I want to take a moment to honor and remember Matt Erickson, our longtime Cub Club supervisor, who sadly passed away in January.
Matt was a PSIA Level 2 Alpine and Telemark ski instructor who was part of the Stratton Mountain Sports School for 25 years, an absolute cornerstone of our Stratton community. He gave everything to Stratton, and we’re all better because of it. Matt used to joke about how, 20 years ago, he was “dragged” down to Cub Club, sat at a desk, and told to fix it. And fix it he did.
Matt brought the structure and organization the program needed, and through years of hard work, he turned Cub Club into something truly special, a program that has produced not only incredible athletes but also incredible people. Matt loved to say that Cub Club was the trunk of the seasonal program tree, that all kids start in Cub Club before branching out to our other programs. He embraced this so much that he even had his name tags changed to read “The Trunk.”
But Matt’s impact went far beyond the program itself. He was a mentor. I had the privilege of watching him guide coaches through challenges, helping them grow into the best versions of themselves. He was steady, thoughtful, and always there when someone needed support.
In recent years, Matt focused on “future-proofing” Cub Club. He trained coaches to uphold the standards he created, mentored leaders, and worked closely with Cub Club leaders Kristi, Katie, and Val to make sure they had the tools to keep things running strong. While his passing was unexpected and far too soon, I know Matt would be proud of the team he built and their ability to carry on his vision.
A scholarship has been started to honor Matt and his legacy. More details will be coming soon.
Matt, we miss you. Thank you for everything, the lessons, the laughter, and the legacy you leave behind.
– Tony Bailey, Stratton Mountain Sports School