A U.S. Ski Team Speed Center will be created at Copper Mountain Resort under a long-term partnership between the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association and Copper Mountain, it was announced Wednesday.
The early-season, on-snow alpine ski racing center will be designed to provide full-length downhill training by early November each season, according to the USSA.
The annual season will be managed by the U.S. Ski Team and Copper Mountain, and will last from Nov. 1 to Dec. 10.
The center will be designed to provide the only full-length downhill training available anywhere in the world during that time of year and will provide a continuation from summer training in Chile and New Zealand.
The infrastructure of the center will include a new automated snowmaking system; and safety, communications and timing equipment to create the downhill training.
“The U.S. Ski Team Speed Center at Copper will be a game changer for U.S. athletes,” said USSA president and CEO Bill Marolt. “It will provide unparalleled training for our elite athletes prior to the World Cup season and play an integral role in our strategic development plan for the next generation.”
Gary Rodgers, president of Copper Mountain Resort, said the long-term agreement enhances Copper Mountain’s role in early-season race training.
“Copper Mountain is a cornerstone in the long-term plan for preparing our elite teams for the World Cup season and in providing top-level training for our development pipeline,” said USSA executive vice president of athletics Luke Bodensteiner.
