National Development Group Gets Extraordinary Opportunity

The National Development Group, NDG, camps are a USSS initiatives to help young skiers gain skills and advance. USSS designs these camps to bring talented young athletes together and offer unique learning opportunities. Alpine Director Patrick Riml and Development Director Chip Knight are pleased with the design and execution of the latest project in Mammoth, CA. The original concept of this year’s camp was the brainchild of former Head Men’s Coach Forest Carey, Head Men’s Technical Coach Ian Garner, together with Development Coach Graham Flinn. However, much of the work of executing these projects falls on the shoulder of a few. For the NDG portion of the Mammoth camp, that person was Flinn.

Decisions Made

This year the USST staff decided that the entire men’s team would train together. The objective was to create an opportunity for athletes and staff from all levels and disciplines to work shoulder to shoulder. The men’s team believed that combining efforts would make a unique team-building opportunity, and participants would have a chance to learn from each other. With the blessing of Riml and Knight, Flinn saw this camp as an opportunity to integrate the elite of the NDG group with the National Team.        

Almost certainly, there was a mix of excitement and trepidation when Flinn decided to introduce a limited number of NDG athletes into a National Team camp. These athletes are young, yet they would have to meet the expectations and rigor of a professional situation. It was a slam dunk on paper, but you know what they say about the best-laid plans. However. from all accounts, the project was a winner.

Voices from attendees

NDG Coach Kristina Revello offered, “Having the camp simultaneously alongside the entire men’s US Ski Team created rare learning opportunities. The NDG athletes integrated with the development team and made relationships with both the A, B, and C team members and staff.” Revello reports that it gave the young athletes a chance to interact with the best men. Revello witnessed relationships developed and people sharing information. According to Revello, “It was a combination of excellent planning by Flinn and organic interaction.” 

John Kerbaugh  YOB 2005

Kerbaugh started skiing at Cochran’s Ski Area and is currently a member of Vermont’s Mt. Mansfield Ski Club and Academy. Kerbaugh was the U18 Giant Slalom National Champion this year.

Kerbaugh says, “It was a cool camp because we joined with the US Ski Team. We skied next to and with the D team. Some of the time, we cooperated with the C team. One day, we skied SG with the C team and some of the B and A-team athletes. One of the coolest experiences in Mammoth was skiing with people like River Radamus and Luke Winters.” He adds, “I showed up a day late and free-skied around Mammoth before I started training in gates. That was a great experience.”

Kerbaugh speaks about the quality of the coaching staff. “Rev, Kristina Revello, was our NDG coach, and she worked closely with D-team coaches Graham Flinn and Nate Bryant of the US Ski Team. We also had Will Hadden from Vail and my club coach Taber Engelken. It was cool working with them, hearing their perspectives, understanding their focus for their skiers, and having them share their expertise with all of us.”

Revello points out that bringing club coaches into the NDG program adds to the quality of the camps and offers a chance to expand everyone’s exposure.

Hunter Salani YOB 2005

Salani is a member of Ski and Snowboard Club Vail. Salani had podium finishes in both the DH and SG at U18 nationals this year and earned an invitation to the NDG camp in Mammoth. 

While Salani agrees with the value of the experience on the hill, he realizes another unique benefit of the camp. Salani says, “I thought the best part of the camp was that we tuned next to all the US team technicians. I was lucky – the D-team technician was willing to help me. When I struggled with something, he would show me how he would do it. Graham Lonetto, the Swix rep, let us use his tuning equipment. It was cool seeing how they were tuning and what tools they used. I am not the best at tuning. I just started tuning my skis a year or two ago. They helped me understand how to do a better job. I got much better at tuning during the camp, which I thought was pretty cool. It was great to have people who know what they are doing help us tune our skis.” 

Late Afternoon Presentations Highly Valued

During the camp, every athlete shared a video presentation of their skiing while describing their current challenges and the solutions they were pursuing to improve. This self-examination would ignite a constructive conversation resulting in suggestions from their peers and the coaches. The observed outcome of the discussions was an advanced training focus. Staff and athletes agreed that the time spent during the presentations added significantly to the unique quality of the camp.

Kerbaugh discusses his experience with the presentations. “We presented a quick analysis of our skiing and compared it to a world cup skier. We explained this in front of a group of 20 or so. The group included some of the US Ski Team athletes and coaches. It was great to discuss my skiing, looking at it deeper and analyzing it more. I then got feedback from the coaches, and they provided information on the next steps I could take to improve. It was also great to hear presentations by River Radamus, Luke Winters, Sam Morris and DuPratt. It was cool.”

Salani contributes, “We’re young, trying to get on the US Ski Team, and being with the guys who are on the team was great. Hanging out with them was amazing. To have them there when we did our presentations was cool. After our presentations, we would hear from someone on the World Cup; skiers we respect. It was very valuable. At the presentation, they were watching and giving us feedback. I thought that was awesome. The coaches were excellent. We were paired up with different coaches every day, and they all had something valuable to add. The best thing I took away from the evening presentations was when Luke Winters said we each need to find what works best for us and not assume that what he does is the answer.”

Making New Relationships

Kerbaugh had his take on the best part of the camp: “I appreciated getting closer with some of the other boys my age. I was rooming with two other boys, Hunter Salani and Kai Subith. Kai is from Sun Valley, and Hunter is from Vail. They are not in my usual bubble. It was great to learn about what is similar and different in our experiences. I appreciated the opportunity to connect with new friends.

Other National Development Group attendees included

Trent Pennington YOB 2002, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail

Oliver Parazette YOB 2002, Green Mountain Valley School

Kai Subith YOB 2005, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation

Jeremy Nolting YOB 2005, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club

Finnigan Donley YOB 2005, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation

Sawyer Reed YOB 2005, Green Mountain Valley School.