WHO WE ARE
We offer 2-day workshops, week-long camps, and custom trips around the globe. Join us for summer snowboarding / Skiing, adult ski camps and adult snowboarding camps.
We look forward to seeing you on the slopes!
WHY CHOOSE A PROGRESSION SESSION
Our Mission
“I started Progression Sessions because I wanted to make a lasting difference in people’s lives through education, adventure, and friendship. It’s simple…. the earned confidence that follows a great trial is tangible, it saturates all parts of our lives, and provides us a true foundation for growth. We design the journey, you add the color, together we’ll create some amazing memories”
-Joshua Thompson-Bourrie AKA “JTB” Founder of Progression Sessions-
At Progression Sessions we design adventures with the whole person in mind, so not only will you leave with great memories, but you’ll gain new skills to propel your journey for years to come. Our Sessions take the guesswork out of Progression by mapping out a path for it. Each event is pre-loaded with a set of educational goals that are paired with real-world adventures, so you’ll know what skills to focus on, and how they’re going to be tested…
To support you on your quest for fun we only employ professionals. Every one of our coaches is fully credentialed in their discipline, they have a minimum of 10 years’ experience coaching, and are all masters of their craft. We keep our coaching groups small (avg. 4 to 1) and tailor groups daily to insure you’re with people that compliment your skill set and ambitions.
We want you to focus on the adventure so we take care of the details. Most our Sessions are inclusive with few exceptions, we pick lodging, meal options, and evening activities that highlight the best attributes of the region we’re in. We also host a variety of restorative activities within every session to ensure your body and mind are in prime shape to perform. We put a heavy emphasis on community, by keeping our events small we strive to ensure no one is ever left out.
At Progression Sessions were committed to providing KICK-ASS outdoor adventures where every person can challenge their personal best while having a ridiculously good time doing it.
MEET OUR TEAM
Josh Thompson-Bourrie AKA “JTB” Founder of Progression Sessions
Josh is a mastermind of step by step progression. He has been teaching snowboarding for two decades in various states and countries. Currently he spends his winters in Lake Tahoe, and holds the role of Snowboard Committee Chair for PSIA/AASI-West, in this role he trains and certifies snowboard instructors from all over California and Nevada, mentors AASI-West education Staff, and works on a national with leaders from all over the country. During the summer months he travels for snow, from freestyle camps at Mt. Hood to Freeride destinations in South America. When he’s not snowboarding, he can be found with his girlfriend Melissa and his dog ACE, most likely crammed in a car in route to somewhere beautiful.
Credentials: AASI L3, USASA 200, AIARE 1, Children’s Specialist L2, Freestyle Specialist L2, Divisional Trainer Accredited, and he make a mean Thai Green Curry.
Kristen Seabury, Co-owner and Programs Coordinator of Progression Sessions
Kristen first jumped on a snowboard when she was twelve years old. Her progression in the sport didn’t really take off until 2010 where she attended High Cascade and truly fell in love with all aspects of the sport and culture. It was here where she met Josh and the two established a friendship over the years that has led to the founding of Progression Sessions as a means to share the stoke of the sport to others. Even though she is new to snowboard instruction, she isn’t novice to instructing others. She currently spends her time when she isn’t on the slopes or organizing shred adventures instructor training scuba divers for the past ten years. If she isn’t on the mountain or underwater, she can be found mountain biking, skating, and bouncing between her homes in Bend, Oregon and Maui with her husband Joseph and her dog Dexter.
Credentials: AASI L1, AIARE 1, PADI Course Director, Emergency First Responder Instructor Trainer
Max Gaal, Coach
Max is a swiss army knife on the mountain, whether he’s in the backcountry, in the park, on a bike, he possesses the skill to navigate any situation. Max has been teaching snowboarding and skiing for over a decade, and calls Truckee California home. Max spends most of his year running the Boreal Mountain Snow Sports School and tearing it up at Woodward Tahoe on a mountain bike. He has a love for softball, skateboarding, and his community. When Max isn’t in California he’s most likely guiding riders around the South American Andes or sipping fancy wine with his wife Belin.
Credentials: AASI L3, Freestyle Specialist L2, Divisional Trainer Accredited, Children’s Specialist L2, AIARE 1, Bilingual, and he’s a darn good bowler.
