After graduating from Smith College in 1982, where he had been acting as a “student instructor” with the winter physical education ski classes, Richard Anderson knew he wanted to continue teaching skiing.

He obtained his first training and teaching certification in 1986 with what was then the U.S. Eastern Amateur Ski Association. His next certification was in 1988 with the New York State Professional Ski Instructors Association.

In 1990, Richard started teaching friends and their children how to ski on Mount Evans. The next year he had so many requests for lessons that he recruited several of his best skiing buddies and instructed them in the correct teaching method.