The Lowell Whiteman School

Alpine

The largest program in the SSWSC, the Alpine group makes up close to 400 skiers.  Split into development and competition groups, the Alpine staff works hard to help young athletes get their start in the  sport and older athletes reach the elite levels of racing. Led by Deb Armstrong, two-time Olympian (1984 & 1988) and Olympic Gold Medalist, the Alpine squad has been posting some top results and attracting junior racers from all over the US to train with the SSWSC.

The Lowell Whiteman School and SSWSC have produced many notable alpine competitors including Caroline Lalive ‘97 (competed in two Olympic games and reached six world-cup podiums since her US Ski Team debut in 1996) and recently Anna Marno, ‘10, (Ski Team member in training for the 2014 Olympmics).

The Austria Project, newly introduced in ‘09 is an example of how LWS and SSWSC are working hard to support Alpine racers.  Alpine Coach Rob Worrell and Lowell Whiteman School put together a month-long, pre-season training program in October to get alpine racers on snow earlier in the ski season in Austria.   Their studies, their classes, a teacher, and their coaches all went on the road with them.   Students said the program was a great success both in the academic and racing arenas.  Ski Racing Magazine also found it unique and news-worthy.

Anna Marno was frank in a recent LWS Experience interview about her experience at Whiteman as an apline racer.“  Obviously, it would be great just to be able to race, but that’s not realistic.” Not only does Anna Marno want to do well in high school, she wants to go to a good college, no matter what happens to her racing career.  In 2008, Anna qualified for US Nationals and made the US Ski Team at age 17. She had begun competing in NorAm races regionally and in Canada as well.  Her calendar was more than full.  That put her in the classroom just one day in December. “I once had to turn in a paper in August (from the previous school year),  but I got it done.” Athletes get lots of support from LWS teachers.

“LWS is giving me the tools to prepare for college and beyond,” said Maria Hillenbrand ‘11.

Maria especially likes the special program LWS offers competitive athletes allowing them to drop two classes during the competitive season and make them up in the spring.  Alpiners are the busiest competitors as they travel to more races, and they have more training opportunities and camps in the US and abroad.  Ski Coordinator and teacher, Gina Wither, helps coordinate with coaches and parents enabling them to proctor study halls and exams when Alpiners are on the road. Teachers back home support with video-taped lectures on a server available to students, Google email, pdfs, pre-packaged homework packets, and Google Docs.

“Often we load the chairlift before sunrise and can be pulling b-net off the race course in the dark at 6 p.m.  Then homework,” Shane McLean ‘10 explains.  She competed in 43 races last year and now that she’s added NorAms to her schedule, she says it’s about priorities.  “You have to recognize your priorities and that the reason you go to Whiteman is for a good education…you know that you may have to work harder than most high school kids.  It helps to travel with other Whiteman kids because they are in the same boat; we motivate each other.”

More about SSWSC Alpine coaches

More about theLWS/SSWSC Austria Ski & Study Abroad Program

University of Colorado Ski Racing opportunities - after graduation