Can end of season burnout be avoided? We've collaborated with our SYNC Junior Team partner, The Feed, to explore how improving your nutrition can impact your performance. We chatted with The Feed's Head Sports Nutrition Coach, Daniel Kramer, sharing invaluable insights on fueling for peak performance late in the season.
]]>Twelve years after the University of Nevada Reno eliminated its NCAA skiing program, the school announced its return to the RMISA circuit. Now in its second year back, we sat down with freshman and NCAA SYNC team athlete Ryan Herhusky after a day of training to discuss what the team's reinstatement means, its goals, and the personal objectives he aims to achieve. Watch the full YouTube video here.
]]>Join us for an inside look into SYNC NCAA Athlete and Dartmouth College student-athlete Samantha (Sammi) Trudeau as we joined her for a day of training. Sammi tells us what it’s like to balance a rigorous school and training schedule as well as the competitiveness of an NCAA ski team. Watch the full YouTube video here.
]]>We asked SYNC Team Athletes if they have any tips for surviving the sometimes grueling days and weeks of early season training. Here is what they had to say.
]]>The SYNC Junior Team is now powered by SHRED, Mountain Flow Eco-Wax, The Feed, and Dr. Jim Taylor for the 2023/2024 season. To ensure our athletes have everything they need to perform at their best, we created partnerships that keep their heads protected, skis fast, bodies nurtured, and minds focused.
]]>We asked former SYNC Team Athletes and current NCAA SYNC Team members 5 things they learned from their experience in college, and collectively they highlighted Teamwork, Being a Role Model, Hard Work, Lifelong Connections, and Perseverance. Read the blog to hear more from these athletes.
]]>We are excited to announce the inaugural 2023/2024 SYNC Team Canada! This inaugural team features ten top-level athletes representing clubs from across the country. We can't wait to watch this exciting group of athletes reach for the top of the podium all season long!
]]>SYNC Performance has reached a remarkable milestone – our 10-year anniversary. As we stand at this pivotal point in our journey, let's take a moment to reflect on the incredible ride we've had over the past decade.
]]>You can have the sharpest edges and a perfect line, but if you don't have the endurance, you won't be able to optimize your performance. In this week's final episode, Sawyer Reed demonstrates exercises that are designed to help you build endurance so you can prepare for when the race gets tough.
For this exercise you will need a small trampoline.
Get onto the trampoline and into a tuck position. Set a timer for 30 seconds and push down into the trampoline while keeping your feet connected to its surface as it rebounds up. Continue to push up and down and hold that tuck position until the end of the set.
For this exercise you will need an open area to jump.
Set a timer for 30 seconds and jump from side to side. Be sure to stick each landing before continuing to the next side.
For this exercise, grab a BOSU ball.
Stand on the BOSU ball in a tuck position and set a timer for 30 seconds. Instead of trying to max out reps, the objective here is to move at a slow, consistent pace.
Repeating all three of these exercises for 30 seconds each will help your race course endurance. However, if you really want to push yourself, work up to 45 or 60 seconds for each routine.
*All how-to information was provided by Martin Guyer and Momentum Movement
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When it comes to stability in the gates, the focus tends to be on the outside ski, but the inside half is equally as important. A strong inside half means good interior core stability and the ability to keep your upper body level. This translates to better control and transitional movements on snow.
For this exercise you will need a small box to step up on.
Start with one leg on the small box and lower the other foot to the ground which will change your hip angle. It is a small movement but can improve your single leg balance which will help you keep connection with the outside ski.
This exercise helps with your hip mobility and stability. Do 3 sets of 10 Single Legs Hip Hikes each side.
For this exercise you will need a cable or band and a small box.
Have the cable or band anchored low and place one leg up on a box, then pull the band or cable up and across your body.
This exercise is great for strengthening your hips, trunk, and core as well as your chest and shoulders. Do 3 sets of 10 Low To High Cable Pulls each side.
For this exercise you will need a mat.
Start off by lying on your side and resting on your elbow with a 90 degree bend in your knees. Roll up into a plank and lift your upper leg up and down.
