STHS principal's monos featured on Warren Miller film; Chasing Shadows showing at school

By school day, he's the leader on the hill at South Tahoe High School, but by night, he's leading the field of American custom builders of monoskis.

"He" is Chad Houck, second year principal at STHS. Houck was recently featured in his second Warren Miller ski movie, this time in "Chasing Shadows." His first Miller highlight was in 2006 when his monoskiing was in "Off the Grid."

The trip to Warren Miller movies began in 2001 when Houck and a group of friends starting getting together annually for a monoski getaway. Four years later they had caught the attention of a couple of ski magazines who featured the group which includes between 15 and 40 friends, depending on the year.

In 2006, Warren Miller brought his team to join the group for a day in Utah, the excerpts of which were shown in "Off the Grid." Houck said they were filmed by Tom Day, Warren Miller Entertainment videographer and one of skiing's best filmmakers.

Back in February of 2015, Houck and the group rented the one-lift ski lodge White Pine in Wyoming for their annual retreat. He took some extra days off of school since the Warren Miller team had heard about the special week.

"I tell students that opportunities come and you got to grab them with both hands," Houck said of his leaving town. "You have to accept the consequences with a smile."

The results of that last time on the slopes made it into "Chasing Shadows."

"It was an exciting moment when I found out I'd made the final cut," said Houck.

Houck grew up skiing in the mountains of Southern California and Lake Tahoe. He was in high school when he first saw someone on a monoski and met the person who made them.

What are monoskis you ask? They are a single wide ski that uses the same bindings and boots as alpine skiing, with feet side by side.

Houck's company, Coda Boards, creates custom, handcrafted boards and skis. He has a shop set up the home he shares with his wife and four kids (number five is due at the beginning of 2016). He makes about 30 monoboards a year as well as about 120 bi-skis for disabled skiers. Houck is passing on his passion to the next generation of monoboard makers as he mentors interested students who take on the building of one for their senior project.

Some exciting news for South Tahoe High has come out of Houck's relationship with Warren Miller Entertainment. On January 29, 2016, "Chasing Shadows" will be shown in the theater at the high school as a fundraiser for their Alpine Ski team.

"The contract was just signed last night," said Houck with a big smile.

"We're going to recognize the small ski and snowboard business along with the local resorts at the movie showing," he said.

The movie will be shown at 7:00 p.m. and doors will be open much earlier so people can enjoy the vendors that will be on hand, take part in a silent auction. Details will still need to be worked out, and once the whole event is planned the public will be notified.

In the meantime, people can visit the event's website HERE which includes where to buy the $15 tickets for the movie. Warren Miller created the site and will provide all of the needed marketing for the night.

"Our goal is to raise money, but more importantly, its a community event that brings together small manufacturers with large resorts and the public," said Houck. "Our students will be able to see opportunities for their futures."