Winter Term is underway! Update from Colorado

--Copper Mountain, Colorado

NYSEF athletes are at it again! The Winter Term program which debuted last season is again underway, allowing aspiring student-athletes the opportunity to maximize their on snow time while balancing a challenging academic schedule.

This year's Winter Term has begun in beautiful Summit County, Colorado, where NYSEF and Northwood Ski Team athletes have teamed up for a 2 week "Fundamentals Prep Camp" with the goal of gaining valuable early season on-snow "mileage" and experience through directed free-skiing and the development of technical skills through specific drills. Now into our second week, athletes have begun easing into GS and SL gate training while remaining focused on the fundamentals.

Ideal training surface. Day after day.

The weather and conditions couldn't be more optimal for early season training. There's been more terrain open here at our home base at Copper Mountain than most coaches can remember, and between the US Ski Team Speed Center training hill and the perfect pitches of the infamous Copperopolis, we've got plenty of terrain to keep all 41 NYSEF/Northwood School athletes busy. Take a look! 

From day one on, our expectations have been more than met.

U16 athlete Carson Foxcroft tearing it up during today's GS training on the Speed Track

Winter Term veteran Quin Taylor laying it over in today's GS training

U16 Coach David Smith has been keeping a steady foot on the gas pedal, making sure our athletes are getting in just the right amount of training and intensity they need... without overdoing it. Don't forget-- it's a long season!

Did we mention the scenery is really, really good?

U18 athlete Katherine Quinn is a newcomer to Winter Term, but she's already made some huge strides forward.

Last season was a big one for U16 Lily Silverstein and she's planning even bigger things for this season. Just take a look at her goal sheet.

U14 Hugh Dempsey has been firing on all cylinders this camp. It's going to be a great season for this guy!

Under the watchful eye of U14 Head Coach Jimbo Johnston, our youngest Winter Term athletes have received a thorough introduction to the next level of training. U14's seen here shredding some freshies at A-Basin

U14 Inez Burkard is fully committed to making some huge gains this season.

First-year U16 Hanna Petro charging during today's GS training session.

U14 Sarah Coombs enjoys Colorado, Earth Science, and skiing really... really fast.

U18 Womens Coach Mark 'Speedy' Archer has seen it all, at every level of the ski racing world. Here he is with the crew at A-Basin sharing some of his wisdom. 

We're a pretty laid back bunch, don't you think? The whole NYSEF/Northwood Skiing crew taking a brief rest from skiing some powder at A-Basin on December 1st.

We're looking forward to maximizing our final three training days here at Copper Mountain, and we've got our eyes fixed on a busy season ahead. One thing's for sure-- we'll be ready!

Stay tuned for updates, and see you on the hill.

--The NYSEF Winter Term team