This will target your side core and glutes while strengthening your trunk stability. For more difficulty you can touch your knee to your elbow. Do 3 sets of 10 Side Plank Clamshells each side.
Super set each exercise to help you strengthen your inside half.
*All how-to information was provided by Martin Guyer and Momentum Movement
]]>VAIL, Colo.—August 1st, 2023—SYNC Performance, provider of technical apparel, protective ski race equipment, and travel bags based in Vail, Colo, announces today the SYNC NCAA Team for the 2023/24 season.
Today we are excited to announce the 23/24 SYNC NCAA Team! Featuring a talented group of student athletes representing schools across the RMISA and EISA circuits. We are incredibly excited to introduce the six athletes that will be representing SYNC in NCAA races across the country all winter long.
This year's SYNC NCAA Team features athletes whose names you'll be hearing a lot this season. Get to know each of our new athletes below and find out what some of their goals are for the upcoming winter.
I'm 22 years old from Boothbay, Maine and I ski for Colby College. My goals for this season are to be an All American and place top 10 overall in the NorAm circuit. I have always loved the SYNC brand. Seeing such a high level and elite group of athletes on SYNC from a young age inspired and motivated me. I have used SYNC products for many years and am stoked to promote and work with a brand that I have had the opportunity to test and compete in countless times!
A strong start can shave hundredths of a second off your time, and in a tight race that can be the difference between scoring a win or landing outside the top ten. That's why this week Sawyer has three more exercises focusing on upper body and core strength to help you gain power out of the start gate.
For this exercise you will need a pull-up bar.
Grab the pull-up bar in an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder width. Engage your shoulders and feel the lats pulling down and in as you go up.
This exercise targets everything from your upper and middle back, to your biceps, triceps, shoulders and chest.
To make this exercise easier, you can also use a box to help you start at the top, and slowly lower for 3 sets of 5.
For this exercise, setup cables or bands at waist height.
With a soft bend in your elbow, begin with your hands slightly behind your hips and then bring them out in front of you and up, with the movement finishing at chest height.
This exercise targets your upper back, chest, triceps, and rear shoulders. Do 3 sets of 10 Wolverines.
For this exercise you will need one dumbbell or kettlebell.
Start out by laying on your back on a bench or on the floor. Pull the weight over from behind your head to around your thigh.
Keep control of the movement in both directions and limit the low back arch. This exercise will target your upper body but also incorporate your core.
Do 3 sets of 10 Dumbbell Pullovers.
Super set each exercise to improve your start this winter.
*All how-to information was provided by Martin Guyer and Momentum Movement
]]>Meet the new 2023/24 SYNC Junior Team, the 2023/24 roster features twelve top-level athletes representing clubs from across the country.
]]>VAIL, Colo.—July 21st, 2023—SYNC Performance, provider of technical apparel, protective ski race equipment, and travel bags based in Vail, Colo, announces today the SYNC Junior Team for the 2023/24 season.
Today we are very excited to announce the new 2023/24 SYNC Junior Team. With a few returning members and a pack of fresh faces we can't wait to help this exciting group of athletes reach for the top of the podium all season long. The new roster features twelve top-level athletes representing clubs from across the country.
This year's SYNC Team features athletes whose names you'll be hearing a lot this season. Get to know each of our new athletes below and find out what they are looking forward to in the upcoming winter.
I ski for Ski and Snowboard Club Vail and I am 18 years old going into my fourth year of FIS. I'm in the middle of a big dryland phase right now before summer skiing starts. Next season I'm going in with the mentality of trying to be the fastest at every race and am looking forward to where those results can take me. I'm ecstatic to be a member of the 2023 sync team because I'm looking forward to being a part of a fast group of skiers and having familiar faces at every race.
I'm 17 years old from Alberta (Spruce Grove). After two successful seasons in U16, I applied and got into Burke Mountain Academy. I'm thrilled with my decision to start my FIS career in the US. Next season, my goals are to reach sub 30s in both technical disciplines for a better start position in NorAms. Ultimately, I aim to be competitive on the NorAm circuit and get opportunities with the Canadian National Team. I am really looking forward to being on the SYNC Junior Team because it will help me connect with other aspiring athletes in North America. I love competition and am really excited to expand my ski racing connections with a group of talented and focused athletes.
