What is the Clendenin Ski Method?

The Clendenin Ski Method is a fully-developed method of ski instruction expressly designed to help skiers ski the whole mountain with efficiency, control, and confidence. The method is rooted in a simple framework of four easy-to-remember words—drift, center, touch, and tip—that help demystify ski technique. The four words are supported by a series of drills, which we call 'Keys', that allow skiers to isolate and practice skills and movements that are important for all mountain skiing. Via the Clendenin Ski Method, skiers learn to manage speed, stay balanced, and ultimately 'dance with gravity', even in challenging terrain like bumps, steeps, and powder.

A unique power of the Clendenin Method lies in it's consistency. The instructional verbiage, the 'Keys', and the coaching methodology reinforce each other. Whether you are skiing in a private lesson in Aspen, or on an adventure in the French Alps, or reading John's book 'Four Words for Great Skiing", you'll be working towards the same goals.

In developing the Clendenin Method, John leveraged his own experiences on the slope, but also analyzed the greatest skiers of his time, including French ski legend Jean Claude Killy:

"Back in my competitive freestyle days, I skied with my personal hero, Jean Claude Killy, in Val D’Isere. Jean Claude won three gold medals in the 1968 Winter Olympics. What struck me most about the Killy’s technique was his relaxed, tall, utterly natural stance. Whether standing in a lift line, skiing cat tracks at 5 MPH or flowing at high speed down a 45-degree pitch, he maintained the same stance. His image has remained an inspiration. His natural stance is the foundation of an efficient, unique skiing style, instantly recognizable from far away. The simple beauty of Killy's skiing has served as an inspiration for the Clendenin Ski Method"

- John Clendenin

If you want to:
Make your skiing simpler and safer;
Ski more of the mountain;
Ski the bumps with ease;

... then the Clendenin Method is for you!

Our Team

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John Clendenin

Founder, Emeritus

Two-time world freestyle champion and founder of the Ski Doctors and the Clendenin Method brand. He has taught skiing since 1977 and has Level III PSIA certification. In 2013, John was inducted into the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame. John is also a lifetime member of the PGA.
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Andrew Aldercotte, PhD

CEO

Andrew Aldercotte was born in Montreal, Canada and first learned to ski in Morin Heights, Quebec. Since then he has worked as a ski instructor at Kirkwood, Heavenly and Sierra-at-Tahoe in California, Portillo in Chile, and Aspen. An avid bump skier, he first became aware of the Clendenin Method via John's camps in Portillo. He is PSIA Alpine Level III and BASI Level 3 certified. Andrew has been coaching the Clendenin Method since 2015, and took over operations of the CM business in 2026.
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Mark Borderick

Director of Aspen Camps

From Australia, Mark Borderick has been teaching skiing since 1985, in Canada, Europe, Australia, and Aspen. He has Level III certification in skiing and Level II in snowboarding. Mark has been one of the top ski instructors for the Clendenin Ski Method since 2006. With a love for off-piste, bumps, and powder, Mark has a special interest in reaching breakthroughs with his clients. He’s also a professional photographer and has been responsible for many of the photographs in the CM book, Four Words for Great Skiing. Mark is in charge of the day-to-day operation of camps in Aspen-Snowmass.
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Bosse Landberger

Webmaster, Director of International Camps

From Sweden, Bosse has been teaching skiing since 2006 in Sweden. He holds the Swedish Level 4 certification and has been coaching the Clendenin Method in Portillo Chile and Val d'Isere since 2012. With an absolute love for off-piste and powder, Bosse travels around the world to find the 'white gold'. Bosse manages the CM website and is director of CM's international ski adventure camps.
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Alfredo 'Chino' Martinez

Coach

One of our longest serving coaches, as well as our host for the Portillo camps. After instructing all day on the mountain, he serves as “Director of après ski”. Chino has taught skiing since 1994 and has full certification in the United States and Argentina. Chino has been coaching the Clendenin Ski Method since 2004.
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Geoff Stump

Coach

Geoff has had a distinguished career in competitive freestyle skiing, freestyle coaching, ski teaching and played a pivotal role in revolutionizing action sports films. He and his brother Greg made ski movies in the 1980s and 90s like the Blizzard of Aahhh's". Geoff has taught and coached skiing since 1989. He has been coaching for the Clendenin Method since 2017.
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Todd Reeves

Coach

Todd Reeves is fully certified by PSIA in alpine skiing and by AASI in snowboarding. He has been coaching the Clendenin Method since 2018.
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John 'Bread' Smollen

Coach

John Smollen is fully certified by the PSIA in alpine and telemark skiing. He has been coaching the Clendenin Method since 2019. His home mountain is Snowmass.
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Crystal Newton

Coach

Crystal has been teaching skiing since 2000 in Aspen and Pennsylvania. With full certification and trainer’s accreditation in adaptive skiing, she specializes in skiing for people with disabilities. She has been coaching the Clendenin Method since 2006. Formerly served as camp manager for John, and worked on the Clendenin Ski Method book, DVD, and website. coaching the Clendenin Ski Method since 2004.
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Susan Saghatoleslami

Coach

Having taught snowboarding in Aspen since 1996, she has Level III certification in snowboarding and also coaches skiing. Susan spent many years as the office manager for Clendenin Productions, LLC.