U.S. alpiners target exclusive training at Keystone

By Published On: November 2nd, 2007Comments Off on U.S. alpiners target exclusive training at Keystone

Colorado’s Keystone Resort will provide exclusive training for the U.S. Ski Team beginning Nov. 3. The team returns to Keystone for the second straight year to make final preparations before the alpine ski racing season is fully under way. The team’s top stars will have exclusive access to some of the best training in the world on Keystone’s Star Fire trail on North Peak as well as Spring Dipper on Dercum Mountain.   

KEYSTONE, Colorado — Colorado’s Keystone Resort will provide exclusive training for the U.S. Ski Team beginning Nov. 3. The team returns to Keystone for the second straight year to make final preparations before the alpine ski racing season is fully under way. The team’s top stars will have exclusive access to some of the best training in the world on Keystone’s Star Fire trail on North Peak as well as Spring Dipper on Dercum Mountain.    
    “Keystone again is stepping up to help support our training at all levels by allowing us exclusive access and to control the snow environment specific to our training,” said U.S. Alpine Director Jesse Hunt. “Last year, we had great training at Keystone and our athletes had a strong season. We look to build upon that success.”
    Training at Keystone will include athletes from the development squads on up to the World Cup level. Among the stars will be Olympic gold medalist Julia Mancuso, two-time World Championships silver medalist Lindsey Vonn, World Cup downhill winner Steven Nyman and U.S. downhill champions Marco Sullivan and Kaylin Richardson. The World Cup squads are expected back on snow the end of the first full week of November.


    Keystone is set to open to the public on Nov. 2, a week earlier than expected thanks to a series of October snowstorms that have delivered more than two feet of snow mid-mountain as well as cold temperatures for snowmaking.
    “Keystone has a longstanding commitment to excellence and so does the U.S. Ski Team,” said Doug Lovell, Keystone’s director of mountain operations. “By partnering with the U.S. Ski Team for a second consecutive year, we’re offering the best skiers in the world the best early season training conditions and situation with our exceptional snowmaking and slope grooming. It’s a win-win situation and we’re working diligently to provide these top athletes with the right environment and conditions to be the best in the world.”
    A key component for the U.S. Ski Team is greater control over snowmaking dedicated to competition training. Hunt and Lovell said the partnership between the team and Keystone ensures snowmaking dedicated to training runs in what always is a very busy time for resorts as they prepare for the upcoming winter. Colorado resorts have long factored heavily into U.S. early season training and competition due to the historical early season snow and the consistent ability to make snow for training in the United States.
    The alpine World Cup stops at Beaver Creek Resort with the Charles Schwab Birds of Prey men’s races Nov. 29-Dec. 2, and the women’s Audi Aspen Winternational World Cup the following weekend, Dec. 7-9. The Chevrolet U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix tour kicks off Dec. 14-16 at Breckenridge. In addition, the Super Series Alpine NorAm races also will be in Colorado with competitions Nov. 26-29 for the men at Keystone and Nov. 28-Dec. 1 for the women at Winter Park.

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About the Author: Pete Rugh