In ski racing things go wrong more often than they go right... That's why this week Sawyer Reed is here to help you with three exercises that will bail you out of trouble. From a late line to an off-balance hairpin entry these movements might be the difference between a DNF and a podium finish!
For this exercise you will need a medicine ball, 10-14 pounds.
Hold the medicine ball in your hands and with a lateral hop from side to side, stick and land on one foot. Moving at a consistent rate toss the medicine ball against the wall in transition.
It is important to keep the effort and tempo high. This will help your hip and core stability, along with your rotational power.
Do 3 sets of 10 Lateral Hop Medicine Ball Throws on each side.
For this exercise you will need 4 small hurdles.
For Corridor Jumps, set up the hurdles in a corridor with enough space to jump in between them. Start off by jumping off of two feet and landing on one, immediately cutting over to the next hurdle in line. Link these jumps together and repeat.
Once you have the technique down try and increase the tempo. This exercise is great for targeting your explosive power, acceleration and change of direction.
Do 3 sets of 4 Corridor Jumps.
For this exercise you will need an open area to perform the sprints.
Start off by squaring your body up, then you will cross over lateral for one step, repeat in the opposite direction, and then pivot to sprint out of it.
This exercise helps with speed development as well as your explosive and reactive power.
Do 3 sets of 10 Step Over Sprints each side.
For a harder challenge, superset all these exercise to help bail you out of trouble.
*All how-to information was provided by Martin Guyer and Momentum Movement
]]>As every ski racing family knows, just because it’s summer doesn’t mean the skiing stops. As athletes head to glaciers, indoor ski areas, or down south for some on-snow training, the biggest challenge is packing all that gear efficiently. I have some tips and tricks for mastering the art of summer ski travel packing.
But why should you listen to me? Well, let me introduce myself. I’m Rachael, a retired D1 skier with 18 years of ski racing experience and 11 of those years traveling in the summer. I have traveled to New Zealand, Chile, Austria, Mt. Hood, and Whistler numerous times for summer ski training. Packing for a summer ski trip was always tricky until I figured out how to pack effectively and efficiently.
Frequent flyers know the struggle of having their luggage lost. As a skier, losing your luggage can impact your whole trip. The best way to avoid not being able to ski on your summer trip is to carry on the skiing essentials. Here is a list of what to pack in your carry-on:
You might not think this can fit in your carry-on but I am going to show you how it can.
First up, packing your speed suit. Instead of just shoving it into your bag without a care in the world, folding and placing your suit in a protective bag saves space and prevents it from getting damaged.
Next, pack your training shorts. I chose training shorts over pants for two reasons, in most instances, places you travel to are warm (Mt. Hood, Whistler, Europe, etc.) and training shorts don’t impact your speed or mobility in courses.
Now onto a jacket. It is important to understand the weather of where you are traveling to. For instance, if you are staying in the Northern Hemisphere and skiing at a glacier, you most likely want something light and waterproof/water-resistant. Pack a rain shell or lightly insulated water/resistant layer into your carry-on so you don't end up soaking wet. If you are traveling to the Southern Hemisphere chances are the weather is going to be a lot colder and you’re going to want something a little more insulated but make sure it's not too bulky so it doesn't take up a lot of space in your carry-on.
While some athletes might have two options for a helmet (SL or GS), I recommend packing a GS helmet into your carry-on. The reasons being that SL helmets are not as safe for high speed training/races and they tend to have chin bars that can be difficult to pack into a carry-on. So I always recommend packing your GS helmet into your carry-on.
Gloves and goggles are next on the list. Pack a pair of gloves that will offer protection, broken hands are no fun, just ask the plate and 7 screws that are in my hand. For goggles, if you don’t have space to pack extra lenses in your carry-on be sure to have a lens that works in low light. Nothing worse than skiing in flat light and being scared because you have the wrong lens in. To save on space, be sure to pack both your gloves and goggles into your helmet.
If space allows, always pack your shin/arm guards. You don’t want to return from your ski trip and have people thinking you were in a street fight. If you have to choose between the two, pack your shin guards.
