Graduation caps had barely hit the ground before Proctor’s Eastern Ski Team boarded buses en route to Logan Airport and their May/June training camp in Mount Hood, Oregon. After a smooth travel day, the group of fifteen athletes and four coaches arrived in a winter wonderland in the Oregon mountains. For the next nine days, Proctor’s Eastern Skiers jumped with two feet into team bonding, physical training, and mental toughness workouts.
Proctor’s Alpine Program Director Jason Nelson notes, “The goal of this camp, our first for the 2024-2025 season, is to establish a foundation for the program for the upcoming year. Just like we aim to do on a macro level, this camp is about getting our athletes back to a balanced position. We start with their stance and we work from the snow, to the edges of the ski, ankles, knees, hips and shoulders. While we talk about the physical process of establishing balance, this camp also establishes our program balance by establishing strong relationships among athletes and coaches.”
Over the course of the nine days of training, athletes spent eight days on snow, working tirelessly on technical skills, mental approach to racing and training, and, for those new to Proctor, building a foundation of connection with teammates and coaches. A mix of slalom and giant slalom training, mixed with ample opportunity for free-skiing, and dryland training kept athletes busy. Day 1 saw three hours of freeski and slalom training before transitioning to dryland mobility work and pick-up soccer (the team has some multisport athletes!). Day 2 included giant slalom constraint turns, apex drills, and how athletes carry their energy through the release of each turn. Days 3-5 continued on the intensive on-snow training in both slalom and giant slalom disciplines, mixing in plenty of yoga, meditation, mobility work, and competitive soccer into the mix. An off-day on Day 6 found the group running rapids on the White Salmon river in the rain before jumping back onto the mountain for rain forced the group to tap into their mental toughness drills while tackling slalom turns and a significant core workout once the group was off the mountain for the afternoon. During Days 7-9, coaches pushed their athletes through the natural end of camp fatigue and left feeling incredibly optimistic about this group of athletes and the season ahead. Nelson notes, “Our goal going into this camp was to integrate incoming students with existing students, to create a positive team culture, and push our kids as they get back on snow for the first time since ending their season in April. We cannot wait to see this group train again in Chile in August, and arrive on campus ready to make a positive impact on Proctor’s community!”
Athletes attending the Mount Hood camp echoed their coaches’ remarks in the comments below. A huge thank you to Jackson Musial for sharing photos from camp with us!
Kenzie ‘27
As an athlete who was at Mount Hood last year, it never fails to be an amazing experience. The coaching is always on point, and they do a great job giving constructive feedback while also encouraging and uplifting us. The team culture this year also took a huge step for the better. I was never once by myself on my phone with nothing to do. Whether me and my roommate were watching tv and talking together, or we were all outside playing volleyball and making s'mores, I always had something to do. While tuning, the music was always blasting and there was much fun to be had, and if there was no one out there my roommate would come hang out with me while I tune. Throughout the camp, confidence in my skiing returned with the help of such an uplifting community, and I can’t wait for the rest of the year!
Ridge ‘28
Throughout the trip I was able to experience the beauty of Mount Hood, while also bonding with my new classmates. It was awesome to see all of the Proctor Alpine group join together with an all encompassing love of skiing.
Ryan ‘27
My experience at NASC at Mount Hood is one that I will never forget. Furthering my knowledge of what line to take at what time, and how to perfect the stages of a turn. I feel like this camp helped me get better at both giant slalom and slalom while having an environment that was encouraging and supportive.
Hammy ‘28
As an incoming student of Proctor, I was both nervous and excited for this camp. I loved getting to know my new coaches and friends while doing the things that excite me the most. I learned the importance of weight transfer in the transition and having level shoulders in the apex of the turn.
Riley ‘26
I had so much fun in Mt Hood this year! Both the Slalom and GS training were excellent, the views were beautiful, and we did so many cool and unique activities separate from the skiing. As a new student it was not only an amazing opportunity to meet and spend time with my awesome new teammates and coaches but to also really start to feel Proctor’s uplifting community culture. I enjoyed every moment of the camp whether we were white water rafting, rock climbing, hiking, playing volleyball, jumping in the river, eating delicious meals, or hanging out by the campfire.
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