Kara Strehle, Coach
This seasoned coach is as capable on a pair of skis as she is on a snowboard. Kara set several records in her birth state of Minnesota for being the fastest skier on the mountain… records that held strong until she decided to move to California and try her hand at snowboarding. Fast forward 17 years and Kara’s getting the clip of the day in Squaw Valley’s BIG Park. She’s a dynamic coach with a true eagle eye for good form, and she possesses the skills to back it up no matter the discipline. Kara spends her winters developing skiers, riders, and instructors at Squaw Valley|Alpine Meadows and was awarded instructor of the year at Squaw for the 18/19 season. Kara spends her summers coaching freestyle snowboarding to athletes of all ages at Mt. Hood. When Kara decides to take a break from snow (which isn’t often as she gets 200+ days on snow per year) she can be found creating art and teaching the joy of pottery at her studio in Truckee California.
Credentials: AASI L3, Divisional Trainer Accredited, Children’s Specialist 2
Lee Guarino, Coach
Lee is a true guru of shred, and his approach to snowboarding is nothing short of artistry. Lee sees the mountain as a half finished canvas and he possesses an unparalleled knack for putting down seamless creative lines that somehow complete the painting. Lee’s approach to coaching is as holistic as his riding; whether he’s deep in the backcountry, on a groomed green run, or scoping the heaviest rail line in the park, Lee strives to create an environment where creativity can flourish. During the winter Lee coaches freestyle teams at Northstar California and is a member of the education team of AASI-West. During the summer months Lee can be found at Mt. Hood teaching adults to push the limits of style. Lee currently resides in Kings Beach California, with his wife Carita. When Lee isn’t on the snow you’ll find him tackling mountains on his bike.
Credentials: AASI L3, USASA 200, Children’s Specialist L2, Freestyle Specialist L2, Divisional Trainer Accredited, AIARE 1
Nick Conte, Coach
Nick is entering his 15th season teaching/ coaching up in Big Bear, at Snow Summit and Bear Mountain. He originally started skiing when he was 4 years old and stepped on a snowboard for the first time when he was 12, which has since altered his entire life. Nick has always been a passionate Soccer player, then coach for different clubs and High School Teams in the past. It was winter season of 05/06 is when he fell in love with and found his true passion of teaching/ coaching Snowboarders. In his first season as a coach he received the “Rookie of the Year” award and was one of the most requested Instructors. Ever since then he has been coaching athletes of all ages and skill levels and can only wish winters were longer! This last season he had the pleasure of being the Lead Coach for the Bear Mountain Freestyle Team and coaching at the competitive level as well as being part of the training for new hire Instructors. Nick is stoked and extremely grateful to be able to help shape some of our next generation of riders and Instructors. When he isn’t on snow you can find him ripping turns on his mountain bike or hiking and hanging out with his puppy, Avie
Credentials: PSIA L3, USASA 200
Siamac Saadat AKA “Skimac”, Coach
Skimac teaches and is a trainer at Tahoe Palisades in Lake Tahoe, California going on 10 seasons. He has also taught 2 seasons in New Zealand and one season in Niseko Japan.
He truly only thinks about skiing, his own and others and loves snow, the mountains and being outside (like everyone else on this page). It’s the act of sliding on snow that enables him to enjoy being in the moment, when there are no regrets about the past and no anxiety about the future.
The lasting memory of his first day on skis was when he was 10 years old. His uncle called the house out of the blue to see if he wanted to go skiing. Never having it done it before, he joined his 4 cousins, clipped into some rental skis and held on for dear life on the local rope tow outside of Tehran. He still thanks his uncle every time he gets the chance.
“Partnering with JTB and his crew is based on being surrounded by positive people and positivity in general. Period.”
Credentials: PSIA L3, Children’s Specialist 2, AIARE 1 and speaks German and Farsi fluently and can get away with some funny Japanese and Spanish.
Brian Honcoop, Coach
Credentials: AASI L1, IFSA L1, AIARE 1
Stephanie Wilkerson, PSIA-AASI National Team
Credentials: AASI L3, Children’s Specialist L2, Freestyle Specialist L2, Divisional Trainer Accredited, PSIA-AASI Snowboard National Team
Jingwen
I ride better now!
Benny
Good! Get to snowboard in the summer with great coaching, I enjoyed my time there!
Alan
Both you and Max are very personable, easy to get along with and very knowledgeable in your guiding and coaching skills. Also, I would say that both of you would respond very positively to any client concerns or questions and in fact, both of you went out of your way to make sure that everybody was comfortable with everything we all were doing. Just how you and Max put breakfast together (for those that unlike me eat a big breakfast) showed a lot of commitment to ensuring the group was well taken care of
Deon
If you’ve ever considered going international with your passport to shred, this “diem” is the “carpe” (or perhaps “Koi”) you will definitely want to seize! No finer way would one be able to extract the maximum amount of benefit from your international super session than to elect in this most excellent tour; carefully crafted to get you shredding your best & bringing those Katana-sharp skills back to home to ninjutsu the shitsu out of your personal riding!
