Women of Winter Wednesdays: Isla Marsh

As Head Coach of the Thredbo Mountain Academy’s Alpine, Multi‑Discipline and Moguls teams, Isla Marsh is shaping the next generation of skiers.

Isla believes success in coaching comes down to “a combination of technical knowledge, communication skills, and the ability to build strong relationships. Key skills include adaptability, leadership, patience, problem-solving, decision-making, technical expertise, emotional intelligence, looking at the bigger picture, long term planning. A big part of coaching is not just teaching skills but understanding the person in front of you and helping them reach their potential.” But at the heart of her work is understanding the person behind the athlete and helping them reach their potential.

Her role is expansive — from designing training plans and mentoring coaches to supporting parents, managing behaviour, and creating environments where both athletes and staff can thrive.

Isla’s coaching story began not on snow, but in the pool. Growing up immersed in swimming, she naturally stepped into teaching and coaching at her swim club. A gap year teaching skiing changed the course of her life.

Five winters in Japan introduced her to instructor training and seasonal coaching. Many European winters followed, and today she is based in France, running a mix of race camps and women’s camps while continuing her long involvement in the Australian coaching pathway since 2014.

What inspired her to coach? “I was inspired to start coaching because of the buzz you get for sharing your passion with other people and watching them thrive”.

For Isla, what she love most about her job is building long‑term relationships with athletes. Working with someone over many years allows her to truly understand who they are and how to help them grow. Watching an athlete eventually “outgrow” her is bittersweet — but also one of the most satisfying moments in coaching.

She also loves working other coaches. “Helping them reach their goals in the sport and mentoring them from intro to coaching all the way to leading in that space., guiding them from their first steps in coaching to becoming leaders in the sport”.

Isla’s career highlights reflect her deep commitment to both performance and community. In 2022, she was named Club Coach of the Year at the Snow Australia Community Sport Awards. In 2024, Thredbo Mountain Academy earned the Pathway Program of the Year award—an achievement Isla played a key role in and was immensely proud of.

A standout accomplishment for Isla has been building the Women in Snowsports community, which began as a global mentorship program and has grown into a platform for connection, knowledge sharing, and career development. Among her proudest milestones is leading a coaching team where more than half of the coaches are women, each selected on merit through their talent, dedication, and hard work.

While Isla acknowledges she has been fortunate in her pathway, she is clear about the realities of the coaching world.” You have to put time aside to maintain strength to carry gear and move kit around the mountain, you have to be assertive and sure of yourself at Team Captains Meetings when you may be the only female in the room, and not speak the language of anyone else there. You have to back yourself when maybe no one else is. You need a group of fierce, supportive, caring, smart and funny women around you, cheering you on from the sidelines and who you can crack open a bottle of wine and vent about situations when they arise with”.

Isla credits the women who came before her — those who broke barriers and reshaped the snowsports landscape — for making her own journey possible. Their courage and leadership continue to guide her work today.

Isla sees enormous potential for women across the industry, from coaching and athlete development to judging, event management, media, snow operations, education, and guiding.

She believes women bring invaluable strengths — communication, collaboration, leadership, creativity, community building, and emotional intelligence — all essential to the future of the sport.

Compared with other countries, Isla sees a standout strength in the Australian coaching pathway. “One of the strengths I see in the Australian pathway is a huge and strong community of females who are building each other up and giving each other the nudge to apply for those roles that we may not think we are ready or qualified for”.

What advice does Isla havefor Women Starting Their Coaching Journey?

“My advice would be to say yes. Even if you think you aren't ready, someone has asked you because they think you are. But also, put your hand up, volunteer, back yourself.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, seek out mentors, and put yourself in opportunities where you can learn. Coaching is a journey, and confidence grows through experience.

Most importantly, remember that your perspective is valuable, the industry benefits from having more women contributing, leading, and shaping the future of snow sports”.