On Friday, March 18, I was just sick to my stomach thanks to the Sun Valley Co. and the Sun Valley Ski School. Through the masters race clinic, I was given the opportunity to train on the ski-cross course on Dollar Mountain, and it was completely and outrageously fun and exciting. I ended up so hopped up on adrenaline that I felt nauseous for most of the day—not bad for an over-40-year-old on a weekday morning.
With the Ski School coaching staff, participants spent the three-hour training session breaking down the track section by section, learning how to safely maneuver each feature, allowing for a safe running of the entire course. Safety being the primary concern did not impede the flow of groups or dampen enthusiasm. The coaches' enthusiasm was contagious. Everyone was all fired up!
After my training, I stayed to watch the kids' afternoon groups, which included racers, freestylers and non-ski-teamers. I was planning on just watching for a bit but ended up staying for the entire session. It was perhaps even more fun than running the course myself. They, too, practiced section by section, and by the end of the afternoon many of them were running it like pros, nailing double jumps on the woop-dee-doos!
What a fantastic opportunity for our skiing community—from 6-year-olds through 70-year-olds—to play and learn. I was happy to hear that they are repeating it this coming Saturday. Here's to hoping that Sun Valley Co. is able to build, maintain and manage a ski/board-cross course every season from now on. Bring in the competitions, showcase our facilities and meet the potential of Sun Valley as a mountain for every skier and boarder.
Kirstin Kozlowski
Hailey
