I’m hearing a lot of buzz about the latest Woodward initiative. A camp where athletes can learn snow sports using trampolines, foam pits, safety mats and air bags.
After YEARS of watching snowboards try to learn gainers by flinging themselves off a trampoline into a pit at Adult Recreational Gymnastics class, I am very excited about this venture!
… Woodward will bring its expertise in action-sports training to the snow arena for the first time with several new facilities at Intrawest resorts, the first of which is slated to open at Copper Mountain, Colorado by Thanksgiving 2007.
Camps at Intrawest’s Whistler/Blackcomb and Stratton Mountain will follow successively, with Whistler’s opening as soon as the winter of 2008/09.
… preliminary plans feature a 20,000-square-foot indoor facility, two on-snow Superpipes, and a private terrain park. …
“People are going to start learning a lot faster and spending more time on the hill instead of getting hurt,†says Matt Lindenmuth, who’s heading up the Camp Woodward’s Copper operations. “We’ve got a six-step program for learning tricks that lets people learn them from the ground up.â€
Woodward’s signature program starts on the indoor facility’s trampolines, foam pits, resi-pits, bungee systems, and synthetic snow jumps. The next step will take riders to the on-snow park and integrate features such as air bags and other materials to cushion landings before they learn to stomp tricks on snow and ice. …
“We think this is going to be absolutely huge,†says Ben Friedland, Copper’s marketing director. “Not only will those visiting the resort have the opportunity to learn skills quickly and more safely before taking them into our terrain parks and Superpipes, but chances are they’ll be doing it alongside some of the most recognized athletes in the world.â€
Woodward at Copper Mountain – official website
The other 3 camps are Lake Owen, Woodward West and, the original, Woodward East.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 