It’s always a good idea to bring a pair of ski socks and long underwear so you aren’t forced to ski in whatever you wore to the airport. Ankle socks are not ideal to ski in.
As for miscellaneous items, these might include, a neckie, cut resistant calf sleeves, and a water bottle.
Lastly, attach your booster straps together so they can easily sling over the top of your bag. Once you have everything laid out and folded nicely, it’s time to pack your bag!
Probably the most difficult part about traveling with skis is keeping your ski bag under an airplane's nearly impossible weight limit of 50 pounds. Any ounce over 50 pounds and you might be paying exorbitant fees. Through all my years of ski travel, I figured out the perfect packing technique to keep my ski bags under 50 pounds.
Pack your GS skis together.
Pack your SL skis and poles together.
Two pairs of GS skis weigh just about 45 pounds and once you add a ski bag it comes out to be right around 49 or 50 pounds exactly. Make sure you don't pack anything else in the bag with your GS skis. Also, a good trick I learned to have skis fit perfectly together in a bag is to have the tips and tails of each pair of skis opposite. When the skis are facing different directions, the bindings are able to fit together like a puzzle piece.
Since your SL skis weigh far less than your GS, you can pack both pairs of SL and GS poles in with the skis and still be under 50 pounds. Be sure to weigh your bags at home by stepping onto a scale, getting your body weight, and then stepping onto the scale while holding your bag and subtracting the difference. Knowing if your bags are under 50 pounds before arriving at the airport is important that way you don't have to take off bindings on the airport floor... and yes, that's happened to me before.
As a chronic over-packer, I understand how hard it is to not pack everything in your closet. To avoid packing way too much be sure to understand what you need for the trip and what you don't. If you are going somewhere just to ski and occasionally work out, you may only need one nice outfit for dinners but a bunch of ski and workout clothes.
It's also smart to figure out if where you are staying offers a laundry service. If they do, you can bring far less clothing and wash it halfway through your trip so you don't end up smelling by the end. Plus packing only the essential clothing will allow space for tuning equipment, which isn't light. This can also help with keeping those suitcases under 50 pounds.
If you have made it this far into the blog I hope these tips and tricks were helpful for your upcoming summer ski travel! Remember, bring the essentials in your carry-on, keep your ski bags under 50 pounds, and don't overpack.
This week former SYNC Team Athlete Sawyer Reed breaks down three agility exercises to help you increase your explosiveness and speed in the slalom course. Sawyer also provides a recommended superset that will ensure your feet are moving all the way to the finish line next season.
For Lateral Hurdle Jumps, all you need is a small hurdle that you can easily jump over.
For this exercise you will jump over the hurdle three times landing on both feet until the last jump where you will land on your outside foot. Repeat this process for 30 seconds.
This exercise helps with reactive power, lower leg strength, and also challenges the central nervous system to develop fast feet, which is essential for slalom.
If you are looking for an extra challenge, increase the time from 30 to 45 or 60 seconds.
For Pogo Box Jump, all you need is a small box, 12-18 inches high, or below knee height.
For this exercise you will perform 5 quick jumps, using mostly your ankles, followed by a strong movement onto the box.
The goal of this exercise is to increase you reactive power. Remember the movement is supposed to be quick and reactive, so don't sink too low into the hip.
Repeat this process for 30 seconds and for an extra challenge increase the time to 45 or 60 seconds.
For Lateral Box Transfers, all you need is the same small box used for Pogo Box Jumps, so 12-18 inches or below knee height and a resistance band.
Have the resistance band wrapped around a pillar and hold it securely in front of your chest. Make sure the resistance band isn't too tight so your torso doesn't collapse towards the anchor point. Place one foot up on the box and one on the floor and begin rapidly switching from one foot to the other while keeping your upper body stable.
Repeat this exercise on both sides for 30 seconds and increase to 45 or 60 seconds for an extra challenge.
Super set each exercise, 3 sets for 30, 45, or 60 seconds, for maximum agility work.
