Carolyn Cruden

Carolyn Cruden (aka Caz)

 BSc, PGDipSportMed, PGDipDiet, NZRD

“Diet has a huge effect on performance. Good food choices ensure the trainee instructors can consistently train and perform to the best of their ability. Poor food choices lead to time off training, illness, injury and stress.”

Caz is a New Zealand Registered Dietitian and ISIA qualified Ski Instructor. She has her own private practice in Wanaka where she has been based for the past eight years. Caz started studying nutrition and ski instructing at the same time. After completing the Rookie Academy training and gaining NZSIA Stage One, Caz travelled to Japan and Italy during University summer holidays and worked part-time at Treble Cone. After finishing her Bachelor of Science she proceeded to work full-time as a ski instructor in Park City and Cardrona for four years. Meanwhile her passion for food and sports performance continued and Caz completed two Post Graduate Diplomas in Sports Medicine and Dietetics. Part of her dietetic training included the development of a nutrition resource for snow-sport athletes in New Zealand. Caz is now concentrating on building her practice however she is still up the mountain skiing whenever she can.

The Rookie Academy has brought Caz on board to support the nutritional needs of the both the trainers and trainee instructors. It is vital that both parties are fit and healthy for the duration of the course. The courses are intense and there is no time allocated for sickness or injury. Caz will be providing pre-course nutrition tips, orientation nutrition assessments and on-going advice during the courses in order to help everyone make the most of the training programme. Caz will be working together with Alice and Louise to provide the best off-snow programme available to the Rookie Academy.