The World Cup According to Grande: La Parva Tres
La Parva, Chile
After the 2 day break at the beach at Renaca in the Vina del Mar region, our Western Region group made our way back up the winding road to La Parva. At that point, we had been joined by Brad Saxe, the new Western Region Head Coach, replacing Jeff Pickering who will be moving on to new challenges with the US Ski Team Women’s Europa Cup group. It would have been tempting at that point for Jeff or “Pick” as he is known to just opt out of the leadership role for the region and have Brad take over in full. But doing so in the middle of the camp would risk continuity and the momentum we had built from the first 7 days on snow. So Pick took Brad into the fold as a co-leader of the camp and Brad began to grow into the role right away.
It became obvious very quickly that Brad has what it takes to lead the region to where it needs to be. He took the lead at the daily training space meetings and was willing to stand up to the usual bullying by national teams that can take place at these meetings. With the German and Slovenian speed groups at the hill after our break, it became obvious that the stress level would increase and the battle for space and proper terrain would become an issue as the snow got thinner. The coaches heading those groups are used to getting their way and pushing people around to get it. Brad and Jeff, as a team, got us what we needed at a very high level. The snow had been disappearing quickly and we were constantly looking at all the possibilities and making assessments of the quality of snow on all of the venues. We came up with a good plan and got everything we needed.
Luck is often the result of a combination of good planning and using cumulative experience to make decisions. Led by Brad and Pick, I think we were able to combine those two things to stay ahead of the dissipating snow-pack and also address the needs of the group. I have to say, that in the last 5 days on snow, we had some of the best training I have ever experienced without putting additional water into the snow. The base was solid, hard and grippy. But it was not “hero” snow. There were some spots that were a little slick and the athletes were made very aware of their ski tuning skills, or lack thereof.
As we left La Parva yesterday, the Russian Men’s team was arriving, led by Urban Planinsek who is the former Slovenian Head Coach. The Czech team was also there, as was the Canadian Europa Cup group. Dartmouth College behind the leadership of Peter Dodge and Chip Knight were also arriving. Add-in the two World Cup teams already present and I would think they would need to pool resources to meet their goals. And as we headed for Santiago I could not help but think about what a perfect trip we had: It was sunny almost every day. The snow was great the whole trip. We jumped on perfectly built jumps. We got 2 days on DH skis, 2 days free skiing, 7 SG sessions and 6 GS sessions in the 12 days we were on snow and the athletes put in a fantastic effort from beginning to end. I hope the guys arriving get just as lucky as we were.
Before I close this one, I would like to make mention of a few people who excelled one way or another in La Parva:
TOUGHEST: Clare Wise, Mission Ridge Ski Team. After a DH crash, a bent ski and major shin bang and high ankle sprain, Clare trained through the last 5 days with pain. But she persevered and learned a lot about aerodynamics and also about herself. Great job Clare!
BEST EFFORT: La Parva ski resort. It was an absolutely an enormous effort to get out every night to farm snow and fill in the thin spots on all of the training areas. It was not easy for them at all. And somehow through it all, they kept the snow consistent and firm.
BEST JUMP: Built by Jeff Pickering and a cat driver at La Parva. The first jump on the DH track is one of the best I’ve seen. Nice flight, good length, great trajectory, minimum height.
BEST FONDUE: La Marmita de Pericles restaurant. Fantastic.
BEST SKIER IN CAMP: Kyle Coxon, Mission Ridge Ski Team. From back flips to DH jumping to GS skiing, he was the best in the camp, hands down.
MOST UNFORTUNATE: Tyler Horton of Mt. Bachelor who had to go home after getting an infection on his shin which was apparently due to an ingrown hair at the top of his shell. Not a good feeling at all. I hope you are better soon, Tyler.
In addition to that I would like to thank the following:
* Rowmark Women’s Coach Kim Stephens for asking Pick why he was still in his boots at dinner. He said, “I was building a jump on the DH track.” And Kimmie replied, “Did you use a cat?” No, Kim, he built it by hand.
* Chile, for providing the most amazing sunsets I have ever seen.
* La Marmita for providing good food every day and putting up with 50 or so people twice a day between the two camps of “gringos” eating there.
* La Parva grooming crew as mentioned above.
* All the lifties and patrol for getting out there early with us every day.
* Dave “Doc” Kerwynn for demonstrating the world famous dance-craze, “The Ker-Man.”
* And most of all, the Western Region athletes for their effort and focus throughout the camp.
Western Region Camp roster:
WOMEN
Courtney Altringer, Schweitzer Alpine Racing School
Tara Hines, Mission Ridge Ski Team
Paige Minana, Schweitzer Alpine Racing School
Jordan Schweitzer, Mt. Bachelor SEF
Clare Wise, Mission Ridge Ski Team
MEN
Ritch Carr, White Pass Ski Club
Kyle Coxon, Mission Ridge Ski Team
Austin Dean, HEAT
Tyler Horton, Mt Bachelor SEF
Alec Jones, Mission Ridge Ski Team
Averill Rennie, White Pass Ski Club
COACHES
Jeff Pickering, USST Women’s Europa Cup Coach
Brad Saxe, Head Coach Western Region
Greg Needell, Mission Ridge Ski Team
Pat Robson, Mt. Bachelor SEF
Thanks again to everyone. It could not have been better!
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Greg “Grande” Needell grew up ski racing at Stratton Mountain,
Vermont. After graduating from SMS he skied for NCAA Division 1 St.
Lawrence University in Canton, NY where he was co-captain in 1986. Greg
returned to SMS to coach there for five years serving as the Head
Women’s Coach as well as the Head J2 Men’s Coach. He then moved to
Mission Ridge in Wenatchee, Washington in 1992 to become the Program
Director and Head Coach of the Mission Ridge Ski Club. In 1997, Greg
became the Head Coach at Mammoth Mountain, California.
In 2002 Needell was asked to join the U.S. Ski Team staff as a World
Cup SL and GS coach. From 2002 to 2008 Needell helped lead the U.S. Ski
Team Men to 43 wins, 105 podiums and 264 top ten finishes. Now at the
helm of Alpine Race Consulting, Needell offers his knowledge and
experience to clubs nationwide.
About the Author: Pete Rugh