*All how-to information was provided by Martin Guyer and Momentum Movement
]]>Former SYNC Team member, Sawyer Reed, helps kickstart your summer training with his top three exercises for more powerful turns. Sawyer also provides helpful hints to ensure proper technique and some recommendations for a superset that will get your legs burning.
For Sumo Squats you will need either two dumbbells or kettlebells.
Place the dumbbells or kettlebells on the floor and place feet on the outside of them. Squat down and grab the dumbbell or kettlebell in each hand and proceed to squat.
Be sure to keep your chest upright while squatting. This exercise is knee dominant that targets glutes and the inner thigh muscles to help resist and push against the forces of a turn.
Do 3 sets of 10 Sumo Squats.
For Romanian Deadlifts you will need two dumbbells or kettlebells.
Hold the two dumbbells or kettlebells in each hand and hinge at the hip lifting one leg and balancing with the other on the ground. Be sure to have a subtle knee bend to target your hamstrings and then lengthen under load. Keep your dumbbell or kettlebell close to your supporting leg as you hinge forward.
It is important to keep your hips squared and be balanced throughout the movement. This exercise helps increase our strength and balance on the outside ski.
Do 3 sets of 10 Romanian Deadlift's each side.
For Alternating Lateral Lunges you will need one dumbbell or kettlebell.
Hold the dumbbell or kettlebell in the goblet position and stack your hip over your knee and foot with a stance that is about shoulder width apart. Moving over to each side, the goal is to stay stacked and square, letting your hip muscles do most of the work, with some help from your quads.
This exercise will help us build hip and knee strength for lateral moments.
Do 3 sets of 10 Alternating Lateral Lunges each side.
Supersetting all of these exercises for three sets of 10 each is a great start for more powerful turns next winter.
*All how-to information was provided by Martin Guyer and Momentum Movement]]>SYNC Staff Member + Former NCAA Athlete Rachael DesRochers chatted with SYNC Team Member Hunter Salani to learn a little bit more about how his season went.
Can you tell us your name, age, where you’re from, and who you ski for?
My name is Hunter Salani, I am 18 years old, and I am from Vail, Colorado and ski for Ski and Snowboard Club Vail.
How long have you been in Vail?
I was born and raised in Vail.
You are a true Vail local! Are you graduating High School this year?
I am graduating this year from Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy.
How has the format of VSSA helped you with your skiing?
I think it has been really good for my skiing. I have been going there since fifth grade. Having the mornings off and being able to train without missing school is super beneficial for staying on top of schoolwork. The schedule also makes traveling easier for races because if you miss a handful of school, you have the tools to be able to get caught back up much more quickly than a normal High School schedule.
So since you are graduating High School, do you see yourself taking any post-grad years?
I am going to take a post-grad year this next year. I’m not sure what I’m doing yet as far as who I will ski with but will definitely be taking a PG year. (Following this interview Hunter was selected to the U.S. Ski Team for next season)
What would be your goals coming out of a post-grad year?
My goals would be either making a college team or the U.S. Ski Team. (One out of the two goals down)
How was your season in a nutshell? Any highlights?
My biggest highlight was going to World Juniors in St. Anton, Austria back in January. I was in Europe for about two and a half weeks. I was able to train before the races at a couple of places and then I raced the Downhill and Super-G at World Juniors. It was super cool because it was after the World Cup and all that stuff was still up and they streamed the races so it felt very official.
So you race all events, but your main focus is speed?
Yeah, I kinda focus on speed but I do all four events. I came into this year not doing as well in Slalom but I started to pick it up and get much better. However, speed is where a lot of my success has come from this year so it has been a focus but I still really enjoy GS and Slalom.
What are some tips for young skiers who are just starting to race speed?
I would say at first it’s always a little scary, especially for those younger kids, but once you start to get comfortable, those fears will start to go away. My best advice is to do a lot of training before you start racing.
Do you have a favorite place you’ve trained or raced?
After this year, my favorite place would have to be St. Anton, Austria. That resort is amazing and I was able to free-ski the mountain for a little bit and really get the whole experience.
Now that the season has come to a close, what are your plans for summer?
I honestly don’t know my exact plans but start working out a lot and work on getting stronger for next season. Also golf a lot.
