With the Proctor Ski Area open for top to bottom alpine training almost a week earlier than last year, Proctor’s Eastern Ski Team returned from their Thanksgiving Break training camp in Panorama, British Columbia and did not lose a step in their early season training and racing.
With almost all of Proctor’s Eastern Skiers playing key roles on fall athletic teams, the annual Thanksgiving Break training camp provides a tremendous opportunity for athletes to prepare both physically and mentally for the season ahead, while building a positive team forged through day-long training sessions, dry-land training, and sports psychology workshops. Over the course of the two week training camp, coaches and athletes progressed from free skiing to fundamental skill work to constraint courses, and shorter course sets as athletes refined technical and tactical skills.
Eastern Alpine Program Director Jason Nelson notes, “I am very pleased with the efforts of our students coaches during this prep period. Over the past six months, our athletes have been building toward the start of this season, and that consistent hard work is already paying off.” He adds, “Our camp in Mount Hood (June) provided incredible volume with turn count and a great surface, while our camp in Corralco, Chile (August) provided much needed free skiing and time on snow. To top off this prep period, Panorama afforded an incredible environment where the snow surface, training venues, and quick turnaround allowed for an optimal teaching and learning environment.”
The Panorama Camp (November 17-December 4) focused U16 athletes on Giant Slalom and Super G training, with some Slalom training mixed in. The group skied over 300 Super G turns during their camp, getting to know now only themselves as athletes, but each other and the coaching staff. This group’s focus for the year is to attack the hill, and not the gates, and the training period reinforced this mindset.
Proctor’s FIS athletes arrived a few days later to Panorama, and focused their training on Slalom and Giant Slalom, while also spending ample time in their Super G skis over the two weeks. With a good portion of the group prepping for a race series in Norquay at the end of the camp, their training and focus from coaches sought to push individual limits and speed thresholds. The opportunity to train alongside other Canadian teams during camp led to some fantastic results for Proctor’s FIS athletes scoring results across the board, highlighted by Connor Roy ‘24 earning fifth place overall and second for U19s.
The Eastern Ski Team is back on campus attending classes, training daily at the Proctor Ski Area and Ragged Mountain, and working toward continued strong results at race series around the East in the coming weeks. Good luck to all of our on-snow athletes during the upcoming season!
“This camp was the most productive camp I’ve been to in years and getting a new season started with the boys was a blast.” Connor ‘24
It is such an advantage to get a jump start on the season in Panorama, and the camp really provided great team bonding, while also helped me feel confident heading into this season.” Turner ‘25
“Panorama was a great opportunity to meet my new teammates and develop the family culture that is so key to Proctor’s ski program! I learned how to push through the tough times and stay focused and motivated.” Piper Lalla “25
“The coaches taught me a lot and the team culture was great. My teammates were never putting anyone down but saying ‘good job’ or giving constructive criticism. My coaches helped me get better and taught me how to be patient in a course in order to set myself up for a better turn.” Ryan Terry ‘27
“The team culture and upbeat coaches gave me a positive attitude and a good mindset going into training each day.” Kenzie Blizzard ‘27
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