After a pause put in place by our local ski mountain, I’m really excited to get on snow with our athletes January 3rd! Even though our program and community had a major setback, I was so impressed with the outstanding support from the Freeride Program community. I received such positive notes saying, “hang in there” and “we will get through this” that I was truly inspired to plow forward. Our coaches immediately rallied and made instructional videos, edited them, and we posted every week we had scheduled training. Please see our Freeride Program Vimeo page if you didn’t catch all the instructional resources. We witnessed Freeride Mom’s skiing with Freeride Athletes and we heard them say, “I’m a Freeride Coach today – woohoo!!!” We wrapped up December with an awesome Avalanche Awareness Day at Snowking with the American Avalanche Institute.
Thank you for your verbal and positive support. Thank you for the constructive ideas about getting our athletes back on snow. You are an amazing community. Thank you!
Looking forward into 2021:
- January 3rd– All Freeride Program Teams have training. Please meet your coaches behind the Mangy Moose in the courtyard between Hotel Terra (8:30am sharp).
- All Competition and Progression Plus teams will resume with their Wednesday and Friday training.
- Email about extending our season training to make up for December coming soon!
- Freeride Program Hoodies are ordered! We’re hopeful that in two weeks we will have them for distribution!
- Jackson Hole Mountain Resort IFSA competition January 22-24, 2021. Registration opening soon (more to come via email).
Reminders:
- No Team room or lunch break (yes this is a bummer). We have eliminated non on-snow time from our practice schedule in hopes to keep our community healthy during the pandemic. Please come fueled up and hydrated and put some healthy snacks in the pocket (we train for 4-straight hours). All training sessions are highly focused.
- Double buff is mandatory. Per Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s policy, every snow-rider must have a face and nose covering. I’ve found success wearing my light weight facemask (the blue ones found everywhere) under my buff. Yes – that’s three layers of protection. No fogging and it felt pretty good!
Please read this month's Student-Athlete Support Program update. This information is relevant to all JHSC athletes: Click here.
Thank you all for your support and understanding as we try to navigate this training season as safely as possible. 2021 here we come, we are ready for more snow, more training, and longer days! I’m looking forward to a safe, fun, and productive training season.
Respectfully,
Andy Lex & Freeride Coaching Team