What’s your best Golf score?
I shot a 71 at a High School Tournament last year, but hopefully I’ll break into the 60’s soon.
For off-snow training, what is an exercise or activity that you think is beneficial to your skiing?
Agility work is super important so you have the ability to make quick saves if you get off balance while skiing. Also doing cardio that involves a game or sport. I think playing a game that involves running takes your mind off of the actual running part and makes it more of an enjoyable experience.
Have you ever competed in any other sports and how have those helped with skiing?
I played High School Golf all four years. We actually won States last year for Vail Mountain School which was super awesome. I also played Lacrosse for VMS but not this last year because I was going to be gone skiing during most of the Lacrosse season and I didn’t want to let my team down because I wouldn’t be able to attend some games and practices.
What made you apply to the SYNC Team?
What made me apply was seeing all the older athletes who were on the SYNC Team and really looking up to them. They also had special suits and jackets that were made just for them and I always wanted to be a part of that. So I applied for 3 years and finally got onto the team this year which I was super excited about. Also, the media day we did this year was awesome because we had the big cameras, the drones, and GoPros out filming us and the end results were so cool.
Any advice for athletes applying to be on the SYNC Team?
Make sure you have a good solid application, really highlight your best results, and provide good photos and videos. Just don’t rush the application and really take your time.
Do you have any favorite SYNC products?
I’d say my favorite SYNC products are the race suits because when compared to other companies the suits are super tight and don’t really stretch out but SYNC suits after a few uses stretch to fit your body nicely making them really comfortable. I also recommend getting the Race Suit Bag so you are able to store your suit in it while traveling so it doesn’t get damaged.
Did you watch many World Cups this last year and who is your favorite athlete to watch and why?
I would have to say Marco Odermatt. He is just so good at pointing the skis down the fall line and going for it. While his skiing may not be very pretty, those aspects make him so fast. It’s just inspired me to have the mindset of who cares what I look like skiing, I just need to go for it.
How about some lighthearted questions now. Do you have a favorite bib number?
My favorite bib number is 18 because of my favorite NFL player and I also got that number for Nationals last year at Vail so I train in that bib all the time.
Do you have any funny race, training, or traveling experiences?
Yeah, before I was going to Sun Valley this year for U.S. Nationals we were training Super-G and I was training on a pair of Alice McKennis Duran’s old skis because I didn’t want to train on my race skis. I had sworn my coach said that I could bring them to Sun Valley and use them on the free-ski day so I was two hours into the drive and I received a text from my coach asking where the skis were and I told him I had them. Then he said that the skis weren’t supposed to go to Sun Valley so I waxed the skis and didn’t touch them the whole trip.
What’s your essential race day snack?
Probably sandwiches and maybe energy gummies before your race. Also lots of water.
Any specific sandwich?
I like salami sandwiches. (Salani, salami, same thing)
Love it! Well thanks for chatting with me today and good luck with your next season!
Hey! Thanks for chatting with me today. Do you mind telling us your name, age, where you’re from, and who you ski for?
Hi! I am Sammi Trudeau, I am 20 years old, I am originally from Colorado but went to high school in Vermont and I now ski for Dartmouth.
So you were born in Toronto, do you have dual citizenship?
I do! But I did choose to ski for the U.S. over Canada.
You went to both Burke and GMVS, what aspects of those academies helped you the most with your skiing?
Burke taught me a lot about grit, hard work, you know dedication, and overall competitiveness. This has really helped me push through the pain and hard times and just be resilient. I really appreciated GMVS because they really strove for team culture and they had mastered the balance between academics and athletics. I was hurt for a lot of my time at GMVS, so I didn’t spend a ton of time skiing, but they had amazing facilities and physical therapists to help me get back to skiing.
How is your season going? Has the Carnival Circuit been treating you well?
This year has been tough, weather-wise, for the East. I have raced in the rain more than I have not raced in the rain. That was definitely a challenging aspect of this last season since my time in Colorado made me forget what it was like to ski with rain on my goggles. I am also a skier who struggles when I can’t see. To add to that, going into the Carnival circuit without any carnival points and starting 31st adds another challenge. Not to mention you are now on a team where finishing becomes essential adding to the pressure of it all. But these teammates are your biggest supporters which makes everything better.
