A Green Mountain Valley School racer finishes the competition Sunday at Sugarbush. Vermont Business Magazine photos.
Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Valley School (GMVS) today announced acomprehensive training partnership with the United States Ski and Snowboard Association(USSA) that designates GMVS as both a USSki Team Development Site, and as a USSki team High Performance Center. The USSki Team designations are the result of an ongoingUSSA initiative to develop a pipeline of elite skiing talent, while formalizing its partnershipprograms with leading academic and training institutions, of which GMVS is one.
“Partnerships around the country with outstanding academic and training facilities like GMVSare critical to the development of athletes,” said USSA President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “Ourpartnership with GMVS deepens an already strong relationship we have that empowers athletesand their trainers to live up to and exceed their potential. GMVS has developed an exceptionaltrack record when it comes to developing competitive athletic talent.”
The partnership recognizes the world-class caliber of the training and coaching resources atGMVS. As a U.S. Ski Team High Performance Training Center, GMVS will collaborate withUSSA to develop regional and future national team athletes for the U.S. Ski teams. As a U.S.Ski Team Development Site, GMVS will provide training space for U.S. Ski Team members,and space to local clubs for athlete development.
Fans, coaches and teammates watch the final skiers come down slalom course at Sugarbush in the girls competition between Vermont ski schools Sunday. Vermont Business Magazine photos.
“We are honored to be deepening our partnership with USSA,” said Steve Utter, Alpine ProgramDirector at GMVS. “This enhanced relationship enables us to provide unparalleled trainingand development opportunities for our student-athletes, USSA team members, and otherracers in the USSA pipeline.”
“What makes this designation important is that it cultivates an even stronger connection withUSSA, enabling GMVS and Sugarbush to tap into resources and relationships that can unlock anathlete’s potential,” said Sugarbush Resort President Win Smith. “It’s a terrific step forwardfor the school, the resort and most of all, the athletes.”
At the heart of its programs, and at the core of the designation, the $10M, 30,000 square footGMVS Racing Performance Center (RPC) is unparalleled in the U.S. It combines high-performanceathletic spaces with cutting edge ski tuning, physical training, comprehensive videoanalysis, physical therapy, and coaches’ offices in one central location. Training spaces incorporatea range of different features and finishes, each geared toward maximizing conditioningwhile providing resilient biomechanical support, durability, and flexibility of use. The RPC encompassesthe following components, all integrated to provide athletes with superior physical, psychological, nutritional and injury recovery programs:
1. Strength training, conditioning, functional movement spaces
2. Full size gym with cushioned flooring to prevent injury
3. Integrated physical therapy with 20’x15’ recovery pool
4. Full Wintersteiger tuning and waxing equipment
5. Student tuning room with downdraft tables
6. Student locker room
7. Video analysis room
8. Integrated coaches’ offices and meeting spaces
9. On-site sports psychologist integrated with the training regime
10. Integrated nutrition education program.
On the snow, GVMS’s diverse and experienced coaching staff provides constructive developmentand training guidance that enables athletes to excel. The school’s relationship with SugarbushResort provides exceptional on-snow training in the Kelly Brush Race Arena at Mt.Ellen. Sugarbush perennially provides early-seasonsnow makingwhich enables GMVS athletesto be on snow very early in the season, allowing the resort to often host the first races of theseason in New England. The Kelly Brush Race Arena provides high-quality, safe base facilities.
GMVS prides itself on combining top ski-race training with exceptional academics. Their visionis as follows: GMVS will be an exceptional school (grades 7-PG) that balances a world-class skiracing program with an outstanding academic program, designed to create an environmentthat encourages our students to pursue their full potential, passions, and personal excellence,while developing the fundamental character traits that will enable them to achieve life success.
“The U.S. Ski Team’s designation is a key component of our mission and what we strive to become,”Utter said. “We’re honored to be a committed part of their vision for training anddevelopment.”
Source: Fayston, VT (January 13, 2017) -Sugarbush.