Author’s note: The good news in this conversation about cost — and there always is some — many of our country’s best ski racers are still finding a way to mature in this sport without stratospheric spending. They’ve made it with talent, hard work, creativity and an extraordinarily engaged and supportive ski community. We’ve talked to many of them and their parents, to learn how they managed to follow their dreams without bankrupting their futures. Their stories are all different, but they share some common themes in what helped them along their journeys, which include:

These athletes and parents shared their stories in the hopes that it will help young ski racers and their families see beyond the obstacles to the possibilities. Ski Racing Media is pleased to present a series within a series, if you will, “Breaking through without breaking the bank.”

AJ Hurt: the natural

Steve and Dana Hurt knew nothing about ski racing when they put their kids, Brett and AJ, in Mighty Mites at Squaw Valley. Because Steve was a patroller at Squaw, the program fees were half price, and they rented the kids’ gear seasonally at Daves Ski Shop until they moved into hand-me-downs from other racers. AJ didn’t have two pairs of skis until Herb Manning at Granite Chief, the local ski shop, sponsored her through their athlete program.

By the time AJ was in third grade, she was already hopping in with another family two days per week to ski half-days at Squaw, never training but freeskiing, fast, all over the mountain. That is, when she wasn’t Nordic skiing, which she also hitched a ride for two days a week after school. “As long as I kept up my grades, I could do it,” says AJ. This was in the days before online classes and every kid having a computer, so it helped that Dana, a 5th grade teacher, could keep an eye on things and bring home schoolwork if necessary.

When AJ and Brett started traveling to Far West races, Steve contacted a fellow patroller with a ski racing kid at Mammoth, and the families started a housing exchange for races. They also teamed up with other families to share hotel rooms when possible.

Squaw is a place where Olympians are a dime a dozen, in large part because a go-for-broke love of big-mountain skiing — embraced and modeled by coaches — is the price of admission. For AJ, the iconic Squaw Olympian was free-spirited Julia Mancuso who made anything, anytime for anyone seem possible. Coaches Bill and Jim Hudson, while at Sugar Bowl and later at Squaw recognized AJ’s talent and competitive drive. Both made sure AJ had affordable off-season training opportunities along the way. When Keely Cashman moved to Squaw, AJ, who is a year younger, had all the competition she needed. “They are woven from the same cloth,” says Steve. “Keely and AJ had the ‘ want to beat you,’ mentality then became friends.” Keely’s father, John, became AJ’s trusted coach and the families became close friends.

When AJ got to North Tahoe High School, parents had already blazed the path for local athletes by creating North Tahoe High School Ski Academy. For a kid who wanted as “normal” a high school experience as possible, including fall and spring sports, and a low-pressure, under-the-radar environment, “the way it worked was amazing for AJ,” says Dana. The hybrid model for independent study and in-person classes, along with the effort teachers made, accommodated even AJ’s toughest AP courses. 

Keely and John both moved on to the USST NTG, as coach and athlete respectively, and the next year, at age 14, AJ followed. The Cashman’s eased the transition to the NTG, but the cost — while far less than paying for that level of travel and training a la carte — was nonetheless a big price tag. AJ started her own gofundme campaign (hesitantly at first), and was able to find scholarships through the Lake Tahoe Ski Club Foundation. Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows Foundation, Far West Skiing, Far West Masters, and, most generously, the T2 Foundation.

Being on the NTG also required AJ to spend the summer at the Center of Excellence starting at age 15. Tiger and Kristin Shaw gave her a bed and a family, which put AJ and her parents at ease. “They had dinner with her every night,” says Dana. “They were lovely.” After two years on the NTG, AJ moved to the C team and full-funding, something for which Steve also credits Shaw. “It is a massive success on his part with his people to rally this fundraising. It removes such a burden on these parents.” 

Beyond the money, there is the opportunity cost of ski racing success, all the things a kid must sacrifice. There, too, AJ found a way to realize her vision of success. AJ competed in fall soccer and spring track through high school. In her senior year, USST coach Magnus Anderson encouraged her to miss a few days of her training camp to attend regionals for track. He also supported her in starting college at Dartmouth last spring during COVID, and being in person on campus for her “sophomore summer” this year. 

AJ started the 2020-21 World Cup season while doing chemistry and physics towards her engineering major, and will have a solo indoor camp with Anderson this summer to stay on track.  

Steve’s advice to parents: “Keep it fun, and don’t worry about buying everything. Really, if you prove you are driven, people will help make it happen.”

Stay tuned for more stories about “Breaking through without breaking the bank.” Have some thoughts on cost? Send a letter to the editor. If it’s good, we’ll publish it.