-learning, and fresh energy from new coaches. He’s especially excited about two new domestic destinations this season: Sundance, Utah, and Snowmass, Colorado, both first-time hosts and the first CM camps to include accommodation packages.
The team is also expanding international ski adventures. “Unlike the domestic camps, which are heavily instructional, the ski adventure products are guided experiences emphasizing exploration of new mountains and the world’s diverse alpine cultures,” Andrew explains. “You’ll still ski with CM coaches and work on technique and strategy, but you’ll cover more ground and enjoy new experiences.”
Differentiating between instructional camps and guided ski adventures will help serve a broader clientele, including many past participants who have already escaped the intermediate rut. For the 2026/2027 season, ski adventures are scheduled for Val d’Isère & Courchevel, Niseko, and Portillo.
We encourage you to check out their new website at www.skimethod.com and follow their newly revamped Instagram @clendeninmethod
