Skipress - Index

Skipress - SkiPress Canada Vol.22 No.4 - Index

Photo: Momentum Ski Camps
deep
BROTHER DAVE GOES DEEP INSIDE THE INTENSE — AND INTENSELY FUN — WORLD OF SUMMER SKI CAMPS.
Every summer, when most sane people while away the dog days slathered in
sunblock, jet loads of super-dedicated, supercharged skiers pack their gear
and hightail it to the mountains. Instead of running indoors to escape the
sweltering heat, they run gates, ride rails and tabletops or drop into superpipes.
They are the few, the lucky, the brave. They are the summer ski campers.
If you’re thinking, Maybe I should go to camp, here’s what you need to know.
What’s a summer ski camp anyway?
Summer ski camp was once the exclusive domain of Olympic and World
Cup skiers who chased the snow to gain every possible advantage over
their competitors.
Alpine Ontario’s Heather Metzger has organized, chaperoned and coached
more than her fair share of camps. She highly regards them as “an excellent
opportunity for snow-starved skiers in regions with short ski seasons to get
additional time on snow… and receive productive, concentrated training.”
Two-time Olympian and founder of Momentum Ski Camps, John Smart
simply says, “Summer ski camps are an escape for ‘poor kids’ who didn’t
ski enough or fanatics who never do.”
Summer ski camps usually start as early as June and end late September.
Many are now open to almost anyone from curious beginners to skiing
superstars. What campers share in common is a thirst to hone their skiing
skills in the off-season.
22
Endless Winter
by Dave Fonda
One word of caution:
SUMMER SKI CAMPS ARE NOT FOR DILETTANTES.
DILLY-DALLY INTO THE WRONG LANE, AND YOU COULD
END UP ON THE WRONG END OF A SPEEDING
DOWNHILL RACER OR A STOMPING FREE RIDER.
skier
alert!