USSA Halfpipe Team Heads to Timberline for Training

Press Release

• July 08 2009
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U.S. Snowboarding’s halfpipe athletes are working with the High Cascade Snowboard Camp in Timberline Resort’s 22-foot halfpipe as they kicked off a summer camp Tuesday in preparation for taking on the 2010 Olympic season.

“This camp is definitely a very important piece of our Olympic preparation.” U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Head Coach Mike Jankowski said. “Without our partnership with Timberline and High Cascade it would be impossible

to get quality riding time in a 22-foot pipe. Having them support U.S. Snowboarding and our goals makes us feel right at home here on Mt. Hood.”

Among the athletes headed to the Mt. Hood area are Olympic gold medalists Kelly Clark (Mt. Snow, VT) and Hannah Teter (Belmont, VT), Olympic silver medalist Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO), Grand Prix winners Steve Fisher (Breckenridge, CO) and Louie Vito (Sandy, UT), as well as the likes of Clair Bidez (Minturn, CO), Scotty Lago (Seabrook, NH), Ellery Hollingsworth (Stratton, VT) and Elena Hight (South Lake Tahoe, CA).

“This is definitely a good place to train. The High Cascade crew does a nice job with the facilities here. They cut the pipe not only for us, but also the other campers up here. They have a great attention to detail,” Fisher said. “I’m excited. I haven’t ridden since the beginning of April so I am pumped about being out here. It was a lot of fun so far and I hope the rest of camp is as fun as my first day.”

Fisher’s not the only one excited about being there. According to High Cascade Camp Director Preston Strout, he’s forgotten about everything else.

“We’ve been having so much fun snowboarding and getting the 22-foot pipe ready for the U.S. team out here that we forgot to write a press release. I’m glad somebody remembered,” Strout said.

With the camp underway, Jankowski is planning on providing the athletes with every opportunity possible to get in the best shape for the season ahead.

“We are hoping to get as much as we can out of this camp” Jankowski said. “The riders look forward to this time with their team and with their coaches and to working together. We want to make sure that the U.S. Snowboarding pro team and rookie team, as well as the other top U.S. riders are able to take advantage of this opportunity and really progress their riding. So that’s the focus.”

The key component Jankowski wants everyone to get used to are a pair of 22-foot walls that they need to feel at home in by February.

“The 22-foot halfpipe is key. One of the biggest things we can do is spend a lot of time riding well-shaped 22-foot halfpipes like the one here,” Jankowski said. “It’s the Olympic standard size for competition now and when it comes time for the Games our team is going to feel right at home riding the big pipes.”

The team remains at Timberline through the July 25, and by the time last runs are made Jankowski thinks the ball will be rolling for the athletes to reach their goals.

“This is when we’re really starting to get a stride and a rhythm going. We’re here together as a team with all of those pieces coming together to make more great things happen while we are at camp,” Jankowski said. “From there we get to New Zealand and keep moving forward and then next thing you know we’ll be in Colorado in December and competing in the Grand Prix for the Olympic team spots. After that, we are going full speed ahead to Vancouver.”