What is the toughest thing about essentially racing every weekend for six weeks?
For me what was the hardest was that most of my math exams were on Wednesday nights from 6-9 pm, and the team leaves for races on Thursday afternoons after my classes and training, so once my math exams were completed I still had to tune all my skis, pack all my stuff, and finish any homework I had due. Managing all that was difficult and I never wanted to sacrifice anything but one race I ended up forgetting my ski socks and I had to race in ankle socks for two days, but I’ll take that over missing an assignment!
What are you majoring in?
At Dartmouth, we don’t declare our majors until Sophomore year, but I am wanting to major in Data Science. So a mixture of math, computer science, and Econ.
Dartmouth has lots of traditions, what is your favorite?
Good question but I am not sure how much I can share. There is this tradition where we have 3 different lineages, which date back to around 2006, and I am a part of the SuperWoman family or lineage. There is this costume that gets passed down and this tradition happens around Halloween weekend.
You have an older sister who just recently retired and also skied for Dartmouth. I know she has experienced injuries, but how has she helped you navigate school?
I love this question! Honestly having Bri at school absolutely made my Freshman year because she was able to answer all these little questions I had and help me navigate the school. Not a lot of people get that and so it was incredibly helpful. skiing-wise, she was the team captain this year, and she kept me in check but was also super supportive. But I got no special treatment!
How has she also influenced your skiing growing up?
Growing up she was always a great person to chase while also being my biggest supporter. Definitely sad that she won’t be racing anymore.
What are your goals for skiing in college?
You know, I’ve never been one to really set goals. Whenever I have set goals, it has created these nerves and anxieties that I don’t think help my skiing but just because I don’t set any doesn’t mean I don’t want to improve or succeed. I do have technical goals like putting pressure on my outside ski.
Was there a coach growing up that you really connected with and why?
Yes! There was a coach at Vail when I was young named Rika Moore. As a kid, I just loved to ski, I never got cold and maybe that was because I had a little extra on me but whenever other girls would go in due to the cold, Rika was always psyched to stay out and ski with me. She was just super passionate about skiing as much as you could.
Do you have a favorite place you have ever traveled to for skiing?
I love Zermatt! It definitely holds a special place in my heart. I went there when I was 10 and I got to go back there when I did return to snow. I just think it is such a cute village with beautiful views and it’s sunny on the glacier.
I love being on the SYNC NCAA Team because every time I see the other athletes who are on it, it’s a great way to start a conversation with them and connect over being on the team. Also one of my teammates, Oliver Morgan is also on it and we have helped each other out with photos and whatnot. Besides that, equipment-wise, SYNC has provided me with the essentials I need to succeed, like it’s a rainy year and what am I going to do without my Element Rain Shell. Plus providing this equipment helps immensely on the financial side of things, ski racing is expensive!
What are your favorite SYNC products?
The Session Short for sure, I’ve also heard rumblings about a Women’s specific short and I know that’s going to be a game changer. My second favorite product is the suits! Don’t even get me started on non-padded suits. The SYNC suit pads are better than any of the suits I’ve had, I don’t get bruised, and they cover your knees for slalom.
What races are left for you this season?
I have one more series. I am doing the Quebec Spring Series at Le Relais and Stoneham.
How about some funny questions now. Where is the worst hotel you have stayed at for a ski race?
Oof. When I was a U14, I stayed at this hotel near Stratton and I left my face towel on the floor by accident and when I picked it up an army of ants came out from underneath it. It was awful.
What resort has the best food?
At GMVS, there is this food stand at the base area and they have these amazing bowls.
What’s the best thing someone has yelled at you while you push out of the gate?
“Feed er’ the beans”.
Ok last one, did you get any Carni Crushes this year?
I did! Giving out Carni Crushes is a lot harder now than it used to be because they got rid of scoreboards, so you have to secretly put a heart on paper start lists that are up in the lodge.
Sammi, as always, love chatting with you, and congrats on your first college season!