Ski Racing - November 21, 2011

Of course, there were some top-to-bottom free runs in the Colorado sunshine,
as well. “Fun is a really important part of this,” says Smith. “I hate seeing kids that
go through this and don’t enjoy it and then they don’t ski anymore. If you can find
that fun aspect in this by making training a fun learning environment I think we can
keep kids in the sport forever.”
For the racers, the fun part was easy. “It’s pretty cool being around some really
good skiers from different places,“ said Vail’s Jack Keane. “It’s a good place to
meet new kids and learn new things.”
“I like skiing because you can never be perfect and you are always trying to do
better and you are always striving to be better at your sport — I like how it’s indi-
vidual,” said Spencer Smith from Stratton Mountain. “This camp is great because
everyone is so good and you can learn from them and have a good time and you
can all still be friends and competitive.”
Smith said he sees great benefits to the establishment of the Copper speed cen-
ter for future training at all levels of American racing. “To have a venue like this is
incredible for our country to be able to come and train speed,” he said. “The more
venues we have to train speed and break it down for the kids, it’s invaluable.”