Last week the K2 team went to Tignes, France for a two-week session. The FIS racers headed to Hintertux, Austria, where they will have the opportunity to watch the legendary Austrian skiers in training.
Every year a select group of skiers leaves our home turf to gain international experience and sharpen skills for the upcoming season. Last year the FIS team went to New Zealand.
This year Jamie Finlayson, Aaron Civitarese, Kayla Benbow, Kendall Benbow, Anastasia Skryabina, Charlotte Whitney, Rachel Walker, Chris Colpitts and Trevor Conroy will accompany coaches Jordan Williams and Igor Dostal to Austria.
At Hintertux, which is at an altitude of over 3,300 metres, the athletes will be able to enjoy winter conditions, right down to the minus 10 degree weather and fresh snow.
"One of the great advantages of Hintertux is the fact that every World Cup team will be training there before the opening races at neighbouring Soelden (Austria) on the 26 th and 27 th ," said Williams, the WMSC head coach. "While this can make things a little more crowded and hectic, Igor has excellent contacts with the piston chef – director of mountain operations – and he will ensure we are taken care of."
The goal of the camp isn’t to teach the skiers anything new, but to help them refine what they worked on last season and during on-snow training this spring and summer. "On an individual level there may be some basic skill work, but for the most part we are working towards racing. Basics, such as movement, balance, position on the ski have been covered and it is time to move forward and turn those skills into speed."
Hinterux also boasts a full-length speed training course, and the skiers will be working on Super G and Downhill racing skills in preparation for the beginning of the Nor Am season in late November.
