Steamboat and Lowell Whiteman accepting applicants for residency program in Austria

The Lowell Whiteman School and the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club are teaming to launch a fall residency program in Ptasch, Austria, Oct. 1-29.

Seven eighth-grade through senior age athletes will be accepted for the month-long trip. The program is now accepting applicants, who must go through a selective acceptance process. Six preselected postgraduate athletes will also joint the program.

“We are taking our teachers to the training site where we will be primarily on the Stubai Glacier, but may also use Pitztal, Hintertux, Solden and Kaunertal,” said SSWSC coach Rob Worrell. “Lowell Whiteman School is supporting the academic component and SSWSC is supplying the coaching.”

Worrell, a former USSA Rocky/Central regional development coach; Peter Anderson, Gina Wither and Scott Wither will be the on-site coaches. 

Project organizers feel that the trip will provide an “extensive training block, close to the competition season. The large training volume allows for strong habits/fundamentals in technique and tactic to be formed.”

Another goal of the residency is to expose young athletes to “the world’s best skiers, the European “sense of urgency”, snow surface and terrain.”

Participants will spend five days on snow, followed by two rest days each week. Students will be housed in the U.S. Ski Team Apartments in Ptasch, Austria.

Specific topics to be covered include: ankle flexion through transition, strong tactical decision making, turn shape and turn placement.

All interested athletes must turn in their applications by June 30. For more information contact Rob Worrell at rworrell@sswsc.org or call 970-879-0695 ex:118.   

The Lowell Whiteman School and the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club are teaming to launch a fall residency program in Ptasch, Austria, Oct. 1-29.

Seven eighth-grade through senior age athletes will be accepted for the month-long trip. The program is now accepting applicants, who must go through a selective acceptance process. Six preselected postgraduate athletes will also joint the program.

“We are taking our teachers to the training site where we will be primarily on the Stubai Glacier, but may also use Pitztal, Hintertux, Solden and Kaunertal,” said SSWSC coach Rob Worrell. “Lowell Whiteman School is supporting the academic component and SSWSC is supplying the coaching.”

Worrell, a former USSA Rocky/Central regional development coach; Peter Anderson, Gina Wither and Scott Wither will be the on-site coaches. 

Project organizers feel that the trip will provide an “extensive training block, close to the competition season. The large training volume allows for strong habits/fundamentals in technique and tactic to be formed.”

Another goal of the residency is to expose young athletes to “the world’s best skiers, the European “sense of urgency”, snow surface and terrain.”

Participants will spend five days on snow, followed by two rest days each week. Students will be housed in the U.S. Ski Team Apartments in Ptasch, Austria.

Specific topics to be covered include: ankle flexion through transition, strong tactical decision making, turn shape and turn placement.

All interested athletes must turn in their applications by June 30. For more information contact Rob Worrell at rworrell@sswsc.org or call 970-879-0695 ex:118.