Kids coming to Whistler for freestyle ski camps will have the chance to be coached by the best in the world this summer.
That's because Olympic gold medallist Alex Bilodeau is coming back to Whistler to coach at Momentum Ski Camps.
Camp owner John Smart, a former two-time Olympian himself, said he didn't have to convince Bilodeau, a former camper, at all.
"I asked him at the beginning of the season before he won gold if he wanted to coach this summer and he said 'yes,'" recalled Smart.
"After he won gold in such spectacular fashion I was a little concerned that his new demands would prevent him from coaching in the summer but, true to his word, as soon as things settled down he got back to me and confirmed he could coach session three."
Bilodeau, who first came to the camp to learn from the best coaches when he was just 11 years old, was not available for comment this week.
The young skier rose to fame at the 2010 Olympics after winning Canada's first gold medal of the Games at Cypress Mountain. With that win Bilodeau became a household name in Canada.
"Alex knows what it's like to be a camper at Momentum, so I think he is also very aware of the importance of his role coming back to inspire a new generation," said Smart.
He will be coaching session 3, which runs from July 2 to 10 on the Blackcomb Glacier.
The Momentum camps have been running for the past 19 years with a mandate of getting the best coaches in the world to teach up and coming talent. They are geared towards skiers and offer moguls, freeride (terrain park skiing) or the hybrid option.
Bilodeau's teammate, Vincent Marquis, who placed fourth at the Games, will also be sharing his expertise with the Momentum kids.
Freeride pro skiers like Sarah Burke, TJ Schiller, Colby West, Peter Olenick, Mike Riddle and Justin Dorey will also be coaching this summer.
"Our record and list of former campers who have gone on to become the new top skiers in the world is unmatched by any camp," said Smart. "The key to our, and to our campers' success, is the coaches don't just ride... they teach, motivate and inspire."
The camps begin June 18 with five sessions spanning until the end of July.
For more details on the camps go to www.momentumcamps.com.
