Greetings SBSEF,

Since the last time I wrote, a lot has happened.  We have received approximately 100″ of snow at Snowbird/Alta and are ahead of schedule with openings coming this weekend.  Your respective Head Coaches will communicate schedules for each group.  This early snow and cold temps have put us in a great position for not only getting on snow but also having very good early season conditions and ample terrain open.  Of course, we still need to realize that it is early season and many hazards exist, please use your judgment in addition to your excitement out there!

We already have 30+ Alpine athletes training in Colorado between Aspen and Copper.

We had a wonderful Fall Gala October 29th at the Cliff, and thanks to Title Sponsor Kuhl, as well as the many who donated items and money to the team we had a very successful evening of fundraising.  A very fun and productive night for SBSEF!  This will be an annual Fall event.

Looking forward to getting the season underway, and seeing you up here!

Work Hard. Dream Big.

Bridger Call

SBSEF Executive Director

Alpine Update:

The FIS group just wrapped up its first of three on-snow projects this fall. Starting at A-Basin, athletes spent 2 days of drills and focused free skiing, followed by 4 days of GS training at Copper Mountain. The focus of the camp was on establishing a Solid Platform in the transition and bringing patience to the initiation phase of the turn. We had a great camp, and were lucky to have blue skies, sun, and the “Hero” feeling that is typical of Copper Mountain’s high-altitude snow surface.

We also began implementing “debrief” sessions immediately following each day’s on-snow training where athletes talk through their individual focuses, mindsets, challenges, and successes. This is something that the U.S. Alpine Team, and other USOPC NGB’s are doing with their athletes to help increase learning from the day’s session, as well as develop a positive and supportive team environment.

Next up for the FIS group is some more GS skiing at Aspen, followed by some more opportunities for Speed and Slalom at Copper and Vail shortly afterward.

We will be kicking off the Master’s sessions on December 13th.

– Brennan Rubie

The SBSEF U12, U14, and U16 groups had the chance to go to Aspen for a fall ski camp Nov 11 – 20. With only a handful of race teams present, Snowbird skiers had lots of space and great snow to work on fundamentals before the competition season starts. The surface has been prepared for World Cup athletes. Our athletes have had the opportunity to train next to the world’s best skiers, Marco Odermatt (SUI) who was last season’s men’s overall World Cup champion, and Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) who was the overall World Cup slalom winner from last year. After 8 days of skiing, 4 of slalom and 4 of GS, SBSEF athletes have made big gains and improvements and are looking strong coming into the competition season.

– Bo Maciejko

Snowboard Update:

The snowboard staff have been busy making seasonal competition and travel plans and getting ready for a very busy season. We are excited to get on snow and start training early this season which is great as our first World Cup will be just before Christmas. We do have one athlete in Europe – Felicia Turcotte has been rehabbing her knee after an accident and total reconstruction last year. Here she is putting in some time on Hintertux Glacier before heading to Pitztal Austria for a Europacup – the scene of her accident last season.

And for the first time in a long time we have a group of young athletes training this season – excited to see them progress and grow into our future riders.

–Lane Clegg

 

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