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Portillo Ski and Snowboard School

Portillo is a magical place where people from all over the world gather to enjoy fine amenities and spend their days sliding around on spectacular terrain with glorious snow. This combination also attracts some of the best ski instructors in the world who choose to ply their craft on the slopes of Portillo. Confidence, technique and tactics combine to make a truly fantastic experience on the mountain.

Our instructors are inspired to share their wisdom with you to elevate those three areas of your performance and to ensure that your time on the slopes is everything that you want it to be. If you simply want a guide to show you the secret stashes and best exposures, we’ve got you covered with that also. Welcome to Portillo and welcome to the Portillo Ski and Snowboard School. I am privileged to be Director of a School with such fine instructors and am confident that your time spent in Portillo with one of them will greatly enhance your stay. Please take the time to say hello or let me know if there is something I can do for you during your visit. Better yet, let’s take a run together!

Our ski school has earned an impressive reputation over the past 60 years. The schools excellence continues today. Four of Portillo’s directors were Olympic Gold Medal winners and our first director was the famous Emile Allais, French champion of the 1930’s. Emile was followed by greats like Othmar Schneider, Stein Eriksen and Pepi Stiegler. But among all of the great directors of the past, Sigi Grottendorfer stands out as the man whose bridging influence is still felt today. He trained his successors Hartmut Helmstreit, Jimmy Ackerson and Michael Rogan. The Ski School is composed of 35 ski and snow professionals, from 10 different countries, including disciplines such as alpine and telemark skiing, snowboarding and adaptive training.

Robin Barnes – Ski School Director, Ski Portillo As with her predecessors, Barnes has the experience and credentials to fill this prestigious role. In addition to 16 previous years working as a ski instructor and trainer at Portillo, Barnes has more than 20 years of teaching and training experience. She is member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) National Alpine Demonstration Team, a PSIA-Western Division Examiner, and a PSIA Level III instructor. Barnes has been a Heavenly Mountain Resort Instructor and Staff Trainer since 1989. Ski Magazine has recognized her twice as a Top 100 instructor as well as a member of the Ski Magazine Test Team. Barnes is former technical director of Hunter Mountain Ski and Snowboard School (1997-2000) and Coach for the North American Ski Training Center.