CARRABASSETT VALLEY — Head of School Kate Webber Punderson announces that Michael Savage, a native Mainer and former U.S. Ski Team coach, has been named the new director of Carrabassett Valley Academy’s alpine program.

Savage offers a wealth of experience in coaching and racing on an international level. He is a native of Stratton and graduated from CVA in 1986 with its first class of four-year students. After completing his international racing career, Savage attended the University of Maine at Farmington and received a Bachelor of Arts in economics and business administration with a ski industry certification.

He moved on to coach with the U.S. Ski Team before returning to CVA as head coach of the women’s alpine program. During that stint, he coached Kirsten Clark, one of CVA’s most successful Olympians. He then moved to Reno, Nev., where he coached at Mt. Rose and the Sage Ridge School. In 2005, he started Team Savage in Reno, training elite women from across the country. In 2009, he began moving his team to the East Coast while achieving success across the U.S., Canada, Europe and the Southern Hemisphere. Team Savage alumni are now competing on the NCAA circuit and U.S. Ski Team.